Reese Witherspoon Talks Success, Girlfriends' Support and Baby Tennessee Stealing Her Brain in Red Magazine

"They have literally gotten me up out of bed, taken my clothes off, put me in the shower, dressed me, said, ‘Hey, you can do this,'" actress says of her pals

By Bruna Nessif Apr 29, 2013 1:10 PMTags
Reese WitherspoonFrank Micelotta/Getty Images

Reese Witherspoon's day-to-day life isn't always smooth sailing.

Although her shocking arrest last week may already be a hint that the sweet Southern belle has her moments, the actress opened up about multiple aspects of her life in an interview with the U.K.'s June issue of Red magazine (which was conducted prior to her run-in with the law), in which she gives thanks to those who help her through them.

"I don't know what I would have done so many times in my life if I hadn't had my girlfriends," Witherspoon says of the support from her closest pals.

"They have literally gotten me up out of bed, taken my clothes off, put me in the shower, dressed me, said, ‘Hey, you can do this,' put my high heels on and pushed me out the door! But you do have to work at friendships as much as you would any relationship."

Reese's loss of memory since giving birth to her third child, Tennessee, also contributes to experiencing some rough patches here and there.

"Ever since I had the baby, I can't remember anything. Serious, this child stole my brain. I'm losing friendships over forgetting to get back to people. But you can't keep up with everything. I've got a 13-year-old, a nine-year-old and a baby," notes the thesp.

"It's like CNN ticker tape running through my mind at all times [puts on robotic voice]: ‘Where is Ava? She's okay. Good. Where is Deacon? He's okay. Good. Where is Tennessee? Is he okay? Yes. Great. Back to Ava...' It doesn't stop."

But regardless of the troubles that she might run into, Witherspoon has proved that she knows what she's doing, which is evident through her continuing success—something Reese is just now beginning to take pride in, and is urging other women to do the same. 

"As women, we shrug and smile and say, ‘Oh...me?' because it makes it socially acceptable for us to be successful," she says. "But there is a balance between being an arrogant jerk and being someone who is proud of their accomplishments. We need to let successful women show off and support them.

"Because men don't spend any time putting themselves down. They don't waste their breath. You have to be the best version of yourself and, if that means you have to be a bit self-promoting, then it's OK. It really is. Because who's going to believe in you more than yourself? Other than, maybe, your mother."

You tell 'em, Reese.