Reese Witherspoon had a lot of ‘fun’ making ‘This Means War’.

The 35-year-old actress admits starring in an action film was a new experience for her but she enjoyed all the physical scenes she and co-stars Tom Hardy and Chris Pine had to undertake.

She said: ‘I’d never made an action movie – so this is the first time I have had anything to do with holding a gun, running around and getting chased by the bad guys.

‘I read the script and thought, ‘This is just fun.’ And we don’t take it that seriously. It’s just fantasy and escape.’

The ‘Water for Elephants’ actress also admitted she is looking forward to taking control in more of her work and being a leader now she is older.

She told Britain’s Glamour magazine: ‘I’m excited about producing more. I’m really excited about some stuff that is coming up, and some really awesome women I’m going to be working with.

‘I’ve been making movies for 20 years and it’s time to sort of take a leadership role. You don’t feel like a leader at 35, but when you’re on set and realise, ‘I kind of know everything that’s happening here,’ I think it’s time for me to step up a bit.’