Reese Witherspoon has appeared to accidentally reveal the name of an A-list actor who “doesn’t like” her after a speech-gone-wrong.
On Thursday (January 20, 2025), the Legally Blonde and Big Little Lies star said that a female Hollywood star, whose name she didn’t reveal, was left unimpressed after Witherspoon “roasted” her at a “classy” awards show in the UK.
‘It was pretty bad,” Witherspoon, who stars in new comedy You’re Cordially Invited with Will Ferrell, told PEOPLE. “Yeah, not even kidding – she doesn’t talk to me anymore.”
According to the actor, she is still “haunted” and “embarrassed” by the reaction to her speech, which she wrongly assumed should be a roast sending up the unnamed star, which many are deducing to be Kate Winslet.
“So this friend of mine – who I didn’t really know that well, but she was a very serious, proper actress – she asked me to give her an award,” Witherspoon said.
“But I had never been to this award ceremony, so I thought it was like a roast. So I got up and I roasted her. The tone was British and elegant and classy, and I was like, ‘Remember the time we got laser hair removal?!'”
Social media detectives quickly sprang into action, piecing together clues that suggest Witherspoon might be referring to Academy Award winner Kate Winslet.
Their detective work centers on evidence that Witherspoon made light-hearted jokes about the renowned British actress while presenting her with an honor at the prestigious Bafta/LA Cunard Britannia Awards—including that memorable quip about laser hair removal.
A fan website dedicated to Witherspoon, as noted by Just Jared, reveals a November 2007 quote from the actor:
“I always wanted to be a European movie star, wear giant sunglasses, elaborate neck scarves, smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, and have savoir faire and gravitas.
“Imagine my good fortune when Kate Winslet moved into my neighbourhood, rang my door bell and said, ‘Darling, Sam [Mendes, Winslet’s ex] is off shooting, and I believe our children are the same age. Could they possibly have a play date and oh, by the way, it’s almost nine o’clock and I’ve had nothing to do drink. So you have any wine?'”
The actor went on to mention their plans for laser hair removal and alluded to an amusing underwear incident, though she refrained from elaborating, stating that the stories were “too bawdy or tawdry or drunken to tell.”
In her recent interview, Witherspoon reflected:
“I thought it was so funny and it was, just, I had the wrong audience.”
The two actresses later shared the Oscars stage in 2016, presenting nominations for Best Picture contenders Bridge of Spies and Spotlight, though they maintained a notably professional distance during their segment.
Witherspoon’s latest film, You’re Cordially Invited, is now on Amazon Prime.
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