Reese Witherspoon shares her experience of feeling a lack of control during a sex scene in the movie ‘Fear’ with Mark Wahlberg.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Reese Witherspoon discussed a formative experience she had early in her acting career while filming the 1996 psychosexual thriller ‘Fear’. At the age of 19, Witherspoon found herself in a situation where she felt she didn’t have control over a sex scene involving a rollercoaster with her co-star Mark Wahlberg. Despite requesting a stunt double for specific shots, she didn’t have control over the scene, as she revealed.
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‘Fear’ revolves around the story of Nicole, played by Witherspoon, a teenager who falls in love with David, played by Wahlberg. As their relationship takes a dark turn, David becomes possessive and reveals a disturbing side.
Witherspoon shared that the explicit nature of the scene was not initially part of the script and was something the director came up with on his own. She explained that she said no to the request on set, but ultimately didn’t have control over the final decision.
While the experience wasn’t particularly pleasant for Witherspoon, she emphasized that she wasn’t traumatized by it. Instead, it became a formative moment that made her aware of the power dynamics and hierarchy within the filmmaking industry. It also fueled her desire to be an agent of change, working towards a better leadership position that prioritizes telling stories from a female perspective rather than the male gaze.
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Witherspoon has since established her own production company, Hello Sunshine, which has been behind projects like ‘Big Little Lies’, ‘Gone Girl’, ‘Wild’, and ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’, all of which feature strong female leads. Through her company, she aims to create opportunities for women in the industry and ensure their voices are heard.
In the interview, Witherspoon also expressed her enthusiasm for the resurgence of romantic comedies and her desire to be a part of more feel-good projects. She believes that amidst the overwhelming sadness and devastation in the world, there is a need for movies and television shows that bring joy, optimism, and humor. Witherspoon recognizes the importance of offering a respite from the heaviness of reality and believes that audiences are seeking stories that provide brightness and levity.
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In summary, Witherspoon’s experience during the filming of ‘Fear’ served as a catalyst for her advocacy for women’s empowerment in the entertainment industry. She has since dedicated herself to creating projects that uplift and represent women’s perspectives, and she continues to champion storytelling that brings joy and optimism to audiences.
