You’re Cordially Invited star Reese Witherspoon revealed that a British actress has ignored her for years following a frosty awards show encounter.
While the 48-year-old didn’t name names, internet sleuths are convinced the actress in question is Bafta-winning Kate Winslet.
It might come as a shock, given that the pair have always seemed friendly, chatting away at red carpet events and industry dos. But eagle-eyed fans have pieced together that both stars attended the 2007 BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards—where Witherspoon took to the stage to honour the 49-year-old with a speech packed full of jokes.
Now, speculation is swirling that the lighthearted roast may not have landed quite as intended.
The Legally Blonde actress revealed to People that an actress she once considered a friend suddenly cut contact after she "roasted" her during an awards speech.
She shared: “We’re not friends anymore. I’m not even kidding — we’re not friends anymore. I think she doesn’t like me anymore.”
The Big Little Lies star said she is still “haunted” and “embarrassed” by the reaction, explaining she had never been to the event before and thought the speech was meant to be “funny”.
“So this friend of mine – who I didn't really know that well, but she was a very serious, proper actress – she asked me to give her an award,” Witherspoon said.
“But I had never been to this award ceremony, so I thought it was like a roast. So I got up and I roasted her. The tone was British and elegant and classy, and I was like, 'Remember the time we got laser hair removal?!'
“I’m still embarrassed about it. I thought it was so funny, and it was just, I had the wrong audience.”
Witherspoon may have kept tight-lipped about the mystery actress, but that hasn’t stopped fans from digging deep into the archives—and they think they’ve cracked the case.
A Witherspoon fan site, highlighted by JustJared, also uncovered another quote from her speech at 2007 event.
At the time, she quipped: “I always wanted to be a European movie star, wear giant sunglasses, elaborate neck scarves, smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, and have savoir-faire and gravitas.”
The Walk The Line star went on to reminisce about how "good fortune" brought them together when Winslet moved into her neighbourhood, and they quickly bonded over their children being the same age—leading to plenty of playdates and, seemingly, a close friendship.
The Oscar winner welcomed her daughter, Mia Threapleton, in 2000 with ex-husband Jim Threapleton, while Witherspoon had Ava Phillippe the same year with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe. But it wasn’t just mum life that connected them—she also shared some eyebrow-raising anecdotes about their time together.
Speaking at the 2007 BAFTA event, she hinted at wild escapades she couldn't fully spill, teasing the crowd with: "They’re all too bawdy or tawdry or drunken to tell."
However, she did drop a few intriguing snippets, including “the time [Witherspoon and Winslet] contemplated laser hair removal and… or that time on the freeway when they pulled over and.. or that really funny thing that happened when they were both in their underwear.”
Despite their seemingly tight bond back then, something may have changed along the way. When the pair reunited on stage at the 2016 Oscars to present Best Picture nominees Bridge of Spies and Spotlight, fans noticed they didn’t interact at all.
The Standard has contacted Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet’s reps for comment.
