Reese Witherspoon: ‘I Didn’t Have Control Over” Sex Scene in ‘Fear’ With Mark Wahlberg
“It wasn’t a particularly great experience,” the actress said of the incident while filming the 1996 film.
![Reese Witherspoon](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1482098091.jpg?w=1296&h=730&crop=1)
I was the first critic to review the film, for Variety.
Grade: C+
Here is what I wrote back then.
During interview with Harper’s Bazaar, published online, the actress, who has been outspoken about creating opportunities for women to feel safe and empowered in Hollywood, recalled an experience she had earlier in her career.
While making the James Foley-directed psychosexual thriller, Witherspoon, who was then 19, had to film sex scene on rollercoaster with Mark Wahlberg’s character, who was her love interest in the film.
Although she remembers requesting a stunt double to take her place for below-the-waist shots, she “didn’t have control over it.”
The film follows teen Nicole (Witherspoon) who falls in love with 23-year-old David (Wahlberg). But their relationship takes a turn when David reveals a darker side to him and becomes possessive of Nicole.
Witherspoon didn’t let the traumatic experience stop her from pursuing her goals. In fact, it helped shape her into the woman she is today – someone who is fighting for women to be respected and have their voices heard when it comes to creating projects.
“I’m certainly not traumatized or anything by Fear, but it was formative,” the actress added.
“It made me understand where my place was in the pecking order of filmmaking. I think it’s another one of those stories that made me want to be an agent for change and someone who maybe can be in a better leadership position to tell stories from a female perspective instead of from the male gaze.”
She has done just that with her production company, Hello Sunshine. The media company has already been behind projects focused on female leads, including Big Little Lies, Gone Girl, Wild and Daisy Jones & the Six.
Witherspoon also shared her thoughts on the revival of rom-coms and how she is on board with doing more feel-good projects.
“The human capacity to handle as much heartbreak and tragedy that’s happened in the world is really diminished,” Witherspoon said. “We’re just not meant to feel this overwhelmed by sadness and devastation.”
“I think of opportunities to make movies and television shows that are joyful, optimistic, funny – just funny. I think about what I want to see on a Friday night, and while I can appreciate a true-crime show or a podcast, I really need some levity. I think the world is looking for a little brightness.”