Reese in Just Like Heaven Credit: Dreamworks

For every generation there are a few actors/actresses who represent "real" people. Reese Witherspoon is one of those: beautiful, accessible, both funny and dramatic; an all-American girl. Right now, I'm sure the young actress is mourning the awful transformation of the place she was born, New Orleans. But, when we spoke with her last month, she was her usual upbeat, perky, intelligent self, anxious to chat about her new romantic film Just Like Heaven which asks some important questions about destiny.

In black sweater over a silk print dress, her longish hair held back from her forehead with a bobby pin, Reese could have been one of us, except for those fancy dangle diamond earrings. The actress told us all about her role as a young woman caught between worlds, her own belief in an afterlife, soul mates (is Ryan hers?), her family, fave TV shows, working in costume dramas, working with Mark Ruffalo as her leading man, playing June Carter Cash in the upcoming Walk the Line film and what, to her, is "just like heaven".

TeenHollywood: What things in life are, for you, just like heaven?

Just Like Heaven Credit: Dreamworks

Reese: That's a great question. My kids. My kids are so great, particularly in the morning. There's just nothing better than the amazing things that they say that blow your mind. Both of my children are beautiful and healthy and amazing and happy, and there's just nothing better than spending the day with them. I could just sit around and watch them for hours.