Reese Witherspoon used to dare her brother to touch skinned raccoons in their freezer.

The 'Four Christmases' actress was terrified of the dead animals her doctor father sometimes received as payment from his Tennessee patients, but the animal corpses inspired a popular game between her and sibling John.

She is quoted as saying: "One year, a man brought my father a dead skinned squirrel and a dead raccoon. My father put them in the freezer. My brother and I were so scared of them. We were afraid to go near the freezer because my dad kept them in there for three years. We'd dare each other to touch them and look at them. It was very scary."

Reese - who has two children with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe - also revealed the presents she likes to give people at Christmas.

She added: "I like to give plants. I know that sounds really boring. But I like to give lemon trees and other trees that bear fruit. Fruit trees are really nice gifts to give because they keep on giving and they're not something that's just taking up space. They're nice things to have in your garden."