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Celebs are not special people who don't make mistakes, says Reese Witherspoon

Celebs are not special people who don't make mistakes, says Reese Witherspoon
Actor Reese Witherspoon poses at a reception for the re-opening of the Tiffany & Co. store in Beverly Hills, California, US, Oct 13, 2016.
PHOTO: Reuters

Reese Witherspoon wants people to stop seeing celebrities as "special people".

The 44-year-old actress might be a household name, but she has insisted her status doesn't automatically make her a "good person", as she says she sometimes makes "dumb decisions" just like everybody else.

Reese spoke as she reflected on her 2013 arrest, in which she and her husband Jim Toth were pulled over under suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

The actress was arrested for disorderly conduct after exiting the vehicle against a police officer's orders, and has said that while she knows her actions were "embarrassing and dumb", she thinks the incident proves she's "just a human being".

Speaking to Jameela Jamil on her I Weigh podcast, she said: "I did something really stupid. It was so embarrassing and dumb … But, you know what - [it] turns out I breathe air. I bleed the same way. I make dumb decisions. I make great decisions. I'm just a human being.

"We're all just the same as each other and we're all trying to find what our special skills are. My special skill is storytelling but that doesn't mean I'm a special person. Talent doesn't make you a good person."

At the time of her arrest, Reese issued a statement in which she apologised for her actions, and on the podcast Jameela praised her for her "refreshing" take.

The Good Place star said: "You apologised and shamed yourself in a way that was so f***ing refreshing to me. I loved your apology."

In part of Reese's apology at the time, she explained: "I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behaviour."

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