Actress Reese Witherspoon found fewer jobs in Hollywood since winning the Oscar, so she’s been actively pursuing projects that don’t quite fall in line with her squeaky clean image. With two major films coming during Awards season, the star is poised for a resurgence that few ever get a chance to experience.

She’s a producer on the upcoming Ben Affleck film Gone Girl, based on the popular bestseller by Gillian Flynn and directed by David Fincher, but it’s her role in the small independent film Wild that has people talking.

Appearing on the cover of October’s issue of Vogue, Witherspoon discussed tackling sensitive subject matter in a movie that audiences wouldn’t normally expect from her.

“When people underestimate me, it’s actually a comfortable place for me,” declared Witherspoon. “‘Oh, that’s what you think I am; well, no, I’m not.’ I’m a complex human being. I have many different shades.”

Wild, opening in December, tells the true story of Cheryl Strayed, a hiking enthusiast who goes off the deep end after the death of her mother, abusing heroin and engaging in casual, anonymous sex. Witherspoon read Strayed’s memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and immediately knew she wanted to portray this character on-screen.

But according to Witherspoon, the studios weren’t interested. So she took it upon herself to bring the book to life. She met with Strayed and the author consulted Witherspoon on many aspects of the story, including how to use heroin, and the actress even underwent hypnosis to make filming the sex scenes go a little bit easier.

Strayed was very forthcoming about working with the movie star. “There’s nothing artificial about her. I think that’s what makes her such a spectacular actress and such a relatable movie star, too. Reese is one of us. She’s real people.”

One of the scenes garnering the most buzz is a sexually explicit quick-cut montage at the very start of the film.

“I think people don’t know what to expect yet,” explained Witherspoon to the Los Angeles Times. “When you have that flash montage, it’s really quick, but it’s, like, ‘Oh, wait, this isn’t a white girl problems movie.'”

Wild opens on December 5.