But it seems the 31-year-old found strength in the knowledge that others had gone through the pain of divorce and made it through the other side.

"I thought, okay, more than half of the parking lot has dealt with this," said the star, who has two kids with Ryan.

"Okay, let’s make it a little bigger. Half of this city has dealt with this. Okay, let’s make it a little bigger - half of this country, until I finally got out of the car."

Reese said the incident reminded her of a scene in the film Walk The Line, which saw her win a best actress Oscar.

"There’s this moment where June Carter says, ’I was never aware of how much I was seen’," she said.

"I was very aware of how much I was seen. It was this moment of self-discovery and loss of identity and who was stepping out of the car, you know? Who is that person?"


Reese hailed top Avon lady - Aug 2 2007
Actress Reese Witherspoon has been named as the world’s most glamorous and high-profile Avon Lady.

The Oscar-winning actress, famous for her roles in Legally Blonde and Walk The Line, is the beauty firm’s first "global ambassador".

She will also focus on breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief initiatives in her role as honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation, a charity which aims to improve the lives of women and their families.

Mother-of-two Witherspoon, 31, was described as "perfect" for her new role as Avon’s most prominent lady by the beauty firm’s chairman and chief executive, Andrea Jung.

The Hollywood star said she was proud to be joining the "great philanthropic work" that was under way at the firm, and added: "I feel a great responsibility in my own life to give back to society."

She said she was excited and "truly impressed" by how Avon "has been able to effect real change in the communities in which it does business, and by how committed the company is to providing economic and personal fulfilment to women all over the world".

Ms Jung said Witherspoon will give a strong voice to the company’s commitment to empowering women.

"She is an accomplished actress, a successful producer and a working mother - and clearly embodies the drive, the commitment and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of the Avon representative," she said.

No details of the financial deal behind the agreement, which will also see Witherspoon involved in product development and advertising for the brand, were released.


Reese to star in Midnight? - May 31 2007
Reese Witherspoon has reportedly been signed up to star in a Universal Pictures remake of 1939 comedy Midnight.

The new feature will be scripted by Michael Arndt, who picked up an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine, reports Variety.

In the original pic, Claudette Colbert played an impoverished young woman in Paris who becomes involved in a wealthy man’s bid to stop a gigolo wooing his wife.

John Barrymore also starred in the Mitchell Leisen-directed flick, written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder.

The film is Arndt’s idea, which prompted a host of producers to get on board.

He told Variety: "Midnight has long been one of my favourite films, and it is easily one of the best comedies of the 30s.

"Being given the chance to update the film with Reese in the lead is simply a dream come true."

The blonde will also produce the film through her company Type A Films.