Fun Fearless Female - February 2000

Jennifer Love Hewitt (aka Love, as virtually everyone calls her) is on the TIME OF YOUR LIFE set in her newly updated role as Sarah Reeves---once Bailey Salinger's reliable girlfriend on PARTY OF FIVE, now barmaid trying to find herself in New York City. On this day of shooting, Hewitt just pulled off an on set practical joke---she tricked an extra into thinking she was trouble in order to "initiate" the extra to the cast, and is basking in her accomplishment. Of course, having a wicked sense of humor is hardly enough to make her Cosmo's Fun, Fearless Female of the year. But Hewit is just more that just a fun-loving 20something---or even teen idol/TV star. She juggles film fame (Hewitt's I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and the I STILL KNOW sequel were both blockbusters), a recording career (she made two albums so far), and a feature production deal at Sony, and she is starring in her own series, of which she is also the producer---all at 21 years-old.

Not only that but Hewitt is a star who is taking responsibility with her fame. Unlike some of the reclusive Hollywood types (you know, the ones who claim to hate being famous---even thought they've done absolutely everything they could to become so), Hewitt likes being a public figure. "so many I know are like 'Ooh, you're the dreaded role model,'" Hewitt allows. "But I have to say, I guess I know what's it like to be this age and hard it is to find a role model now.

The closest thing [my generation] has to role models is Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow, who are great, but [those women] are not the same as what role models used to be," Hewitt says, referring to the fact that many popular Hollywood types would rather not have to deal with their fans. It seems Hewitt is poised to step up to the challenge.

LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON

After a full morning of filming, Hewitt enters her favorite nouveau Chinese restaurant in Encino, California, wearing a pair of pale pink pants, a T-shirt, platform tennis shoes, and tortoiseshell glasses. Her hair is neatly pulled back in a ponytail, and her complexion is flawless. You'd never guess from looking at her that she's working the long hours she is. Hewitt immediately wants to talk about hat it was like to play Audrey Hepburn in the upcoming ABC biopic THE AUDREY HEPBURN STORY. "Never in my life have I been captivated by anybody on-screen the way I was when I saw Audrey Hepburn for the first time," she gushes. "She's everything a woman should be."

Unfortunately, there was a downside to this dream role: Hewitt endured a barraged of bad press when it was first announced that she was going to play the beloved actress---critics said that her acting chops weren't up to it and she wasn't right for the part since she is more curvaceous than Hepburn was. Hewitt seriously considered quitting but ultimately summoned the courage to do it. "Whatever people are going to say, they're going to say, and I'll take it," she says.

Hewitt shows the same tenacity when it comes to her role as the producer of TIME OF YOUR LIFE. She decides what direction what the show's story line will take---like making sure her character makes mistakes once in a while to prove she's not perfect. But she also controls plots that involve her supersexy costar Johnathon Schaech, who she handpicked for the part and just has to make out with. "He has a great mystery in his eyes," says Hewitt. "Yeah, yeah, but who's a better kisser? Scott Wolf or Schaech?"Scott Wolf," the producer says with a giggle. "But then again, I've only kissed John twice, but I've kissed Scott lots."

For his part, Schaech gives his boss and costar Hewitt lip service. "I absolutely adore Love," he says in his trailer, which adjoins hers. "I think she's going to be a star forever, and she's only 21 now."

The conversation naturally turns to the conversation of Hewitt's love life---and that involves her recent split with MTV's host Carson Daly. After struggling through a long-distance relationship for a year and a half, the two called the whole thing off last summer. "Basically what happened is we're both extremely busy, and living three thousand miles apart took its toll and it got very, very hard," Hewitt says. Which is not to say she sat down one day and just decided the distance wasn't practical: "I don't think anybody really makes decision like this. It's just kinda happened, and I think it was unfortunately for everybody."

Think of the dating life of an average woman is her early 20s: The ups and downs aren't necessarily fit to print. "To be honest, this article comes out in February, and by then, who knows?" Hewitt says with a shrug. "Things change so fast. And I've had my share of broken hearts."

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Hewitt followed her heart from an early age. At 10, she convinced her mom (her parents divorced when she was a baby) to move from their small town of Killeen, Texas, to Los Angeles so she could pursue an acting career. The two assured each other that they could always go home: "I went on my first audition 11 years ago, and my mom and I said that if we weren't having any fun, we'd leave. I don't want to ever, ever do something that isn't fun. Ever."

Fortunately for zillion of fans, it ended up being fun. Hewitt bounced from the 1989 TV show KIDS INCORPORATED to a short lived sitcom called SHAKY GROUND and then found success as PARTY OF FIVE'S Sarah Reeves at 15. And while it was a blast, Hewitt's like wasn't typical of the average teenager: She spent more time with tutors than teachers, and she skipped the high school rebellion of drinking and smoking that usually hits most teens (she's never touch alcohol), opting instead for Doritos, Taco Bell and Coke-a-Cola. "I'm a total junk food-er," Hewitt says. "It's my only vice."

Even now that she's legal, Hewitt keeps life on the clean and mellow side. Case in point: She still lives with her mom and vows that she will continue to do so as long as possible. Hewitt also likes the added security of her living arrangement: She's had crazed fans follow her home after a day on the set. And in any case, she hates the idea of coming home to an empty house.

Mother and daughter share a six bedroom Los Angeles home that's neatly divided: one bedroom for Hewitt and one for her mom, a recording studio, a home office, and "a guy guest bedroom," and "a girl guest bedroom." So hold on, does that mean that if Hewitt has a hot sleep over date, he's get banished to another bunk? "I suppose so," Hewit says coyly, adding, "Look, I've never felt weird dating while living with my mom. My mom has always been very cool, She's totally like 'Whoever you want to come over, can. If you want to have friends over and take over the hot tub, tell me and I'll go out for the night.' We're like roommates."

And given the way the Hollywood dating scene gets paparazzi-ed, protecting her image is probably not a bad plan. Let's be honest, the girl's got a bod built for sin, and she's been told so by every single men's magazine, most of which are obsessed with her chest. At least she has a sense of humor about her features: She's been known to jokingly call her movie I KNOW WHAT YOUR BREASTS DID LAST SUMMER: And she even sometimes wears a t-shirt that reads "Silicone Free"---her retort to those who claim she got implants. (She didn't.)

Hewitt orders a fortune cookie covered in white chocolate for dessert and reads the message aloud: "'Good fortune awaits you at the end of the day,' At the end of the day, the only thing I'm doing is cleaning my closet. That better not be my fortune or I'm going to be depressed."

GIVE THE GIRL SOME CREDIT

Well, she'd better clean out that closet. Through with lunch, Hewitt has decided to work off those cookie calories by doing some hard-core shopping. She strolls into BCBG and picks out a very Hepburn-esque cocktail dress, the she whips out her credit card. The saleswoman enters her phone number into the computer and watches as the accounting of all of her purchases fills the screen. "Gee, have I come in here before?" Hewitt says, smirking. "You know, that's a bad sign. I think I might be a shop-a-holic, but I like having that problem."

Shopping with Hewitt is like malling with your best friend---she holds up a teensy slip dress and yell things like "What kind of person has hips that can fit in here? I wanna know!" She shares her Kiehl's lip gloss and tells you exactly where to get it (Barney's New York), is an avowed eyeglasses junkie, and has ravenous shoe habit. She loves pajamas, boxer shorts, and baby tees but isn't into lingerie. "I guess all the girls try once in a while to be sexy and stuff, but I'm not that interested in looking pretty to go to bed," she says. "And besides, I don't have anybody to impress now."

Hewitt walks into a shop to buy scented candles for her office, and the salesgirl---clearly a fan---grins widely. Being so recognizable and being on her own can be scary Hewitt at times.

"If PARTY OF FIVE hadn't done well, it would have been a bunch of names involved in the demise," she says. "But if TIME OF YOUR LIFE doesn't do well, it will be my name. You have to prepare for the worst. This is a very fickle business."

Overhearing this, the salesgirl rushes over to weigh in her opinion. "I was watching the show last night with my sister, and we both loved it," she says. "Actually, I would like to give you some scented lotion on the house just to say thanks." Hewitt is grateful---for the compliment and for the free lotion. And that's when it hits her: Good fortune did indeed await her at the end of the day---and at least it was a little bit better than cleaning out her closet.