Jennifer Garner reveals the surprising way Reese Witherspoon helped her cope during a ‘very public, very hard moment in my life’

Jennifer Garner praised her friend Reese Witherspoon and revealed how the Academy Award-winning actress supported her during a difficult time in her life.

‘I think back to a very public, very difficult moment in my life. (Reese) was right,” Garner said Saturday during a panel discussion at Hello Sunshine’s Shine On event in Los Angeles, as reported by People.

While Garner didn’t reveal the details about the difficult experience in question, she did reveal how dance cardio served as a coping mechanism and bonding experience for her and Witherspoon.

“I danced cardio so hard that we broke her foot, but she kept going,” Garner said.

‘It was like, okay, we trained at seven o’clock on holiday, we’re going to train again at two o’clock. (Reese) said, “I’ll be there, I’ll be there.” ‘

The event was organized by Hello sunshinethe media company co-founded by Witherspoon, which recently produced the Garner-led AppleTV+ miniseries The Last Thing He Told Me.

Although the actresses did not name the series, likely wanting to avoid promotion due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Garner did take a moment to thank Witherspoon for providing a safe space for her and other actresses to share their stories without fear. express opinions about the industry. of being silenced.

“Those meetings took place at Reese’s home. And it was the first time I’d ever been in the same room with so many actresses that we weren’t passing each other at an awards show in big dresses, where we were just sitting,” the 13 Going On 30 star explained: before adding, ” We are isolated from that one place.”

‘The place where that doesn’t happen, the place where change started and where it can no longer happen, is Hello Sunshine. It’s just true,” Garner said emphatically.

While on the panel, Garner also thanked the Legally Blonde star for her support as a mother.

“She’ll also look at you and say, ‘Okay, you need to find a preschool. This kid is two and a half and they have to start next month. You really need to get started on this,'” the Peppermint star said of Witherspoon, who is also the mother of three children: Ava, 24, Deacon, 19, and Tennessee, 11.

The Shine On event was first organized by Hello Sunshine – the media company founded by Witherspoon in 2016 – with the aim of bringing the Hello Sunshine community together in person.

Mindy Kaling, 44, also praised Witherspoon during the panel, describing her as “obviously so funny and so talented,” but also as someone she calls a friend, “the person who can tell you hard things and you believe her.” ‘

While Garner didn’t reveal the details about the difficult experience in question, she did reveal how dance cardio doubled as a coping mechanism and bonding experience for her and Witherspoon.

Dance-cardio-bonding: “I danced cardio-d so hard that we broke her foot, but she kept going,” Garner said. ‘It was like, okay, we trained at seven o’clock on holiday, we’re going to train again at two o’clock. (Reese) said, “I’ll be there, I’ll be there”‘

Changing the narrative for women: Hello Sunshine founder Reese Witherspoon took to her Instagram page and shared some photos of the ‘first ever in-person experience’

Connecting women: Witherspoon shared how she had ‘the very best time with Tracee Ellis Ross’ during an event discussion

Charting a new path forward: Witherspoon revealed there’s ‘always so much to talk about (Tracee Ellis Ross)’, alongside a photo of the two stars chatting backstage

Reese’s Book Club: The event also had a segment on Reese’s Book Club, featuring a few authors the actress featured as her monthly picks

Powerful women: Witherspoon tagged a photo of Garner and Kaling at the event and said how she “loved, loved, loved talking to these two about the power of connection”

Beam Away: Witherspoon also posted about the event ‘ended an amazing day with a performance from the incredibly talented Dove Cameron’

Beam Away: The Hello Sunshine founder also gave a shout-out to Kiran + Nivi

Acknowledgments: Witherspoon also nodded respectfully to the Hello Sunshine dream team

Also in attendance at the event were writer and comedian Fortune Feimster and black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross, who sat down with the Hello Sunshine founder for a separate conversation.

Witherspoon also talked about her popular Reese’s Book Club, in which she chooses a book every month that she posts to Instagram. During their conversation, which included several Book Club authors, she announced that her choice for November is Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major.

“It’s always a good day when you see some @reesesbookclub authors,” the Hello Sunshine founder said afterwards, taking to her Instagram Story.

Witherspoon called the event “a dream come true” as she shared photos and videos from the event on her social media platform.

“I loved talking to these two about the power of connection,” the Home Again star wrote, tagging a photo of Garner and Kaling at the event.

Witherspoon also gave some shout-outs to the artists who provided entertainment, including musical duo Kiran + Nivi and singer Dove Cameron, who she called “incredibly talented.”