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, significantly 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 therapy 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 noticed 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: “Unexpectedly, 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 girls like that. Don’t discuss to little ladies like that.’ However I labored arduous 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 every single place. I didn’t simply present as much as put on the little blue prime and run round,” referencing her iconic wardrobe from the 1997 authentic.
“I keep in mind seeing the highest for the primary time, and I used to be like, ‘It is a small shirt. What’s taking place right here? We’re simply going to let it fly? OK, nice. Right here we go. Operating once more. There they go! Bouncy-bounce! ’” she recalled. Whereas on the Australian press junket for the slasher, Hewitt tried to make some extent by sporting 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, after all, no one cared. I actually needed to be a superb actor, and I used to be attempting to provide to the individuals watching. I used to be attempting 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 photographs taken throughout a trip: “I used to be having the time of my life … they usually bought the image after which it was on the quilt,” she remembered. “I don’t assume 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 are extra about her “physique of labor” quite 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 performed justice within the requel, Hewitt stated it was “therapeutic” to step again on set, particularly with a wardrobe she might 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 solid 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 season 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.
