Reese Witherspoon, the Oscar-winning actress, has reflected on a discomforting experience while filming a sensitive scene with Mark Wahlberg in the 1996 thriller Fear. Witherspoon, who was just 19 years old at the time, recalled that she had no control over the scene, which featured her character experiencing a romantic encounter on a rollercoaster.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Witherspoon revealed that the script did not explicitly state what would happen in the scene, and the director asked her on set if she would be willing to film it, to which she declined. She described the experience as “not particularly great.”

The actress also revealed that during production, she requested a stunt double for all below-the-waist scenes. Fear, directed by James Foley, tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who falls in love with a 23-year-old sociopath played by Wahlberg.

Witherspoon emphasized that she was not traumatized by the experience, but rather, it made her understand her place in the filmmaking hierarchy. She explained that it was one of the stories that motivated her to become an agent for change and to tell stories from a female perspective.

Harper’s Bazaar Cover: Reese Witherspoon looked stunning and stylish as she graced the cover and accompanying photo spread for the August 2023 edition of Harper’s Bazaar

Fear was Witherspoon’s ninth film, years before she became a household name in Hollywood, and before she began her own production company Hello Sunshine.

Described as “Fatal Attraction for teens,” Fear made over $20 million at the US box office against a modest $6.5 million budget. Wahlberg was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for the film.

Witherspoon would go on to star in a string of hit films, including Cruel Intentions, Election, and Best Laid Plans, all in 1999. In 2001, her movie star status was cemented with the classic role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

In the interview, Witherspoon also opened up about her recent divorce from ex-husband Jim Toth as she graced the cover of the August 2023 edition of Harper’s Bazaar.

For the cover, Witherspoon donned a grey puffy jacket with a thin black belt and a black sequined mini dress from Louis Vuitton. She sat on a light orange folding chair while on the set of the photoshoot.

The Oscar-winning actress completed her look with jewelry from renown jeweler Tiffany and Co., which included a black choker necklace with a brooch in the center, and several large stone rings. She wore minimal makeup as she wore her signature blonde hair, which was straightened, down.

Witherspoon also modeled several other stylish outfits for a photo spread in the latest edition of the US version of Harper’s Bazaar, which she shared on her Instagram account.

In the interview, Witherspoon opened up about the work she has done with her production company Hello Sunshine, which she co-founded in 2016, founded around the idea that media was largely dominated by male voices and male perspectives.

“[Being] able to create opportunities [with Sunshine Media] where women are telling their stories in their own words, you’re just getting a better perspective of the human experience… It’s just a new time, a new era for women to succeed and excel, and I’m happy to be the rocket fuel they need.”

In the profile, the Oscar winner also spoke about her March 2023 divorce from ex-husband CAA Talent Agent Jim Toth, whom she was married to from 2011 to 2023.

While calling her divorce a “vulnerable time for herself,” Witherspoon shared how she felt after revealing her divorce news to fans.

“I think about how many other people are going through this experience. I don’t feel isolated at all. I feel very connected [to my fans].”

The marriage between the actress and Roth was Witherspoon’s second as she was previously married from 1999 to 2007 to actor Ryan Philippe. From both of her marriages, Witherspoon has three children: 24-year-old daughter Ava and 19-year-old son Deacon with Philippe; and 10-year-old son Tennessee with Roth.