The speaker, Reese Witherspoon, recounts a period in her career where directors expressed interest in hiring her but were prevented by studio decisions, often citing her lack of box office appeal. This led her to a determined decision to actively pursue roles that would establish her as a box office draw. She instructed her agent and manager to send her commercial scripts, specifically comedies, which she had previously overlooked. Among these scripts was 'Legally Blonde'. Initially, she hesitated to accept the role. However, a pivotal moment occurred when she watched Gloria Steinem discuss Goldie Hawn's performance in 'Private Benjamin' on Bravo. Steinem highlighted the film's significance in portraying an underestimated woman overcoming challenges to become the hero of her own story. This resonated deeply with Witherspoon, immediately drawing a parallel to the character in 'Legally Blonde' and solidifying her decision to take on the role.

Gilson Cesar

I would get letters from directors saying, "Thank you. I want to hire you so much, but the studio wouldn't won't let me."

"You're box office."

"Yeah, they won't let me hire you."

So, little Reese Witherspoon said, "I'll become box office."

Well, yeah, as if it's that easy, but I called...

"No, but that's what you said."

I called up some my agent and my manager and I said, "You know what? I have to find something that's going to make this happen for me. So, send me commercial scripts, the ones I wouldn't look at before."

And commercial meant comedy. Comedies. Yeah.

And they sent me the script for Legally Blonde and I hummed and hawed over it for a while and couldn't decide and then I saw Gloria Steinem talking about Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin on Bravo. It was like a biography. Yeah. And she was talking about the impact of that film and how important it was for women to see a woman who was underestimated uh rise above everything and become the hero of her own life. And I just rung in my ears and I was I I immediately saw the connection to Legally Blonde.

Reese Witherspoon talks about a significant point in career when she was having trouble bookingroles

>> I called up some my agent and my manager

>> And commercial meant comedy. Comedies.

I would get letters from directors
saying, "Thank you. I want to hire you
so much, but the studio wouldn't won't
let me."
>> you're box office.
>> Yeah, they won't let me hire you. So,
little Reese Witherspoon said,
"I'll become box office." Well, yeah, as
if it's that easy, but I called
>> No, but that's what you said.
>> I called up some my agent and my manager
and I said, "You know what? I have to
find something that's going to make this
happen for me. So, send me commercial
scripts, the ones I wouldn't look at
before."
>> And commercial meant comedy. Comedies.
Yeah. And they sent me the script for
Legally Blonde and I hummed and hawed
over it for a while and couldn't decide
and then I saw Gloria Steinem talking
about Goldie Hawn
in Private Benjamin on Bravo. It was
like a biography. Yeah. And she was
talking about the impact of that film
and how important it was for women to
see a woman who was underestimated uh
rise above everything and become the
hero of her own life. And I just rung in
my ears and I was I I immediately saw
the connection to Legally Blonde.

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Reese Witherspoon talks about a significant point in career when she was having trouble bookingroles

Transcription