Jennifer Love Hewitt is reflecting on how public scrutiny of her body shaped her self-image—and nearly kept her from returning for the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel.

The actress, who rose to fame as a teen star on Party of Five and later in films like Can’t Hardly Wait and the original I Know What You Did Last Summer, faced relentless attention over her physique throughout her early career. But it wasn’t until paparazzi photos of her in a bikini went viral in 2007 that she truly felt the sting of body criticism.

In a candid interview with Vulture, Hewitt admitted she hadn’t fully grasped the toll it took on her until watching the Framing Britney Spears documentary. “When I started watching it, I thought, Oh, they talked to me like that too,” she shared. “I was crying for her—and then I realized I was crying for myself.”

Back in the 2000s, media coverage often reduced her to her appearance. “It was just, ‘Boob, boob, boob,’ everywhere,” she recalled. Determined to prove herself as an actress, she worked hard to “outact the conversation” about her body. But the 2007 Hawaii photos—which sparked headlines debating her weight—hit differently.

At the time, Hewitt fiercely defended herself, telling critics, “A size 2 is not fat! Nor will it ever be.” She encouraged women to embrace their curves, saying, “To all girls with butts, boobs, hips, and a waist—put on a bikini and stay strong.” Yet when PEOPLE ran the photos with the cover line “Stop Calling Me Fat!” the damage was done.

“I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover,” she confessed. “And I don’t know if I’ve ever fully recovered.” Even now, she battles lingering doubts: “Is this version of me good enough, or will someone say, ‘Look at her without makeup—she looks 59’?”*

Her late mother’s advice helped her cope: “You can’t win. This is about people feeling entitled to judge you. Take your power back.” Returning for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer—where her character sports blazers instead of bikinis—felt “healing.” With a laugh, she added, “Nobody’s talking about my boobs this time. Oh, you want a flash? They’re down here.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt Opens Up About Lasting Impact of Body Shaming

Jennifer Love Hewitt is reflecting on how public scrutiny of her body shaped her self-image—and nearly kept her from returning for the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel.

The actress, who rose to fame as a teen star on Party of Five and later in films like Can’t Hardly Wait and the original I Know What You Did Last Summer, faced relentless attention over her physique throughout her early career. But it wasn’t until paparazzi photos of her in a bikini went viral in 2007 that she truly felt the sting of body criticism.

In a candid interview with Vulture, Hewitt admitted she hadn’t fully grasped the toll it took on her until watching the Framing Britney Spears documentary. “When I started watching it, I thought, Oh, they talked to me like that too,” she shared. “I was crying for her—and then I realized I was crying for myself.”

Back in the 2000s, media coverage often reduced her to her appearance. “It was just, ‘Boob, boob, boob,’ everywhere,” she recalled. Determined to prove herself as an actress, she worked hard to “outact the conversation” about her body. But the 2007 Hawaii photos—which sparked headlines debating her weight—hit differently.

At the time, Hewitt fiercely defended herself, telling critics, “A size 2 is not fat! Nor will it ever be.” She encouraged women to embrace their curves, saying, “To all girls with butts, boobs, hips, and a waist—put on a bikini and stay strong.” Yet when PEOPLE ran the photos with the cover line “Stop Calling Me Fat!” the damage was done.

“I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover,” she confessed. “And I don’t know if I’ve ever fully recovered.” Even now, she battles lingering doubts: “Is this version of me good enough, or will someone say, ‘Look at her without makeup—she looks 59’?”*

Her late mother’s advice helped her cope: “You can’t win. This is about people feeling entitled to judge you. Take your power back.” Returning for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer—where her character sports blazers instead of bikinis—felt “healing.” With a laugh, she added, “Nobody’s talking about my boobs this time. Oh, you want a flash? They’re down here.”