Reese Witherspoon says “women make male movie stars” in Hollywood
Reese Witherspoon has argued that “women make male movie stars,” saying the success of men in the industry is dependent on the quality of their female co-stars and their respect for these women.
The actor was speaking during a recent appearance on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast. In the episode, she discussed various “theories” with the hosts with regard to her thoughts on the film industry. One of these was the role that gender plays within Hollywood, as Witherspoon argued that the success of male actors hinges on how they treat women.
“I think that women make movie stars,” she stated, before adding, “If you respect the woman who is looking at this man, like… you’re the guy. You’re him. The quality and level of the woman opposite you is what makes a man a movie star.”
Citing the example of Titanic, in which she claimed that Kate Winslet’s performance was what really catapulted Leonardo DiCaprio into being a massive star in Hollywood, Witherspoon then added: “I think every movie star guy should really think hard about what makes you look young or virile or hot, versus what makes you look substantive.”
The actor noted that this theory extends into other areas of life aside from the film industry, continuing: “I think it goes for guys in the real world, too. Does that woman make you look respectable or substantive or deep? Or does it make you look like your insecurity’s hanging out?”
Witherspoon has used the strength of her acting career to pivot into the role of producer in recent years, working behind the scenes on a plethora of successful film projects and TV shows.
Most notably, she is currently working on a TV series named Elle, which will serve as a prequel to her most acclaimed role as Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde films from the early 2000s. The series will focus on the teenage years of the character before she heads to Harvard Law School, for which newcomer Lexi Minetree has been cast in the lead role.
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