Jennifer Love Hewitt, once a renowned teen idol, is now reflecting on her journey through the years. From her early breakthrough in Fox's "Party of Five" to becoming a sex symbol with roles like Julie James in "I Know What You Did Last Summer", her life has been a rollercoaster. In this article, we'll explore how she's coped with fame, given advice to her younger self, and what the future holds.

Uncovering Jennifer Love Hewitt's Life Lessons

Early Stardom and Its Impact

Jennifer Love Hewitt's career took off in 1995 when she landed a role in Fox's "Party of Five" as Sarah Reeves. This was just the beginning of her rise to fame. Two years later, her role in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" solidified her popularity. At that time, she was still quite innocent and didn't fully understand the implications of becoming a sex symbol. As she recalls, "I didn't really know what was happening. I was on the cover of Maxim, and my brother got more worried while my mom was like, 'Whoa, what's happening here?' Now, looking back, it seems intense."During this period, she was often asked inappropriate questions in interviews. Hewitt shares, "The things that people were allowed to say to you in an interview was definitely wild. Now I would be like, 'Sir, no, thank you. That is not a question that's getting answered this afternoon.' But at the time, you had to answer or laugh it off."

Lessons from Framing Britney Spears

Watching the 2021 New York Times-Hulu documentary "Framing Britney Spears" made Hewitt realize that she could relate to a lot of what the pop star went through in the public eye. She says, "She said people always talked about her boobs, and you go back and look at the interviews and the questions that were asked to me as a child, and it's crazy. It's a reminder of how our lives are often exposed in the public eye."This experience has made her more aware of the importance of setting boundaries and being selective about the projects she takes on. As she puts it, "I have to be a mom first and an actress second. I want my kids to feel like they come first in our little world."

Balancing Career and Family

In recent years, Hewitt has become a mother to daughter Autumn, 11, and sons Atticus, 9, and Aidan, 3. This has led her to be more cautious about the work she takes on. She explains, "I mean, now I have to say no to certain things because of my children. I'm not putting myself in things that would be embarrassing or detrimental to them."Despite her busy schedule with a new Lifetime Christmas movie, "The Holiday Junkie", premiering on Saturday, Dec. 14, and starring in the TV drama "9-1-1" since 2018, Hewitt makes sure to prioritize her family. She says, "I want my kids to feel like they come first in our little world."

Looking to the Future

In 2025, Hewitt has big plans. She's expanding "Holiday Junkie" into a full-blown brand and is eyeing a return in the upcoming "I Know What You Did Last Summer" reboot. As she reflects on the past year, she says, "When I sat down with my vision board for 2024, this is what I wanted. I wanted all of these things to happen, and I wanted to end the year feeling like the 'Holiday Junkie' brand is on its way. I'm able to be a mom and this person that people have known me as for a long time, but shifting it into a way that they both come together. So I'm feeling really excited and super grateful."The "Holiday Junkie" premieres on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime, marking another exciting chapter in Hewitt's life.