Reese Witherspoon Quotes & Sayings

I think movies are great and I have a great time making them but they're not what keeps you warm at night, or what's ultimately the most important thing in anyone's life journey. — Reese Witherspoon

Men rise through the ranks because of potential, but women have to prove themselves - while trying to have children and having no family leave. — Reese Witherspoon

My sheets are monogrammed, so is my silverware and pretty much everything else I own. My rule is, if it's not moving
monogram it! — Reese Witherspoon

Exploring female rage on film doesn't frighten me - it might frighten a lot of people in my business, but, gosh, I know a lot about that, from personal experience and friends' experiences. — Reese Witherspoon

More people telling stories leads to more interesting perspectives in this world. I often think we wouldn't get to these political impasses if we had balance in storytelling. — Reese Witherspoon

Well I had my kids so young that I kind of feel that I'm a kid too and am growing up with them. The things they're interested in tend to really influence me. — Reese Witherspoon

Obviously, this isn't the time in my life that I would have chosen to do this, but I feel like life gives you these challenges for a reason. I feel so happy and glad to be in the place that I am. I really feel blessed. This is something I need to face and take control of. — Reese Witherspoon

I read while the kids play. I can see them from the kitchen window. And I'm a fast reader. — Reese Witherspoon

We're more than just our dresses. — Reese Witherspoon

Many people worry so much about managing their careers, but rarely spend half that much energy managing their LIVES. I want to make my life, not just my job, the best it can be. The rest will work itself out. — Reese Witherspoon

It really bothers me when people don't use coasters. Particularly on my table. — Reese Witherspoon

It definitely sometimes feels like a suit that I wish I could zip off. But I don't feel bad about any of the things I've gone through, whether it's divorce or breakups or anything like that, because that's all part of the life journey, and I have those experiences just like anyone else. And I think it deepens what you tap into creatively. — Reese Witherspoon

There's no bad consequence to loving fully, with all your heart. You always gain by giving love. — Reese Witherspoon

But like Elle Woods, I do not like to be underestimated. — Reese Witherspoon

I had parents who believed I could do anything - and I know how that made me feel. I think both my parents, having careers in the medical profession, feel they are helping people on a daily basis, and that was inculcated in me as a value. I had to struggle with giving up the idea of becoming a doctor myself. — Reese Witherspoon

Somebody close to me once said, 'Oh, no man will ever accept your children.' And I just thought it was the most horrifying thing someone has ever said to me in my entire life. I was determined to find somebody who would make that not true. — Reese Witherspoon

Is it more fascinating, perplexing, unbelievable that women are entrepreneurs? — Reese Witherspoon

I thought I knew everything about love and relationships in my 20s, the ignorance of youth is bliss. As you get older, you start to realise that you don't really know anything and life is a great traveling journey. Life is unexpected ... you just never know whats going to happen. — Reese Witherspoon

I would love to have more kids. Kids are the best part of my day. I don't wake up to make movies. I wake up to hang out with my family. — Reese Witherspoon

Robert Pattinson loves to read and watch old movies and he's very smart. — Reese Witherspoon

It's hard having kids. It's hard having a job. It's hard having a relationship - for anybody. — Reese Witherspoon

Everybody needs love. Everyone deserves it. — Reese Witherspoon

One honest voice is louder than a crowd. — Reese Witherspoon

No one can sing like June Carter so I just tried to sing my very best. — Reese Witherspoon

Even people that know Johnny Cash's music really well and know that he was married don't really know that much about June Carter. So finding out about her really helped to inform my performance and to bring her to the front in a way that she has never been before. — Reese Witherspoon

Do I need men? I don't think it's about needing men. It's about love. — Reese Witherspoon

The more respect I had for myself, and the more I took care of myself, the more I understood what I needed out of a partner. — Reese Witherspoon

I'm definitely happy with the way my career has gone, the success; but I even feel glad that I've experienced some failure in my life. That gives you perspective and humility about this business; it's good to realize that you're always just one movie away from not being in Vogue anymore. — Reese Witherspoon

I have a history, a long history of being stereotyped as a five-foot-two woman, which is very limiting. I've worked so hard to create characters that have dignity. And I think everybody knows that I have a very pro-woman message in my work - and in my life. — Reese Witherspoon

I get crazy in a bookstore. It makes my heart beat hard because I want to buy everything. — Reese Witherspoon

I think women are natural caretakers. They take care of everybody. They take care of their husbands and their kids and their dogs, and don't spend a lot of time just getting back and taking time out. — Reese Witherspoon

I played a lawyer in a movie, so, many times I think I am a lawyer. And clearly I'm not a lawyer, because I got arrested. — Reese Witherspoon

For our first date, I made Ryan Hamburger Helper, which is basically what I grew up on. I make my own version of it now, with macaroni and cheese and hamburger meat. And the kids - it's their favorite dinner. — Reese Witherspoon

Confidence is everything in this business. — Reese Witherspoon

I like Yoga. I run. I go hiking. I'm very active. I like being outside. — Reese Witherspoon

That said, my kids are at home right now with my husband and I'm missing something important at my daughter's school which makes me feel sick inside. It's a lot of balance and a lot of really hard decision making. — Reese Witherspoon

If you are not yelling at your kids,you are not spending enough time with them. — Reese Witherspoon

I was always, as a younger actress, very conscious of not wanting to act sexy. I didn't see myself like that. But I think as a woman, you get older, you feel more confident in your sexuality. You're not as intimidated by it, not as embarrassed by it. — Reese Witherspoon

I'm at a point in my life where I could make 20 more movies, but I want to make 20 more movies that matter to me. — Reese Witherspoon

But listen, I'm 29-years-old, I'm really lucky to be there and whatever happens I've been really blessed already. I have plenty of awards for this movie and if this was it for me I'd be really content. — Reese Witherspoon

A [news] magazine printed a [photo-illustration] of me in a ball gown holding a vacuum cleaner, saying I started a company. Last time I checked, I'm not selling vacuums. It was very sexist. — Reese Witherspoon

It's fun chasing boys, especially when you're young, but I think it takes time and life experience to notice the other boys. — Reese Witherspoon

I have to admit I was dismayed when I found out 'type A' refers to a category of risk for heart disease - I thought it was just a nickname my mom gave me! — Reese Witherspoon

Turning 30 was really big for me. I can get really stuck on 'I don't like this or that about myself.' I've found that the only thing that breaks that for me is being able to spend time alone, going to the movies by myself or going to art museums alone. I do that a lot. I've discovered the importance of even 15 or 30 minutes a day where it is just me. — Reese Witherspoon

To be courageous , you have to have an army of people holding you. — Reese Witherspoon

I don't think these women are stupid. I think they're selling a personality that's very marketable: Wouldn't it be fun if we were all gorgeous and didn't have a care? But creating a cultural icon out of someone who goes, I'm stupid, isn't it cute? makes me want to throw daggers at them! I want to say to them, My grandma did not fight for what she fought for, and my mother did not fight for what she fought for, so you can start telling women it's fun to be stupid. Saying that to young women, little girls, my daughter? It's not OK. — Reese Witherspoon

It's important to do things that scare you to death! — Reese Witherspoon

You do the best you can. But it's hard. When I find things egregiously misrepresentative of women, I'll make a point to say to my son, Turn that off. I don't want to see women behave that way. — Reese Witherspoon

I always let my husband read the script so he knows what's about to happen to his wife. When I played Cheryl Strayed in Wild, I'd get really mad about certain things, I'd say really profound things, and I'd curse out of nowhere. He'd say, "Are you you, or are you Cheryl?" — Reese Witherspoon

I think it's really interesting to play a woman who can articulate that she isn't ready to have a family and isn't even sure if she wants a family. I have a lot of friends like that. But obviously, that's not me. — Reese Witherspoon

You can learn a lot about yourself with what youre doing and who youre with on a sunday. — Reese Witherspoon

I literally think I look bad in every picture. — Reese Witherspoon

You hope you're saying the right things - but also, as a kid becomes a teenager, you feel like there's a ticking clock for you to tell them everything they need to know. — Reese Witherspoon

I'd always ask my grandma, who was so, so smart, why she didn't work, and she would explain that her parents didn't approve of her working after she had children. She didn't feel like she had choices. — Reese Witherspoon

I thought I was going to go back to Stanford, and then I got Election. I loved being an actor. — Reese Witherspoon

I feel very blessed to have two wonderful, healthy children who keep me completely grounded, sane and throw up on my shoes just before I go to an awards show just so I know to keep it real. — Reese Witherspoon

I'm encouraging these women, like Cheryl Strayed, to take the jump to writing for the screen. She is adapting her book Tiny Beautiful Things for us. They're infinitely capable of tackling the format. — Reese Witherspoon

Growing up in the South, it was very patriarchal. When I applied to Stanford, I was told by a [male] college counselor, "You're never gonna get in, don't bother. They don't want you." I said, "I'm going to try." And I got in! But I wouldn't be the woman I am if I hadn't had that conflict to overcome. It has given me an underdog feeling all my life. — Reese Witherspoon

Well I always wanted to be Dolly Parton when I was a little girl. I was obsessed with her. — Reese Witherspoon

That said, I'd love to do a musical, either in film or on stage. — Reese Witherspoon

I started working on trying to sound like June from the very beginning. — Reese Witherspoon

I'm just trying to matter and live a good life and make work that means something to somebody. — Reese Witherspoon

I think, like every working parent, I sometimes feel that there are not enough hours in the day. But overall, I'm very fortunate that my job has a lot of flexibility. I spend a lot of time with the kids, just around the house. — Reese Witherspoon

And I think Taylor Swift is just an exemplary young lady. It's kind of interesting to see what a profound songwriter she is. I don't even think anyone has realized, the long term is going to be the bigger revelation. It's incredible how quickly she writes songs. We've hung out a couple times, we live near each other in Nashville. — Reese Witherspoon

My husband is my biggest supporter on earth. He encourages me to put myself out in the world in ways that feel scary, and he's like, "I'm always gonna catch you. I'm always gonna be there for you." My supportive mother and family. Honey, it's such a village. — Reese Witherspoon

It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior. — Reese Witherspoon

When you finally accept that you're a complete dork, your life gets easier. No sense in trying to be cool. — Reese Witherspoon

But with the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything and the biggest accomplishment that I feel I got from the film was overcoming that fear. — Reese Witherspoon

When a police officer tells you to stay in the car, you stay in the car. — Reese Witherspoon

Realizing you're not anything special to the kids is always a great sort of reminder that you're just a regular person. A regular, embarrassing old mom. — Reese Witherspoon

I was surprised when the ultrasound revealed that I was having a girl. I was convinced I was having a boy. And I was completely confounded by the fact that I wasn't in control of the situation; that I was being introduced to a different individual coming into my life. — Reese Witherspoon

I believe ambition is not a dirty word. It's just believing in yourself and your abilities. Imagine this: What would happen if we were all brave enough to believe in our own ability? To be a little bit more ambitious? I think the world would change. — Reese Witherspoon

Your body is just a vessel for who you are as a person. And until you work on what you give back to the world, it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside. — Reese Witherspoon

There are things in my life that are hard to reconcile, like divorce. Sometimes it is very difficult to make sense of how it could possibly happen. Laying blame is so easy. I don't have time for hate or negativity in my life. There's no room for it. — Reese Witherspoon

I don't believe in perfection. I don't think there is such a thing. — Reese Witherspoon

I like my body so much better after I had kids. Is that a crazy thing to say? I'm more womanly. I feel sexier. — Reese Witherspoon

If you took naked pictures of yourself on your cell phone, you hide your face, people! Hide your face! — Reese Witherspoon

If something seems frightening or horrible, I should probably do it. — Reese Witherspoon

Sexuality and femininity is an accumulation of age and wisdom and comfort in your own skin. — Reese Witherspoon

I got a role in this movie called Freeway playing this really angry, aggressive, violent young woman who believed wholeheartedly in the truth. I had such satisfaction afterward, and I thought, That's what I want to do. — Reese Witherspoon

I'm not a politician, She says evenly. If I want to be one, I'll run for office. Susan Sarandon, whom I know and love, is a fantastic actress. It's her right as an American to say whatever she wants. [But] just because you're rich and famous doesn't qualify you to make political statements. I don't put my opinions out there to influence people. You have alot of influence. And sometimes I feel it's undeserved influence. — Reese Witherspoon

The truth is ... I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart ... and I never really got it back. — Reese Witherspoon

I grew up in Tennessee. We didn't know what Louis Vuitton was. I had to order all my prom outfits out of catalogs. — Reese Witherspoon

I've been through really trying experiences personally, and your family is who you turn to. — Reese Witherspoon

I mean, really: He called me 33 percent lesbian, which was a gross underestimation of my lesbian-ness. — Reese Witherspoon

I don't have a lot of physical comedy instincts. I'm more verbal. — Reese Witherspoon

I love to cook comfort food. I'll make fish and vegetables or meat and vegetables and potatoes or rice. The ritual of it is fun for me, and the creativity of it. — Reese Witherspoon

Every day you have to choose and cultivate your own happiness. — Reese Witherspoon

People seem to really enjoy laughing at me. — Reese Witherspoon

Being a Southern person and a blonde, it's not a good combination. Immediately, when people meet you, they think of you as not being smart. — Reese Witherspoon

One hundred percent my mother, who would always say, "If you want something done, do it yourself." She must have said that 100 times to me - as a child, as a young woman, yesterday on the phone. — Reese Witherspoon

I had someone correct my grammar once on a blind date, and within the first 10 minutes the date was over. You just don't correct somebody's grammar. That's just not okay. I'm from Tennessee, so I probably say everything wrong. I might have said 'ain't,' or something like that. — Reese Witherspoon

It's fun to do a comedy and hook people in and then hoodwink them into watching a serious movie. I like to lead in with the comedy and then hit them over the head with a drama. — Reese Witherspoon

I worry about my kids growing up and how the world might hurt them. But at the same time, I absolutely do not worry about them growing up - because they have great values and a great sense of self. — Reese Witherspoon

And I want to say that my grandmother was one of the biggest inspirations in my life. She taught me how to be a real woman, to have strength and self-respect, and to never give those things away. — Reese Witherspoon

The joy we get as actors is out of transforming ourselves into something that's not necessarily anything true to ourselves. And it's a power - not being yourself, and being in the role; it's just like another prop. — Reese Witherspoon

Lord knows, every day is not a success, every year is not a success. You have to celebrate the good. — Reese Witherspoon

Doing begets more doing. It sounds simple, but I'm a firm believer that action can solve so many worries, and just powering through, no matter what, can give you the confidence you need when you feel like you've got nothing to offer. — Reese Witherspoon

I have a good memory for certain things. And a very short memory for painful things - that's my favorite Martha Stewart quote, by the way. — Reese Witherspoon

I spent a lot of my 20s just trying to make other people happy, rather than trying to figure out if doing that made me happy. — Reese Witherspoon