Actor Reese Witherspoon has praised A Wrinkle In Time director Ava DuVernay for representing different kinds of women within her movie.

The actor stars as Mrs. Whatsit in the upcoming Disney movie based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Madeleine L'Engle.

She says that the production will be important for young people everywhere as the diverse cast -- which includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling -- means everyone is equally represented.

When asked how important she thinks the movie will be, Witherspoon says: "I read the book as a little girl, and I really was excited when Ava explained her vision for the film."

"She was like 'I'm gonna deviate a lot. I want to have the house in Downtown L.A. I want the kids to be of all different ethnicities. I want kids to watch this movie and know that anything's possible'.

"I think it's exciting to have a director with that kind of vision, and to have Disney's belief in her, to give her an incredible amount of creative control and free reign to create this magic," she adds.