Reese at work in “amazing” New Zealand
We’ve all been so touched about what a beautiful experience it’s been.
It seems only fitting given Reese Witherspoon’s determination to create strong acting roles for women, that the female director of her latest film, A Wrinkle in Time, is making Hollywood history of her own. Ava DuVernay (44), a Golden Globe nominee, becomes the first black woman to direct a big budget live-action film with her work on A Wrinkle in Time –a Disney adventure film, which will be released next year. New Zealand is one of the locations for the film and Reese – along with Ava and co-stars Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling – spent two weeks in Wanaka, the Southern Alps and Hunter Valley Station near Lake Hawea in February shooting scenes. For Reese – who did a horse trek through the alps, sampled local wine and visited art galleries when she wasn’t filming – it was an emotional trip. She took to social media to share her love for New Zealand, declaring it “the most beautiful country in the world” and saying she was “touched” by the hospitality of Kiwis. Of all the countries she has worked in during her 26 years of acting, New Zealand is her favourite, she says. “The food is wonderful, the landscapes are gorgeous, but most importantly the people have been so kind and so friendly and opened up their homes, and we’ve all been so touched about what a beautiful experience it’s been,” she told a local radio station. The film’s cast and crew were treated to a powhiri when they arrived in New Zealand and Reese made the most of the Southern Lakes scenery, posting many pictures to social media. “The land is so gorgeous; you can’t capture it in pictures. I keep telling people if you go to New Zealand don’t just bring your iPhone, you need a major camera because it’s an amazing experience. That’s why my Instagram is so full; I can’t stop taking pictures.”