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Reese Witherspoon Says Anxiety Fueled Her Success as She Details Depression in New Harper’s Bazaar Interview

Her Harper’s Bazaar UK profile highlights candid accounts of postpartum and menopause alongside a blunt acknowledgment of her privileged access to care.

Overview

  • Witherspoon says her perfectionism and high anxiety were rewarded in Hollywood, even as she now works to accept that she is "enough."
  • She recounts severe postpartum depression after her first child’s birth at 23, early episodes as a teenager, and a family history that her mother warned could be genetic.
  • A friend encouraged her to seek professional help, which she notes she could access thanks to her connections and means, unlike many women.
  • She describes experiencing menopause symptoms including brain fog and memory lapses and praises women who have helped normalize the conversation.
  • The actor-producer will receive Harper’s Bazaar’s Cultural Icon award this week, affirms Hello Sunshine projects such as a Legally Blonde prequel, and plans a mother–son trip to Europe to mark her 50th.