Jennifer Love Hewitt, popular for her portrayal of Julie James in the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer, began her career as a child actor starring in the Disney Channel sitcom Kids Incorporated and the popular teen drama series Party of Five. Despite her stardom and talent, Hewitt faced considerable objectification as a young woman in the entertainment industry, which frequently overshadowed her talent as she became the target of talks centered on her appearance at an extremely young age.
In a recent interview, the actress discussed her experiences as a child actor, opening up about the difficulties she encountered while continuously being subjected to unwelcome attention and judgment.
Jennifer Love Hewitt claims Hollywood sexualized her
While appearing on Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown podcast, the 45-year-old discussed the challenges she experienced following her breakthrough role. She explained that after I Know What You Did Last Summer was released, the public and media got obsessed with her physical appearance, especially her bosoms.
The mother of three revealed that the obsession got so bad that during live television appearances, interviewers routinely made inappropriate jokes about her body.
Jennifer Love Hewitt says she feels heartbroken that her acting ability and talent were not celebrated
Jennifer Love Hewitt noted that as a young actress, the incessant jokes about her body didn’t bother her too much as she believed that she was some sort of role model to the numerous fans, making it “very innocent and exciting and fun.” However, the sad reality dawned on her when she grew older and began to see her teenage years with a new perspective. While reflecting, she made the shocking discovery that she was sexualized by adults who were supposed to protect her in Hollywood.
Looking back at the past, Hewitt expressed disappointment that her exceptional acting abilities were rarely acknowledged. Instead, every conversation about her was dominated by inappropriate remarks about her body.