Way back, before we had any idea how bad this pandemic was going to hit, Reese Witherspoon was amping up promotion for The Morning Show on Apple TV+ and Little Fires Everywhere for Hulu. In addition, she had several projects in the pipe, including a potential third season of Big Little Lies. So Rita Breaver sat down with Reese and her producing partners on CBS Sunday Morning. Rita asked Reese about her hard-climbed road to getting respect as a producer and how she handles all the hats she now wears in Hollywood. Since the interview didn’t air until quarantine, Rita had to conduct the follow up via Zoom. While speaking online, she reflected on something Reese said about handling the pressures of all her responsibilities. Reese said that sometimes it gets to be too much and she seeks out the privacy of her car to cry.
Oscar winner, Golden Globe winner, Emmy winner, trailblazing producer, mom of three and overall industry force—Reese Witherspoon can often seem like a Hollywood superhero.
But, as was proven in her newly aired interview on CBS This Morning, even modern-day superheroes feel overwhelmed.
When asked if she ever has “those days” when you feel like you can’t do one more thing, Witherspoon’s response was a comforting one, particularly in these especially challenging times.
“I’ll lay on the floor and cry or I’ll sit in my car and cry,” the star shared. “Sometimes I’m totally overwhelmed.”
I can absolutely see Reese doing just this. And I believe she does it in her own space, outside the view of anyone else. I don’t think it’s an ego thing either, I really don’t think Reese cares if we know she’s crying in her car. I think it’s just how she handles those emotions, on her own. I’m the same way, I have huge issues showing those kinds of emotion to others until I’ve processed them. I’m sure there’s a textbook full of reasons why, but if I need to break down, it’s somewhere I feel safe, hiding out of view. And I think Rita framed it the way she did was because not only are our emotions ramped up due to fear and uncertainty right now, they’re also under the scrutiny of the 24-hour togetherness clock of lockdown.
Another interesting point Reese made during the Zoom portion of the interview was what changes in filming she anticipated once lockdown was over. Reese said the biggest question they have was how the lingering virus threat would affect love scenes. It’s a good question. Think about the precautions that will need to be taken in order to have actors in the same room together, let alone the same bed. Reese said ultimately, they would have to approach it like everything right now and get creative. This maybe isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe the need for sexual tension and build up will lead to actual cinematic examples of foreplay – think of the example this could set!
Here’s the CBS Sunday Morning interview:
Photo credit: WENN/Avalon, YouTube and Instagram
I’ve always found her to be dubious and removed from the personality type that I’m typically drawn to. Plus her drunken “I’m an American” rant when she was arrested rang high of Americana superiority. However, I’ve been impressed with the subject matter and portrayal of white privilege in her show Little Fires Everywhere. Reese and her family play the beacon of privileged ignorance on the show and it’s clear that the actress is at least aware of the complexity and the damage that these families continue to cause to the world-this makes me curious about her and she has my respect if she’s producing this kind of content.
I completely agree. I know that Reese hasn’t been the greatest over the years, but it seems now there is a deliberate effort to be better. She is proving that in the work that she chooses to elevate and the voices that are amplified in what she brings to tv. One thing that I look for is always a picture of the writer’s room. It is one thing to have diversity in front of the camera, and not in production where it is arguably even more important. LFE writer’s room was all women. White as well as numerous women of color. There is talk of a Big Little Lies season 3 and I am hoping to see that there as well.
That’s good to hear about the writers’ room.
I loved BBL, but don’t really want a season 3. But I’ll watch if they make one.
I’ve had a really bad break up with my friend over the way we handle our emotions differently. She felt betrayed that I didn’t share my biggest pains immediately, and she just cut me off. I was shocked. I need time to process things, and she just spills her emotions all the time. We are different and she hurt me but accusing me of hurting her because I don’t react the way she wants me to, without even thinking about how I feel or listening to me.
She feels sorry now, but the way she handled it was a tremendous let down for me.
So, yeah. I cry when I’m completely alone, without anybody ever knowing, and I talk about my troubles later, not in the midst of them.
I am continued to be impressed by Reese.
@LaaLaa I’m so sorry that your ‘friend’ blindsided you in the way she did; but it sounds as though she lacks empathy. Expecting someone to react to stresses and pressures in a similar or same manner as yourself is pretty narcissistic behaviour; and requires you to have to justify your own coping mechanisms. I’m like you – I back off and sort myself out (or talk to my therapist) rather than blasting my feelings to the neighbourhood. Maybe it’ll be less stressful to have her out of range? It sounds as though You are doing You very well.
I’m so sorry you lost a friendship over this and that you felt let down.
I’m sorry your friend did that to you. I had a similar friendship that just recently fell apart, I believe partially because how differently we process the difficulties in our lives. As we got older, she became more of an open book, crying and having woe-is-me meltdowns all the time, and asked me to listen. I was a very good listener, but after a while it felt like she really believed she was the only one between the two of us who dealt with sh#t and struggled just because she was more vocal about it. It got to be too much for me after several years and we drifted apart.
Sorry for what happened to you it’s never easy to lose a friendship.Years ago I lost my best friend-who turned out to be not much of a friend.She was always the one who was having the upper hand in our friendship;more money,cute babies,nice husband,I was young,divorced struggling .When my life began a positive turn she ditched me.Like, I think she only liked me if she was the one doing well.It happens.
I cry when I’m driving alone,it soothes me.
I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve cried in front of anyone in my life. I just can’t do it. It’s made for some awkward times, especially at funerals. A few years ago when I was doing IVF and getting myself shot up with hormones daily, I’d go out to the shed in the backyard or my car, if I happened to be at work, and cry it out. I just didn’t want to explain why I was crying to anyone.
Especially when people ask ‘are you all right?’ Well, no: I have tears running down my face and I’m choke-sobbing. But you’re supposed to mumble ‘no, I’m fine’ and carry on. Your way sounds best.
Same, Reese! 😂😂😂
Oh please. No one forced her to take on all of these projects. Which of the dozens of rooms in her mansions is she crying in? Gimme a break. Yeah, everyone has bad days, but I’ll save my sympathy for those who are really struggling right now.
Geez it’s not the martyrdom Olympics. She is allowed to cry and deal with her own emotions.
@Other Renee-
We don’t know what issues she may have behind closed doors that causes her to sometimes feel overwhelmed or sad. She is human. She is a mother, wife, daughter, employer etc. and just because she is wealthy and famous does not mean she is without problems or pain. Money does not make life perfect. We should be kinder.
Beautifully said. Thank you.
Nah, I get where Other Renee is coming from. I agree that we’re all human, and of course money doesn’t make life perfect. But what money does is buy you *time*. If you have money, you can afford to hire people to clean your toilets, cook your food, bring your workout to your home gym, bring your kids’ swimming lessons to your own backyard, etc. This gives you time to focus on other things. So sure, maybe Reese is crying about “personal issues” — but the way it’s framed in the article quoted here (“Oscar winner, Golden Globe winner, Emmy winner, trailblazing producer, mom of three and overall industry force”), the implication is that she’s overwhelmed by having so much work to do (producing/acting). Other Renee’s point is valid — if you’re so overwhelmed by all that work, LET SOMETHING GO. You’re already wealthy. Use some of that money to buy yourself more time.
I went to my basement to cry by myself yesterday. It happens.
“Power is made in the moments when you most want to give up.” – Robin Arzon, Peloton instructor (and, unbeknownst to her, my life coach)
I had to put down my dog yesterday bc he had cancer. The vet was kind enough to do it in my car so I could be with him. I bawled, in front of the vet, in front of the other cars and all the way home. I dont like crying in front of people but I just couldnt stop it.
Awww Lotus, I am so so sorry for your loss. I’m glad you were able to be there though. I’ve done this twice and am convinced it’s much easier for the furbaby for us to be there. I hope you’ll find some comfort in that.
Lotus my heart goes out to you. I’m not much of a cryer either, but your story connected me to when I put down my first dog baby ten years ago…and I’m crying.
@Lotus I’m so terribly sorry for your tragic loss. Thoughts and prayers go out to you.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving your dog a wonderful life. ((((Hugs))))
Thanks so much guys, it means a lot. I really appreciate it.
so glad you could be with your sweet dog. i currently have two dogs and it’s one of the hardest things, losing our animals. i’ve been in your position several times and i’m sorry for your loss. wishing you peace and love.
I’m so sorry Lotus. We had to put down our 15 year old cat in Feb and it sucks so so hard. And yes I cried in front of the vet, the vet techs, the Receptionist it was brutal. Sending all the hugs your way.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Saying goodbye to our pets is incredibly difficult at any time, but I think even more so right now. The only time I cry in front of people is when I have to say goodbye to one of my pets. It is the most acute pain.
All the virtual hugs and support to you, Lotus.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s a very difficult time for all of us, and having that additional heartache on top of it must be very challenging. I feel so blessed every day that I have my two critters to hang out with. They’re my light during this dark time. Loving our pets is one of the best things in life, and losing them is one of the hardest.
Lotus, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for being their with your dog while he said goodbye. Dogs are such sensitive family members, and they really need us by their side when they leave us. Thank you.
I’m so sorry.
One of the many lessons I’m learning in this life, is that I don’t need to hide my emotions from other people. I’m allowed to feel overwhelmed, scared or sad. I’m allowed to cry infront of other people if I need to, even if it makes me feel shameful afterwards. The shame is not there because it’s wrong, the shame is there because we don’t show all of our emotions to each other.
Not showing difficult emotions has been my family standard since I was born, but it has left me completely removed and unconnected to the people I have around me. And made me feel very lonely, even when surrounded by people.
I still cry and have breakdowns alone, but opening myself up to feel when it’s happening and not putting a lid on it for later, has really taught me something about authenticity and myself. To reach out and just cry with someone by my side, not trying to fix anything, just making space for me, has been an eye opener.
I wished more people would feel comfortable crying and showing emotions, so we all could learn how to comfort one another and get used to emotions in general.
It’s normal to hide away, but it’s even more normal to feel. We all do it. And I wished we didn’t feel like we needed to do it on our own in order to feel safe and ok crying etc.
I always cry in the shower. It’s very therapeutic when the stress just gets to be a lot. Sometimes you don’t want to explain it to anyone or talk about your feelings, you just need to let them out, and then you feel better able to tackle the thing again.
I usually hate the whole celebrities are just like us thing, but when it comes to mental health, it doesn’t matter how rich or privileged you are, it can find you. Maybe their stresses don’t seem as dire as the average person who is actually struggling with real life issues (rent, food, etc), but we’re all just managing our fight or flight responses the best we can.
Truth!
My car is my go to, especially if something bad happened at work or out in the world that day. I can usually keep it together until I’m out there and away from everyone else.
I agree with Shazbot – everyone has struggles and emotions, whether they are life or death or not. Most people are just doing their best, and sometimes need to let out the stress.
Demolition Man sex-after-pandemics can be the template for sex scenes in the future. Weird that a Stallone/Bullock/Snipes movie would be so prescient 🙂
Same.
This is honestly a mood. I don’t like crying in front of other people, so I get it. Also, Little Fires Everywhere is fantastic and I highly recommend it if you haven’t watched it. I’ve gotten a lot of respect for Reese on her projects (acting and producing) lately.
I do my cleansing cries in the shower or in my car. For me, it’s not about not letting other people see (although that is part of it sometimes), but because I need to do it alone. I don’t want someone to try to fix it, or fuss over me, or try to make things better. I just need to let it out.
Im so thankful to her for sharing this. It would be hard to work 12 hour days, have 3 children, and have to be well behaved in public as a famous person during your time off. When her children were young that must have been hard if they threw a tantrum or something.
I hate crying in front of people. Even at funerals of loved ones I just…can’t do it. It makes me so uncomfortable. As Hecate said I’m sure there’s all sorts of reasons why I’m like this, but I really just like to process how I feel on my own before I share with anyone else. Even then, I’m not good at sharing my more difficult emotions with other people. When my mom had cancer while I was in college (she is cancer-free now), I didn’t tell even my closest friends. I’m just very private.