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Her Upcoming Films
RD: What about the Southern hospitality? Was that really part of your household growing up?Witherspoon: I think that's sort of a natural part of being Southern. It's just what's expected there, in the schools, in the community, in the social events.
RD: How much of it has transferred into your own household today?
Witherspoon: My husband grew up in a very similar way, so we have a lot of the same values. We're not as strict about Missus-this and Mister-that. I had to say, Yes, ma'am, and Yes, sir. My children just have to say please and thank you.
RD: Someone who's directed you once said you're the most opinionated actress ever. It's an interesting combination -- the polite Southerner who says what she thinks.
Witherspoon: I'm just chatty. But I do express my opinion.
RD: Where did you get the confidence to say what you think?
Witherspoon: Probably from my dad. He likes to have intellectual arguments with me all the time -- it's one of his favorite things. And I liked all that debate and mock trial stuff in high school. It's important to know how to make your points.
RD: Do you think it's helped in your career?
Witherspoon: Yes. Confidence is everything in this business.
RD: Let's talk about your new movie, Just Like Heaven. In it, you play a ghost.
Witherspoon: My character is a workaholic, and it's about what happens when you fail to nurture your spirit and your life comes to a crossroads. My character's spirit leaves her body and puts her on a journey to discover who she is.
RD: You co-star with Mark Ruffalo. What is he like?
Witherspoon: He's a very nice, funny guy, and a family man. He has a wife and two kids, and the director, Mark Waters, has a wife and kid. It makes your life a lot easier when you're working with people who want to go home at the end of the day, not start the parties.
RD: You also have Walk the Line coming out this fall, in which you play June Carter Cash. Are you a country music fan?
Witherspoon: I love country music, and am definitely a big Johnny Cash fan. But my favorite country singer of all time is Dolly Parton. Ever since I was six years old, when people would say, "Who are you going to be when you grow up?" I'd say, "Dolly Parton." I think she's an amazing songwriter, and she has such a beautiful voice. And she's so kind and giving and open, even after years of being in the business. She's a nice country girl, with a lot of sense and a lot of pizazz. I think she's great.
RD: You do your own singing in the film.
Witherspoon: It was harrowing! We had to have six months of rehearsal, where I had to study with three different voice coaches and finally found this great person who took me as far as I was going to go. And then I had to take lessons to play the Autoharp in a couple of scenes. I wanted to quit every day. [Laughs]
RD: I thought you said you wanted to be a country singer when you grew up.
Witherspoon: I did take three years of singing lessons -- beginning when I was, like, nine. It's such a gift. And it's something I just barely learned to do.
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