Reese Witherspoon didn’t recognise daughter Ava Phillippe when she dyed her hair

Reese Witherspoon didn’t recognise her own daughter when she dyed her hair brown.

Ava Phillippe – the ‘Big Little Lies’ star’s eldest child with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe – believes the “most impactful” style and beauty decision she has ever made was changing her natural blonde tresses because her darker locks gave her an “edge” as she looked so different.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Ava said: “I feel like the most memorable one, or the most like impactful moment, has been changing my hair to brunette. I’m naturally blonde, and I dyed my hair dark when I was at university, and everyone – even my own mother – did not recognise me.

“Honestly, it’s changed a lot of my fashion choices and it’s added a contrast to my look – it’s kind of given me a little bit more edge, if I dare say. It’s really brought the inside of me out. It’s just been fun.”

The 26-year-old beauty likes to add an “unexpected twist” to her outfits to stand out.

Asked when she feels most beautiful, she said: “I have two answers for this. The first would be more that I feel most beautiful when my outward appearance reflects my inner creativity.

“I take a lot of pride in finding unique and special ways to make my style stand out, even through the smallest things. I think that adding something that’s kind of an unexpected twist brings out my personality.

“And then the second is, I mean, it’s cheesy as it sounds, it’s when I’m upholding my values and being my best self for others. I think that beauty and style tricks go a long way, but showing your inner beauty and integrity and treating others with kindness and respect actually goes farther than we think.”

When it comes to her own style icons, Ava loves the look of her mom’s ‘Big Little Lies’ co-star Zoe Kravitz.

She explained: “No matter what she wears, she always looks like herself, and she has this ability to make even the most simple minimalist look like really something extraordinary.

“So I think that’s a really cool quality she has and I think she really understands her body type too and everything that she chooses, fits and suits her perfectly.”