Jennifer Love Hewitt Reveals Shocking Comments from Her Teen Years in Hollywood

by

Jennifer Love Hewitt opened up about the inappropriate remarks some men made to her following her teenage role in the horror movie ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. This film, based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel of the same name, saw Hewitt play Julie James. She reprised this role in the 1998 sequel, ‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer’. During a conversation on Mayim Bialik’s podcast, Hewitt shared her experiences of handling these distressing sexual comments.

At the age of thirty, I revisited that period in my life again and realized with astonishment, “Oh my goodness!” Men who were fully grown were discussing my chest openly on a talk show, and people were laughing about it. I hadn’t fully grasped that aspect at the time, but looking back, it was quite peculiar to be labeled a sex symbol before I even understood what that term meant. I didn’t comprehend the concept of being ‘sexy’, and yet I found myself on the cover of Maxim magazine.

In her budding career in entertainment, Hewitt first gained recognition through appearances on the kids’ TV show “Kids Incorporated” and sharing screen time with Whoopi Goldberg in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit”. However, it was her role as Sarah in the widely acclaimed TV series “Party of Five” that truly catapulted her to stardom. This period also saw her featuring in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and its sequel. During the same interview, the young actress addressed the unwanted comments she faced by saying:

Strangers would casually say things like, ‘I accidentally took your magazine on a trip last week,’ which left me puzzled [laughs]. I mean, it’s rather unappealing… When the movie ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ was released, people would joke about it by saying, ‘I know what your breasts did last summer.’ It was a time when such remarks were widely accepted. But comparing that era to today, it’s truly astonishing.

Jennifer Love Hewitt‘s Mother Shielded Her as Much as Possible

Throughout her distinguished acting career, Jennifer Love Hewitt has delivered exceptional performances beyond her roles in “Party of Five” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Her work on the TV series “Ghost Whisperer” and films like “The Audrey Hepburn Story” and “Can’t Hardly Wait” have broadened her acting repertoire. However, during the initial stages of her Hollywood journey, Hewitt acknowledges that her mother played a significant role in shielding and safeguarding her, especially from the excessive partying culture. In the same podcast interview, she stated:

Back then, it seemed delightfully innocent, thrilling, and enjoyable. I’m grateful for that experience because I believe if I had delved into it earlier, it might have affected me negatively. However, it didn’t, presumably due to the constant presence of my mother, who kept reality grounded for me. For instance, even after attending a premiere where people would encourage me to do certain things, I’d still return home to clean up my room. Thus, I believe this routine helped in maintaining balance.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d like to share my perspective on Jennifer Love Hewitt’s career. Starring in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was a game-changer for her, expanding her fanbase significantly. This film, released in 1997, and its sequel continue to captivate audiences, with the latter even bringing back Julie James’ love interest, Ray, played by Freddie Prinze Jr. In a recent podcast, Hewitt talked about the impact that embodying the Scream Queen had on her, providing us with an interesting insight into her journey.

I vividly recall feeling honored when girls admired me, a sentiment I took very seriously. This was something that stuck with me at the time. I felt a strong sense of responsibility, as if I needed to act in a manner worthy of being someone’s role model. I can still remember this moment clearly. Additionally, I recall having an insightful discussion with my mother about how there were likely tens of thousands of girls worldwide who didn’t have the same opportunities as me, and that it was my duty to make the most of them.

Jennifer Love Hewitt confirmed her role as Julie James once more for the upcoming sequel’s legacy installment, which was announced in December 2024. Freddie Prinze Jr. will also rejoin the cast, reprising his character from the original films released in 1997 and 1998. Eager fans can look forward to seeing these beloved characters again when “I Know What You Did Last Summer” hits cinemas on July 18, 2025.

Read More

2025-01-31 18:05