By Veronica Mixon

S he is the golden girl of hot young Hollywood. Resse Witherspoon's talent has matured since her debut in "Man on the Moon" at age fourteen in 1991. The twenty-two year old actress crossed over from ingenue to bonafide star after sexy turn in last year's "Pleasantville" and her bold performance as a ripe virgin opposite her real life love, Ryan Phillippe in "Cruel Intentions."

Shortly before I sat down with Reese to talk about her latest film, "Election," it was announced that she and Phillippe were expecting a baby. Still slim with just a hint of the expectant baby, Reese Witherspoon proved to be a smart, witty young woman as she shared her thoughts about her career and her life.

The Interview

I understand this movie is important to you. How so? Definitely. It's one of the greatest working experience I've had in two or three years - not that I haven't had really good ones but this to me, was a real labor of love. I had such a good time. I really got into the character and really enjoyed. I enjoyed it every day.

Does this compare to your "Man in the Moon" debut because it's a break through as an adult actress? Yeah, definitely. I mean, "Freeway" was a great experience and this was definitely was right up there. Those are my two favorite films I've made so far.

You're not nice in this film. Is it a kick to play someone who is sweet on the surface and really a bitch underneath? [Laughs] It was actually great because this reminds me of so many people that I knew. But, I think everybody knows one of those horrible people that you can't stand and who's so perfect. You just want to kill them but you can't because they just get you in the end, anyway. It's great to be able to bring that to the screen. To have this character, who for all intents and purpose, who's likeable but you just can't stand her?

Did you get this part before the Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal? Yeah, we did this movie in the fall of '97. It was around but it wasn't as obvious as it is now. But, we definitely had some winks toward that whole scandal in the movie.

Did you discuss the freeze frame shots with director? No. [laughs] I was pretty shocked when he did the freeze frame and my face is all distorted. I looked at him. We went out to lunch and I said, now, why exactly did you decide to do that? I thought it was funny but why? He said, he decided to do that like snap shots that you got back from the Photomat that you would have thrown away normally. [Laughs] I think it's his sort of way to capture somebody when they are so mannered, to put them in an awkward position.

How would you categorize this film? I think it's a hard film to grasp because it does have young people in it. But it's not a teen genre film. I think essentially it's about a guy going through a mid-life crisis in a small town and I think it's always hard when a film like this is trying to make it through a studio system because it's not a typical studio film. It doesn't have Kevin Costner, Michelle Pfieffer, etc. It's just essentially two actors in a black comedy. Even for a black comedy, it has a very different kind of tone than you see in films. We're hoping that it will have an audience like "Rushmore."

This is a great time to play teenagers in movies, don't you think? Yeah, I think teenagers are seeing movies and they want a certain kind of film. When you direct a film toward a certain market, it's inevitable that they will do well. So, I think studios have simply gotten smart.

Do you think "Election" is misogynistic at all? Do you think it's rude to men because all the men seem to be so stupid? [Laughs] When I first read the script, I thought all the women were so great. I couldn't decide whether to play the Tammy character or the Tracy character because they were so well written. I think he has a great grasp on women's sensibility. Even the Tammy character -- who is a young lesbian - he doesn't make her a victim of her sexuality. She's very comfortable with who she is.

There were no sex acts in this film. Is that because of your age or that you didn't want to do it? I think the director didn't think it was necessary. It was all very implied. You can get the point. But, I was certainly old enough! [Laughter] And, I was very thankful that I didn't have to. Since you brought it up, are there any high school teen stereotypes you haven't covered? Well, I try not to think of these roles as teen stereotypes. I really look at them as individual characters. I happen to look a certain age so I'm in that stage of my life where I'm playing young people but hopefully, I'll evolve.

Are you going to take a break now with the pregnancy? Yeah - unless anyone's casting big pregnant ladies as 17-year-old girls - which is all together possible.

How do you feel about taking a break? I feel really good. I feel it's been a really great year with Pleasantville and Cruel Intentions and I'm very proud of this film. I think it couldn't be a better time. And, it's always the right time when it happens. You make it the right time.

Both Ryan and you have said that you're getting married? Will it be this year? A secret? Yes. Soon.

Do you want to tell us when? No. [laughs]

Are you going to try to have a quiet little ceremony? Yeah. It's all planned.

Where's home going to be? Well, we don't know. Probably Los Angeles to start and we'll probably be moving back to somewhere, you know, kids don't have cell phones and credit cards.

Probably Montana? Yeah, some place like that.

Are you going to be surprised or do you know the sex of the baby? I don't know. But, we'll probably find out pretty soon.

Ambition is equated with loneliness in your character. Could you comment on that? No, I don't think you realize how lonely she is until later. We had some really lonely scenes where nobody signs her yearbook and it was really sad. I felt so bad for this girl. I definitely think it's a theme in the movie. I think a lot of people who have accomplished a lot in their lives feel very lonely and isolated. But you don't feel very lonely? Well, not currently. Is acting lonely? Definitely. I think certain aspect in our lives is lonely. I don't meet a lot of 23-year-old girls that I have a lot in common with. Sometime I feel like I have no friends and thinks like that. But, I think that you have to say it's the same thing as being looked at in a certain way as far as being in the public eye. You have to realize that there are certain sacrifices that you make for the dreams that you have in your life and this is what I've always wanted to do and I'm lucky enough to have found a wonderful person to share my life and understands that. He's the best friend that I'll ever have.

When did you know acting was what you wanted to do? Probably three years ago, when I did "Freeway" because up until that point, I'd been playing young ingenues, innocents and the girl next door. Frankly, I wasn't challenging myself very much because I hadn't realized this is what I wanted to do. Then, I got the script for "Freeway" - and it scared me half to death - but I decided, let's just try this. And, if I'm not any good then, I'll go to school and be a doctor. I was lucky enough that it happen to be pretty well received.

When you're reading a script, what elements do you look for? I have a really weird process. This movie, I read the script and I heard the voice in my head. There have been a lot of really wonderful scripts that my agents can't believe that I pass on - great directors - because I can't hear the voice. It doesn't appeal to me that way. I'm just very careful unless there is something that appeals to me about the character. I can't really participate.

If you had choice, what would be the perfect role or movie? I don't know. I'd like to a very romantic movie. I'd love to do a remake of "Splendor in the Grass" - something that's equally as tragic as it is romantic.

Do you want to be an A-list star and get $15-20 million dollars or would your rather do interesting parts regardless of money? What would you do with $20 millions dollars. I can't even fathom what I'd do with it. [Laughs] There are only so many pairs of shoes you can buy, you know. But, I think when you realize that when you're going to do this for a living, you come to the realization that your movies do have to make money - some of them. But it is important if you're going to have some longevity in this business, for people to see your movies. And, ultimately, we as actors are doing them for people. So, if nobody sees them, it defeats the purpose. I just try to be true to myself and try not to make too many compromises. I don't think you can think it out more than that. So, if Spielberg said, I've got Jurassic Park 3, you don't say no? You don't say no to Spielberg. [Laughs]

Do you have another movie coming out after "Election?" I have a movie called "Best Laid Plans" coming out this summer. And, I just finished "American Psycho." I play Patrick Bateman's fiancÈe who just drives him up the wall. It's been reported that there are all these protests against the movie because there's a serial killer up there. In Canada. They're having a bit of a problem up there especially in Toronto. They had a personal thing. There was a killer who said, "American Psycho inspired his work. But, Mary Harron, the director has taken more of the satirical elements of the book, the comedy and the humor so, it's really more about New York in the eighties - the superficiality rather than the blood and the carnage from the book.

Do you see this fiancÈe as a cousin to your "Election" character? [Laughs] Could be. But, you know, my New York socialite would never admit that she has cousins in Omaha.

Do you worry at all that you are so much better as the bitch than a sweet young thing?Typecasting? That's ok. Faye Dunaway had a nice run of it. I would like to have a similar thing.

edited by Veronica Mixon
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