"Sometimes I've been reading and watching movies for seven days, and I need a break," she said.
Reese Witherspoon seems to have a knack for turning everything she touches into gold. After rising to fame as America's sweetheart through some of the most iconic romcoms of our time, the star has for the past few years been on a mission to steer Hollywood toward powerful stories that put women front and center.
Speaking to Harper's Bazaar in 2016 about how she came to don the hat of a producer, the 46-year-old said: "There was a point, around 2011, there were like five actresses that I admire very much and they all called me and said, 'There's this role of this girlfriend in this movie,' which was kind of just a terrible movie. And we're all kind of clamoring for this terrible part? We are so much better than this.'"
Witherspoon shared that while she herself wanted to "get a female perspective on film that would make" her daughter Ava "understand what it means to be a woman in a different way," it was ultimately her husband Jim Toth who pushed her to become a producer. "He said, 'You should produce movies. You read more books than anybody I know. You should just buy some of them and turn them into films,'" said Witherspoon, who has been happily married to Toth for 11 years.
And that's exactly what she did. "We're reading constantly. My brain hurts sometimes," Witherspoon said. "Sometimes I've been reading and watching movies for seven days, and I need a break."
After splitting from her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe in 2008, Witherspoon reportedly never thought she would marry again. Then, she met Toth. "It happened out of the blue. This really drunk guy was hitting on me, making such an idiot of himself, and yelling at me. He was like, [slurring, scowling, pointing finger in her face] 'You don't know me.' And I was like, 'Yeah, I know. I don't know you!' Jim came over and said, 'Please excuse my friend. He's just broken up with someone.' Jim was a really good friend, pulling him out of that situation. That's just kind of who he is, a really good person," the star told Elle in 2012.
According to PEOPLE, after a courtship of less than a year—during which Witherspoon introduced Toth to her two children with Phillippe, Deacon, and Ava Phillippe—the couple announced their engagement in December 2010.
"Jim said, 'I'm gonna show you every day what a good partner is, what a good person is. I'm going to take care of you. I'm gonna do this so much that you're gonna get used to it.' I was like, 'What are you talking about?' I've never had anybody like that in my life," Witherspoon revealed. The couple celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary in March this year and the actress marked the occasion with an Instagram post captioned: "Happy Anniversary JT!! 11 years of adventures, love & laughter. I feel so lucky to share this wonderful life with you."
Witherspoon and Toth share a ten-year-old son called Tennesse James Toth. Speaking to PEOPLE in 2016 about how Toth is as a father, the celeb said: "He's an incredible man, a wonderful organizer, a great leader. He knows how to get people together. He's very patient and funny with the kids. And he really encourages them to see the humor in life."
On Toth's 50th birthday, Witherspoon posted on Instagram about her husband's love for his family. "Happy Birthday to my amazing hubby, Jim!! Everything you do, you put in 1000%! Whether he's training for a triathlon, giving back to his community, supporting his friends, or loving his family, he gives his whole heart to so many people every day! I [love] you so much, JT!"
References:
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/g2801/reese-witherspoon-unbound-612491/?slide=1
https://people.com/movies/reese-witherspoon-and-jim-toth-share-their-ideal-date-night/
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a13533/reese-witherspoon-0216/
https://people.com/movies/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-relationship-timeline/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Christopher Polk
