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26 Oct 2025 0:45
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Reese Witherspoon had panic attacks "for weeks" before filming 'Wild'

    The 45-year-old actress admitted making the 2014 movie - which is based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir about getting her life back together by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - was the biggest career challenge she's ever faced and she turned to hypnosis to calm her fears before she started work on the project


    Speaking to Tracee Ellis Ross for Interview magazine, she admitted: "I was so scared to do that... I had hypnosis, I was so scared. I was having panic attacks for three weeks before I started.

    “There was the nudity, sexuality, and drug-use aspect, but also being alone on camera with no other actors. I hadn’t ever been alone in scenes for days and days. There were probably 25 days of the shoot where I had no other actor opposite me. It was just me and a camera and a backpack. I was like, ‘Is this going to be so boring?’”

    And the 'Big Little Lies' star admitted making the film changed her forever after pushing her to her limits.

    She said: "I don’t know if I’ll ever work that hard again, but it changed me on a cellular level.”

    But Reese - who has Ava, 21, and Deacon, 17, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, as well as Tennessee, eight, with spouse Jim Toth - thought Cheryl's book was "beautiful and sacred" because it had taught her a lot.

    She said: “[It] was so beautiful and sacred to me because it spoke to me so deeply about how we as women have to save ourselves. There’s no mother or father coming to save us. There’s no spouse.

    "I thought it was radical that at the end of the film, she ends up with no family, no money, no job, no partner, and she’s happy.”

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Living & Travel:
    Powerball will be worth $30 million in Wednesday night's draw after $28 million eluded players this evening 21:57

    Rugby:
    Canterbury rugby coach Marty Bourke's hailing his team's culture and depth, after beating Otago in the NPC final in Christchurch 21:16

    Rugby:
    They've won the NPC rugby crown for the first time since 20-17, and farewelled their so-called "temporary" home since 20-12 18:57

    Boxing:
    Undefeated heavyweight boxer Fabio Wardley has outlined his keys to victory against Joseph Parker in tomorrow's bout for the WBO interim title in London 18:47

    Cricket:
    Canterbury have won another all-South Island showdown in Christchurch in cricket's Plunket Shield, beating Otago by six wickets 18:37

    Rugby:
    A full-circle moment for Canterbury and their so-called "temporary" stadium ... on Gold Sport 18:07

    Cricket:
    Kyle Jamieson's been ruled out of the Black Caps' one-day series against England after experiencing stiffness in his left side during today's training at Bay Oval 17:27

    Health & Safety:
    A warning to avoid consuming shellfish from the Taranaki coast 17:17

    Rugby:
    To today's NPC rugby final in Christchurch, where Canterbury and Otago have been trading tries 16:57

    Politics:
    Dame Noeline Taurua is reportedly back in charge of the Silver Ferns ... but not quite yet 16:17


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