Reese Witherspoon says she ‘had no control’ over sex scene in ‘Fear’ with Mark Wahlberg

Reese Witherspoon opens up about feeling like she ‘had no control over’ a sex scene in 1996 Fear.

During a interview with Harper’s BazaarPosted online Wednesday, the actress, who has been outspoken about creating opportunities for women to feel safe and empowered in Hollywood, recalled an experience she had early in her career.

While filming the psychosexual thriller directed by James Foley, Witherspoon, who was 19 at the time, had to shoot a rollercoaster sex scene with Mark Wahlberg’s character, who was her love interest in the film. Though she recalls asking a stunt double to fill in for him for the below-the-waist shots, she noted that he “wasn’t in control of it.”

“It wasn’t explicit in the script that that was going to happen, so it was something that I think the director came up with for himself and then he asked me on set if I would do it, and I said, ‘No,'” she explained. “Not a particularly good experience.”

The film follows teenager Nicole (Witherspoon) who falls in love with 23-year-old David (Wahlberg). But their relationship takes a turn when David reveals a dark side to him and becomes possessive of Nicole.

Witherspoon said she hasn’t let the traumatic experience stop her from pursuing her goals. Instead, she said that she helped transform her into the woman she is today, someone who is fighting for the respect of women and to make her voice heard when it comes to creating projects.

“I’m certainly not traumatized by it or anything, but it was formative,” the actress added. “You made me understand my place in the pecking order of cinema. 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 a male gaze.

And he did it with his production company, Hello Sunshine. The media company has already been behind several projects focusing on female leads, including Little big lies, Girl gone, Wild AND Daisy Jones and the six.

Later in the interview, Witherspoon also shared her thoughts on the rom-com revival and how she’s totally okay with more enjoyable projects.

Most recently, she starred opposite Ashton Kutcher in Your place or mineand is also set to star and co-produce You are cordially invited with Will Ferrell.

“I think the human capacity to handle so many heartbreaks and tragedies that have happened in the world has really diminished,” Witherspoon said. “We are not meant to feel overwhelmed by sadness and devastation.”

He continued: “I think about the opportunities to make movies and television shows that are joyful, upbeat, fun, just plain fun. I think about what I want to see on a Friday night, and while I may enjoy a true crime show or a podcast, I really need some levity. I think the world is looking for some brightness.”