A lot of actors' careers get bigger after they win an Oscar, but Reese Witherspoon has gone from winner to giant.

She plays one in the movies, anyway. In "Monsters vs. Aliens."

Witherspoon plays Susan Murphy, who is hit by a meteor on her wedding day and turned into a giant, whom the government names Ginormica. Turns out there are all sorts of oddball monsters in military captivity, including B.O.B., a brainless blob played by Seth Rogen, and they're enlisted to fight off invading aliens, learning a lesson about self-worth and inclusion in the process.

Witherspoon talked about the film recently, and wasted no time listing one of the benefits of making it: "My kids loved this movie!"

Q. So your kids have seen it. Was it important for you to make something that families could see?

A. It's great. They can actually see a lot of my movies, even though they haven't yet. But it makes me feel good that other people think that their kids can watch my movies and stuff. Those are movies I like to see, too. Growing up, I loved Goldie Hawn's movies. I just think it's important that families share that time together, getting closer. Let's say you go to the movies and have to leave the kids at home. It's no fun. How are you going to get to steal their Milk Duds if they're not there with you? You get to be a kid again.

Q. Which characters appealed to your kids?

A. There's a character for everybody, 3-year-olds up to 12-year-olds, a whole smattering of my friends' kids and stuff. There was a character that the 3-year-old loved, Insectasaurus. And everybody loved B.O.B. And the girls are like, "Susan is awesome. Her story is so cool. You kicked butt!"

Q. You did. Or at least Susan did. Was having a strong female role part of the attraction of doing the film?

A. There's a lot of animated movies I didn't do, because I didn't feel like playing somebody's girlfriend or somebody who isn't proactive about their own life. It's a great opportunity to play somebody who gets to save the day. I don't read many movies like that.

Q. The cast is great. You don't record dialogue together, but it still seems like a fun bunch.

A. It's great to work with so many comic men in one movie. You have Will Arnett and Paul Rudd and Hugh Laurie, and Kiefer (Sutherland) was so funny in it, and Seth was hilarious. It's just great.

Q. Any pressure to be funny in that crowd?

A. I just try and, I guess, learn a lot from them. I just try to always be soaking up the energy of the people around me and learning their comic timing. I just try to be the perpetual student.

Q. Is this the first movie you've made with a potential action figure?

A. I have my own Barbie on "Legally Blonde." That was kind of exciting. But this is sort of a different thing. I'm excited to see all the stuff they have associated with the movie.

Q. You seem comfortable doing drama and comedy. Do you like one better?

A. I like them all. I'm so lucky. I love what I do. I love being an actor. It doesn't matter what kind of movie I'm doing, I just really enjoy it. I mean, obviously the comedies are fun because you're on set and you're trying to make people laugh. But you also have to try to find the truth in those characters as well. You can't just be a joke a minute. Usually I'm playing lead characters, and you have to find the character's journey. That's never all one note. The great actors are people like Paul and Seth, who can play all of it, all the different emotions that you need. That's why you like the characters that they play, because they like the vulnerability, too.

Q, How do you pick roles?

A. I read a lot of scripts and I just kind of figure out which ones I like best. I just try to make movies I want to see, or I feel like people want to see. You try and do things that are sort of in your wheelhouse and go from there.