Jennifer Love Hewitt is back, and more honest than ever.

In a raw and revealing new interview with Vulture, the actress reflects on her return to the IKWYDLS franchise, the emotional weight of growing up in the public eye, and how she’s redefining herself, on her terms.

Jennifer admits she almost backed out of filming the latest I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel. “All of my friends had to talk me into it,” she told the outlet. “Literally up until the last night before shooting, they were like, ‘You know you’re going tomorrow, right?’”

Her hesitation wasn’t about acting. It was about judgment. “What people were going to say about how much older I would seem than when I was 18. That’s literally the only thing I was anxious about.”

It’s a heartbreaking but honest confession, and a window into the kind of pressure women in Hollywood still face, especially those who were once teen icons.

She also opened up about her mindset back when she first stepped into the role of Julie James in the original I Know film. “I was in my head the whole time thinking, Do not screw this up,” she shared.

Surprisingly, Jennifer actually hated horror movies and couldn’t even get through the ones Freddy Prinze Jr. recommended her to watch to prepare for filming. “We were in a town of fishermen, so I would run from a fisherman all night, and then I’d be getting coffee the next morning and be like, That’s the damn fisherman right there.”

In those early days, Hewitt had what she calls “blind faith” in herself, something she looks back on fondly. When asked if she still feels that way now, she replied simply, “No.” She’s learned how doubt creeps in with age, but she’s also learning how to rewrite that narrative.

Part of that healing is tied to how she portrays Julie today. She worked to create a look that felt “sexy but not sexualized,” styling the character in vintage tees, blazers, and jeans. “It was very healing,” she said. “Nobody’s going to be talking about my boobs.”

Perhaps the most emotional moment in the interview came when Hewitt recalled watching Framing Britney Spears. “When I started watching it, I was like, Oh, they talked to me like that. I started crying for her. And then I realized I was crying for me.”

It’s a powerful reflection on the parallel pain so many young women in entertainment endured, and a reminder that even years later, the scars are still there.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is reclaiming her story and walking into this new chapter with clarity and honesty. And honestly? It’s beautiful to witness.

The new I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER is playing now!