On dealing with a publicized divorce:
“It definitely sometimes feels like a suit that I wish I could zip off. But I don’t feel bad about any of the things I’ve gone through, whether it’s divorce or breakups or anything like that, because that’s all part of the life journey, and I have those experiences just like anyone else. And I think it deepens what you tap into creatively.”

On dealing with pain:
“My favorite quote is from Martha Stewart: ‘I have a short memory for painful things.’ And I do. I have one of those incredible memories where I just erase painful things. Maybe that’s really unhealthy, and I probably need to see a therapist. But I don’t dwell. You just keep going forward. Also, I have kids. What are you going to do? Are you going to teach them to be one of those people who keep looking in the rearview mirror, or are you going to teach them to be one of those people who go, ‘Tomorrow’s another day’?”

On her mother handling Reese’s wedding rumors:
“My mom always texts me, like, ‘Are you getting married?’ ” Witherspoon says, laughing. “I’m like, ‘Mom, come on! You would know if I was getting married.’ ”

On Googling herself:
“Oh, only in very, very dark moments—moments of pure self-loathing—do I type my name into Google. [Laughs] And I know what I’m in for. You never read anything positive—you always go straight to where you know they’re going to say something nasty about you.”