Reese Witherspoon recollects reaching the tipping point over hectic work schedule
Los Angeles, May 8
Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon is winding the clock back. The actress recently recalled how she cried inconsolably when she hit breaking point juggling the filming of three TV shows and working on her production company.
The 50-year-old actress was trying to juggle building up her media company Hello Sunshine alongside her commitments to three different TV shows, and it eventually all got too much for her, reports 'Female First UK'.
Speaking on the debut episode of Harvard Business School's The Founder Mindset, she said, "In 2018, I was making three television shows at once and I don't know if people understand this, but each television show takes six months to make. So they were stacked on top of each other. So in the morning, I'd go be dressed as Bradley Jackson (for The Morning Show), change my clothes, run to another soundstage, be Madeline Martha Mackenzie in 'Big Little Lies' and then go do a night shoot with Kerry Washington on Little Fires Everywhere. I wanted to lay down sideways and melt into the earth. I just cried and cried and cried".
Host Professor Reza Satchu noted the mental toll Reese's schedule must have taken, and she said, "And I had done it to myself". But ultimately Reese didn't regret her career decisions. She added, "But it all worked out. And you can do really, really, really hard things".
As per 'Female First UK', the 'Cruel Intentions' star wanted to spotlight female stories with Hello Sunshine, which she explained was inspired by her experiences around 2011, when "the scripts and parts for women were abysmal" and "really demeaning".
At one point she received a script for a film which saw two women fighting for the attention of a male lead and was filled with "boob jokes" and "scatalogical humour".
With several big-name actresses seeking a part in the movie, Reese remembered, as she said, "That's what we're fighting for?" After complaining about the like of female-driven stories in Hollywood, the Legally Blonde star eventually realised she had been "admiring a problem" in Hollywood without doing anything to address the issue, prompting her to step into the production sphere.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I have mixed feelings. Yes, working on three TV shows simultaneously is insane. But isn't this a first-world problem? Many Indian women juggle full-time jobs, household chores, and childcare without any media spotlight. Perspective matters, but I respect her for sharing her vulnerability.
Great point about realizing she was "admiring a problem" instead of solving it. That's such a universal lesson—whether you're in Hollywood or running a chai stall in Mumbai. Reese's journey reminds me that taking ownership can turn frustration into action. 👏
It's heartening to see a successful woman admit she cried and felt overwhelmed. In our society, we often pressure women to be "superwomen" without showing weakness. Reese's story is a reminder that it's okay to break down and then rebuild. Also, big respect for Hello Sunshine—finally some good female-centric stories! ✨
I appreciate her honesty but let's be real—most of us don't have the luxury of "choosing" to do three shows at once. In India, we work long hours just to meet basic needs. Still, her point about mental health is universal. We all need to learn when to pause and breathe. 🧘
"I had done it to myself" — that line really hit home. It's so easy to take on more than we can handle because we think we *should*. Reese's transformation from being overwhelmed to building a company that tells women's stories is genuinely inspiring. Way to go, Reese! 🌟
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