Since making her movie debut aged 15 in "The Man in the Moon" (1991), Reese Witherspoon has established herself as one of Hollywood's most successful actresses. "Pleasantville", "Election", and "Best Laid Plans" proved she could act; "Cruel Intentions", "Legally Blonde", and "Sweet Home Alabama" proved she was a box office draw. Now she's going back to her roots, playing ditzy but determined Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde 2".
Have you met a lot of people like Elle Woods, your character in the "Legally Blonde" movies?
Yeah, when I was doing research for the first movie I spent about two weeks at a sorority house meeting women from the same kind of background that she was from and spoke the same way and had the same sort of attitude. I met a lot of people that I sort of mushed together and made into one woman.
Have you had the experience of people thinking that being blonde and talented don't go well together?
In my experience I've had more prejudice about just being an actor. People assume that actors aren't very smart and don't have anything interesting to add. That's been a struggle for me, to try and assert my opinions on things. Also sometimes being a woman doesn't help when you are on a set with a lot of people who don't think that you have a lot to say.
Do you really think Elle Woods works as a role model or is she too good to be true?
The response that I get from young women is that they like the idea that she is interested in frivolous things but is also very serious - and the idea that you don't have to be just studious and serious, or girly and brainless. I think the modern woman can be all sorts of things. I think it is very relevant. Although she is the ultimate idealist and she is such an optimist, I think it is a good thing to be positive about your life.
Do you believe in role models?
It's not about whether you believe in it. Kids look up to who they see in movies or people that play sports. You can't get around that. It would be nice to say I'm not responsible for other people but you are. My daughter is always going to understand that celebrity is not necessarily indicative of who people really are. It's sort of a fallacy that is created to give people dreams and fantastic ideas, it's not really representative of reality. She knows other celebrity moms and dads, and they are people who take their kids to school and take out the trash and cook dinner on Friday night.
Has being in this business since childhood proved helpful to you?
I think not just becoming famous in a year really helps. It's good to have a long progression towards success or celebrity because you are prepared for it, little by little. In that way I see it for what it is, the fallacies of it and the fantastic parts. I feel I have a very real perspective on who I am and who I'm not. More importantly, who I'm not.
What's the most exciting thing about having your own production company?
Being able to create opportunities for myself and other women who work in this industry, I take that cause pretty seriously. A lot of people say there's nothing for women, but I like to try and do something about the problem instead of moaning about it.
But is it difficult to find strong roles for women?
Sometimes it is. Sometimes there are great years and then fallow years. Last year was fantastic, there were so many great female roles. But the year before was horrifying. I can't say as a blanket statement that there are no great roles for women because I'm finding some of them.
Would you like to work with your husband, Ryan Phillippe, again?
That would be great. We had a great time doing "Cruel Intentions" together and we would love to work together again. But we really are individuals, his work is so different from mine and we like to keep that separate. Our family is what keeps us close.
