Reese Witherspoon Covers 'Elle' Women in Hollywood Issue

Reese Witherspoon is stunning in Versace on the cover of Elle magazine’s November 2013 Women in Hollywood issue, honoring women who have made extraordinary contributions to the film industry.

Also gracing covers were Shailene Woodley and Melissa McCarthy, with Penelope Cruz doing a shoot as well.

Here’s what the ladies had to share:

Reese, on how her kids have changed her: “Somebody was saying to me the other day, ‘Oh, people get less interesting when they have kids.’ I just don’t think that’s true. I feel like I was so confused before I had kids, I almost got in my own way. Having kids made me clearer about who I was as a woman. I just wanted to exhibit good qualities for my daughter. I was a little competitive before I had kids- probably really competitive, to be honest. It really made me let go of that.”

Melissa, on comedians she admires: “I watch Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep and she is so good, because she is playing the world’s biggest asshole narcissist, and yet you can’t take your eyes off of her. In fact, you still strangely like her and almost want to hang with her.”

Penelope, on the best advice she’s received: “How important it is to learn to say no. You’re going to have to put a lot of your time into a project, and you have to know if it’s something you really feel connected with, because it’s not a job you can do like you press a button- no.”

Shailene, on her future: “I’m so young, and I’m single, and I just want to drift. I’m just going to be a drifter. I want to do something totally different before Insurgent [the second film in the Divergent trilogy]. Maybe I’ll work in a tea shop. Or live in Amsterdam. Or be a nanny. Life experience only helps us as actors. I need new experiences to draw upon.”

For more from the ladies, visit Elle.com.

FYI: Melissa is wearing Plukka Quartz Moon Drop Earrings.