After winning the 2005 Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line," Reese Witherspoon unfortunately caught the Oscar curse, also known as the Cuba Gooding Jr. syndrome, which pulls certain stars into obscurity instead of further propelling their careers. During the years following her big win, Witherspoon starred in a series of fluffy comedies that were box-office duds and gradually became persona non grata for leading major studio releases.
Recently, she’s been trying her hand at a female version of The McConnaissance as she takes on more daring and challenging roles in indies. The tactic seems to be working. After receiving praise for her supporting role as the profoundly damaged romantic obsession to Matthew McConaughey in "Mud," her performance as Cheryl Strayed in "Wild," based on Strayed’s autobiography about her 1100-mile hike across the Pacific Crest Trail, is getting rave reviews.
Witherspoon spoke with...
