Hollywood icon Reese Witherspoon recently shared her struggles with anxiety before embarking on the filming of the 2014 movie ‘Wild’.

Teaming up with director Jean-Marc Vallee, the 45-year-old actress delved into the adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s poignant 2012 memoir.

The narrative chronicles Strayed’s transformative 1,100-mile solitary journey along the Pacific Crest Trail in the aftermath of profound personal challenges.

Witherspoon disclosed resorting to hypnosis to confront the anxiety that plagued her leading up to the film production.

She candidly expressed, “I was so terrified to take on that role.

I underwent hypnosis because I was so scared.

For three weeks before filming began, I battled panic attacks.”

Various elements of the project weighed heavily on the actress, particularly the prospect of solo performances in front of the camera.

“The prospect of nudity, intimacy, and drug depiction unsettled me.

Additionally, the idea of facing the camera without fellow actors was daunting.

I had never faced long stretches of solo scenes before,” Witherspoon revealed.

During approximately 25 days of shooting, Witherspoon found herself devoid of co-stars, left alone with only the camera and a backpack.

Despite these challenges, the actress, who also served as a producer under her banner Hello Sunshine’s branch Pacific Standard, remained steadfast in her mission to authentically convey Strayed’s narrative through the film.

Reflecting on the profound impact of Strayed’s story, Witherspoon articulated, “Cheryl Strayed’s memoir resonated deeply with me as it encapsulates the essence of women empowering themselves.

It underscores the notion that we, as women, are responsible for our own salvation.

Strayed’s journey towards happiness without conventional societal norms struck a chord with me.”

The ‘Morning Show’ luminary contemplates whether she will ever undertake a project as demanding as ‘Wild’ in the future.

She remarked, “I am uncertain if I will ever devote myself to a project to that extent again, but the experience fundamentally altered me at a fundamental level.”

‘Wild’ garnered widespread acclaim upon its release in 2014, receiving recognition