Jennifer Love Hewitt Reflects on Her '90s Sex Symbol Status: "I Just Went with It"

Jennifer Love Hewitt is reminiscing about her days as a teen idol. After her breakthrough role as Sarah Reeves in Fox's "Party of Five" in 1995, she solidified her fame with the part of Julie James in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" two years later.

As her career ascended during her teens and twenties, audiences increasingly viewed her as a sex symbol. Hewitt admits she didn't fully understand this label at the time.

"I didn't really know what was happening," she tells PEOPLE. "I was pretty innocent and didn't know much about my sexuality, yet there I was on the cover of "Maxim." I just went with it. The outfits in my photo shoots kept getting smaller, and my brother was more worried, while my mom wondered, 'Whoa, what's happening?' Now, looking back, I think, 'That's intense.'"

Reflecting on the pressure of being a young star, Hewitt connected with the struggles detailed in the 2021 "Framing Britney Spears" documentary.

"She talked about how people fixated on her looks," explains Hewitt. "Looking back at the interviews I did as a kid, it's wild. The questions asked were crazy. If they were posed to me today, I'd respond, 'No, thank you.' But back then, you felt compelled to answer or laugh it off."

If Jennifer could advise her 18-year-old self, she would say, "You don’t have to be sexy."

"I’d tell her to relax, that she would still be here at 45," Hewitt continues. "At 18, I kept panicking about how long it would last. But now, I assure that girl, 'We got this. We'll be here for a while.'"

Throughout the year, Jennifer has remained active, publishing her book, "Inheriting Magic: My Journey Through Grief, Joy, Celebration, and Making Every Day Magical." Furthermore, she recently starred in the Lifetime Christmas movie "The Holiday Junkie," premiering on December 14.

While balancing motherhood and her career, which includes her role as 9-1-1 dispatcher Maddie Han since 2018, she emphasizes the importance of her family.

"I have to say no to certain things for my kids," she explains. "I'm not putting myself in situations that might embarrass them. Being a mom comes first, and I want them to feel prioritized in our world."

Looking forward to 2025, Jennifer is excited to expand the "Holiday Junkie" concept into a full brand and plans her involvement in the upcoming "I Know What You Did Last Summer" reboot.

"As I reviewed my vision board for 2024, I realized this is what I wanted," she shares. "I'm thrilled to see the 'Holiday Junkie' brand progressing while balancing motherhood and my identity as an actress. I'm genuinely excited and grateful."

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