Having risen to fame within the late ’90s, Jennifer Love Hewitt was among the many many starlets caught within the crosshairs of bubblegum misogyny within the early aughts, notably when it got here to tabloid media and paparazzi.
In a sprawling profile with Vulture tied to the return of scream queen Julie James within the legacy sequel I Know What You Did Final Summer season, Hewitt stated she solely not too long ago realized she skilled sexism en masse whereas viewing the documentary Framing Britney Spears, which exposes the cruel remedy the singer obtained from the general public and media on the peak of her fame and conservatorship.
“After I began watching it, I used to be like, ‘Oh, they talked to me like that, oh.’ I began crying for her. After which I spotted I used to be crying for me,” the actress stated.
The 9-1-1 mainstay stated the fact of her expertise “bothers” her moreso now as she realized “earlier than I even knew what intercourse was, I used to be a intercourse image.” She continued of that period of popular culture: “Impulsively, the images have been of actresses stumbling out of golf equipment drunk. It was them on the grocery retailer trying horrible. It opened this very scary door.”
Hewitt added, “I don’t put blame on the individuals asking [inappropriate] questions. No one was saying, ‘Don’t discuss to ladies like that. Don’t discuss to little ladies like that.’ However I labored exhausting on [I Know What You Did Last Summer]. I introduced good things to it, and nobody was speaking about it. It was simply ‘Boob, boob, boob’ in all places. I didn’t simply present as much as put on the little blue high and run round,” referencing her iconic wardrobe from the 1997 unique.
“I keep in mind seeing the highest for the primary time, and I used to be like, ‘This can be a small shirt. What’s occurring right here? We’re simply going to let it fly? OK, nice. Right here we go. Working once more. There they go! Bouncy-bounce! ’” she recalled. Whereas on the Australian press junket for the slasher, Hewitt tried to make a degree by carrying a T-shirt that learn “Silicone-free.” She stated, “I used to be like, ‘I’ve had it.’ I wore that shirt, and I felt so empowered. After which, in fact, no one cared. I actually wished to be a superb actor, and I used to be making an attempt to provide to the individuals watching. I used to be making an attempt to outact the dialog round my physique.”
Hewitt additionally recalled a specific low level that got here on account of an notorious Individuals cowl that includes the headline “Cease Calling Me Fats!” and paparazzi images taken throughout a trip: “I used to be having the time of my life … they usually obtained the image after which it was on the quilt,” she remembered. “I don’t suppose I used to be ever actually insecure till that cowl. After which when it occurred, I don’t know that I’ve ever recovered from it.”
The Heartbreakers star stated she credit her position in 9-1-1 and the chance to return to her IKWYDLS character as avenues which might be extra about her “physique of labor” moderately than her physique. Although initially hesitant to return to the horror franchise due to audiences’ opinions on her age and if Julie’s characterization can be achieved justice within the requel, Hewitt stated it was “therapeutic” to step again on set, particularly with a wardrobe she may management: “No one’s going to be speaking about my boobs. ‘Oh, you need me to flash you? They’re down right here.’”
Launched July 18 in theaters, the reboot follows a brand new forged of younger individuals — Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon and Jonah Hauer-King — in Southport, who obtain a threatening nameless message about their actions the summer time prior. Going through a maniacal, fish hook-wielding assassin, they search recommendation from the survivors of the final bout of violence of their seaside city: Hewitt’s Julie and Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Ray.