Reese Witherspoon admits anxiety is key to her success
Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon says she has been “rewarded” for her perfectionism, attributing her success to anxiety and emphasizing that it is “in the service of my job.”
Speaking about her acting and producing career, the 49-year-old Legally Blonde actress said, “I started to relax with the thought that I was enough.”
“They were incredibly encouraging at the beginning of my career, but they also gave me a lot of real-world advice about how to behave, how to carry myself, and what not to do: not move to Los Angeles,” she told Harper’s Bazaar UK.
“They said, ‘Stay in Nashville, stay a kid as long as you can.’ I was really friendly and cheerful and smiling. People thought I was faking it.
“The perception that I was from the South was that I did not belong to the elite communities on the coast.
“I wasn’t part of the art world or the cool kids club. It was a culture clash. I didn’t understand the sharp elbows and competitive nature of what I was doing.”
Born in Louisiana, the actress is known for her roles in Cruel Intentions, American Psycho and Walk The Line, which earned her an Academy Award for best actress.
Witherspoon produced the thriller Gone Girl and the adventure drama Wild, which earned her an Oscar nomination, and is producing the Legally Blonde prequel series through her media company Hello Sunshine.
“I probably succeeded because I had a lot of anxiety; they go hand in hand,” he said.
“I put extreme pressure on myself to show up for work perfectly.
“We all know now that perfection is neither attainable nor sustainable.
“I stressed myself out doing my job and it really pushed me too far.
“I’m rewarded for my anxiety and perfectionism, but I’m getting older and I’m starting to relax into the thought that I’m enough.
“I mean, I’ve had a lot of good luck, I’ve had great job opportunities, and I’ve worked with some of the greatest people in the world.”
In 2016, Witherspoon founded Hello Sunshine, now part of Candle Media, which aims to “shine a light on where women are now and help them chart a new path forward,” according to its website.
“I advocate for storytelling that is inclusive and more reflective of the entire female experience because it has been hidden for hundreds of years,” she said.
Her company also produced the Apple TV drama The Morning Show, which won three Emmys and starred Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston as co-hosts of a news program.
Witherspoon, who celebrates her 50th birthday next year, said she’s not worried about the milestone.
“I love getting older. I think it’s great to get wiser and understand your place in a business.
“I worked really hard to get there… I definitely feel like I’m living my purpose. I love my job. I love my fans. I’m the captain of my own destiny.”
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