Jennifer Love Hewitt is getting candid about the lasting psychological impact of body criticism that followed her throughout her career, particularly after a 2007 incident that she says fundamentally changed how she sees herself. The 46-year-old actress, who starred in Hallmark’s “The Lost Valentine” with Betty White, recently opened up about her struggles with body image in a revealing interview.
Speaking with Vulture, Hewitt reflected on how constant commentary about her physique overshadowed her acting work throughout her career. The former “Party of Five” star explained that the focus on her appearance became so overwhelming that it affected her confidence and self-perception in ways she’s still processing today.
The actress described how media coverage consistently reduced her to physical attributes rather than acknowledging her professional achievements. “It was just, ‘Boob, boob, boob,’ everywhere,” whenever she was discussed in the press, she explained. “I really wanted to be a good actor, and I was trying to outact the conversation around my body.”
The situation reached a breaking point during a 2007 vacation to Hawaii with her then-fiancé Ross McCall. Paparazzi captured photos of her enjoying herself in the ocean while wearing a bikini, which led to widespread media coverage about her weight. The images were subsequently featured on a People magazine cover with the headline “Stop Calling Me Fat!”
“I was having the time of my life,” Hewitt recalled about the moment the photos were taken. “I had made up the dumbest song about eating snacks and playing in the ocean, and I was singing it to my boyfriend out loud, doing some weird dance move, and they got the picture and then it was on the cover.”
The experience proved devastating for the actress, who had previously maintained confidence despite years of commentary about her appearance. “I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover. And then when it happened, I don’t know that I’ve ever recovered from it,” she admitted.
Her Mom’s Wise Words Changed Everything
Hewitt’s late mother, Patricia, provided crucial perspective during this difficult period, helping her daughter understand the broader dynamics at play. Her mother’s wisdom proved instrumental in helping Hewitt begin to process what had happened and why it felt so personally devastating.
“She was like, ‘You don’t get it. You can’t win. This is just people having a problem with the version of you they think belongs to them,'” Hewitt recalled her mother saying. “And she said, ‘Take your power back. Belong to yourself, and don’t worry about it.'”
The actress explained that the Hawaii incident was particularly traumatic because it captured her in a moment of genuine happiness and authenticity. “Because that was me,” she reflected. “I think that’s why the insecurity carried on. I don’t know if I’ve even ever put that together for myself other than right now… I think I was like, Oh my God, I was myself one time, and this is what happened.”
The incident also made her more aware of how the media landscape had shifted during the early 2000s. “All of a sudden, the pictures were of actresses stumbling out of clubs drunk,” she remembered. “It was them at the grocery store looking terrible. It opened this very scary door.”
She’s Finding Her Power Again Through Acting
Despite the lasting impact of these experiences, Hewitt has found ways to reclaim her narrative through her current projects. Her role as Maddie on the hit series “9-1-1” has provided her with opportunities to showcase her acting abilities, with the focus primarily on her performance rather than her appearance.
“I get to be, not ugly, but raw in a way that doesn’t matter. I get to put all those little things into her that maybe I didn’t notice or get to pay attention to along the way and heal them,” she explained about the character.
The actress noted that “9-1-1” represents the first time since “Party of Five” that people are discussing her performance more than her physical appearance. “It was the work and then it was the body. And not the body of work,” she said. “Now we’re getting back to the work part of it.”
Hewitt’s return to the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” franchise has also provided therapeutic value. She worked closely with the creative team to ensure her character’s wardrobe would be “sexy but not sexualized.” The movie featured her wearing vintage t-shirts, blazers, and jeans rather than revealing outfits.
“It was very healing,” she said about the wardrobe choices. “Nobody’s going to be talking about my boobs. ‘Oh, you want me to flash you? They’re down here.'”
The actress has also gained perspective by watching documentaries like “Framing Britney Spears.” This experience helped her recognize parallels between her own experiences and those of other female celebrities. Many stars have faced similar scrutiny regarding their bodies and appearance.
“When I started watching it, I was like, ‘Oh, they talked to me like that. Oh.’ I started crying for her. And then I realized I was crying for me,” she revealed.
Recent reports from Daily Mail suggest that Hewitt has developed a healthier relationship with fitness and self-care. She is focusing on strength training and balanced nutrition rather than adhering to Hollywood’s often unrealistic beauty standards.
Despite ongoing challenges with body image, Hewitt continues to work in the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, she is busy raising three children with her husband, actor Brian Hallisay. Hewitt remains open about her experiences with body image and the ongoing process of healing from past criticism.
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How Jennifer Love Hewitt Overcame Years of Body Shaming