Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon is an American actress, producer, and entrepreneur. She was born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Nashville, Tennessee.
Witherspoon began her acting career as a teenager, making her film debut in 1991’s “The Man in the Moon.” She gained wider recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s with roles in films such as “Cruel Intentions,” “Election,” and “Legally Blonde.” Her performance as June Carter Cash in the 2005 film “Walk the Line” earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
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In addition to her acting work, Witherspoon is also a successful producer, with her company, Hello Sunshine, producing films and television shows such as “Big Little Lies” and “Little Fires Everywhere.” She has also been an advocate for women’s rights and has been actively involved in various charitable organizations, including the Time’s Up movement.
Witherspoon has been married twice and has three children. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented and successful actresses in Hollywood, with a career spanning over three decades.
Early life and education
Reese Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents, John Draper Witherspoon and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Reese, were both in the medical field. Witherspoon was the second of their two children, with an older brother named John Jr.
When Witherspoon was four years old, her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she was raised. She attended an all-girls’ school called Harpeth Hall and later went on to attend Stanford University for a year before leaving to pursue her acting career.
During her childhood, Witherspoon was active in sports, including gymnastics, and had an early interest in acting. She began modeling and appearing in television commercials at a young age, and by the time she was a teenager, she was already pursuing an acting career. Her early acting roles included appearances in local theatre productions and a few small television roles.
Career
Reese Witherspoon’s acting career began when she was still a teenager, and she quickly gained recognition for her talent. She appeared in several films and TV shows throughout the 1990s, including “The Man in the Moon,” “A Far Off Place,” and “Jack the Bear.”
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Witherspoon became a household name with her performances in films like “Election” (1999) and “Legally Blonde” (2001), which she also produced. She continued to act in both dramatic and comedic roles, earning critical acclaim for her performances in movies like “Walk the Line” (2005), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress, and “Wild” (2014), for which she received a nomination for the same award.
In addition to her acting career, Witherspoon is also a successful producer. She formed her production company, Hello Sunshine, in 2016, and has produced several successful TV shows and movies, including “Big Little Lies,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” and “The Morning Show.”
Outside of her entertainment career, Witherspoon is also known for her advocacy work, particularly in the areas of women’s rights and representation in Hollywood. She has been involved in the Time’s Up movement, which aims to combat sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and she frequently uses her platform to speak out on social and political issues.
Business and philanthropy
Reese Witherspoon has also made a name for herself as a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
In addition to her work in film and television, Witherspoon is the founder of several businesses. She founded the production company Hello Sunshine, which focuses on developing and producing female-driven projects. She is also the founder of the clothing and lifestyle brand Draper James, which celebrates her Southern heritage and promotes female entrepreneurship.
Witherspoon is also actively involved in philanthropic work. She is a strong advocate for women’s rights and has been involved with organizations such as the Time’s Up movement and the Women’s March. She is a board member of the Children’s Defense Fund, which works to improve the lives of children living in poverty, and she has also supported causes such as Save the Children and Stand Up to Cancer.
In 2020, Witherspoon and her husband, Jim Toth, launched the Hello Sunshine Foundation, which focuses on providing support and resources to women and girls. The foundation has partnered with organizations such as Girls Inc., the National Women’s Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union to provide education and advocacy on issues such as gender equality and reproductive rights.
Through her work in business and philanthropy, Witherspoon has become a strong voice for social and political issues, using her platform to advocate for change and support causes that align with her values.
Personal life
Reese Witherspoon has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor Ryan Phillippe, whom she met at her 21st birthday party in 1997. They married in 1999 and have two children together, a daughter named Ava and a son named Deacon. Witherspoon and Phillippe separated in 2006 and their divorce was finalized in 2008.
In 2011, Witherspoon married talent agent Jim Toth, whom she met through mutual friends. They have one son together, named Tennessee.
Witherspoon has been open about her struggles with anxiety and depression, and has spoken out about the importance of mental health awareness and treatment. She has also been an advocate for women’s rights and representation in Hollywood, speaking out about the gender pay gap and the need for more diverse representation on and off screen.
In her free time, Witherspoon enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and practicing yoga. She is also an avid cook and has published a cookbook called “Whiskey in a Teacup,” which features recipes and stories from her Southern upbringing.
All Reese Witherspoon Movies and TV Shows
Reese Witherspoon has appeared in many movies and TV shows throughout her career. Here is a list of some of her most notable works:
Movies:
- The Man in the Moon (1991)
- A Far Off Place (1993)
- Jack the Bear (1993)
- Freeway (1996)
- Pleasantville (1998)
- Election (1999)
- Cruel Intentions (1999)
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
- Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
- Vanity Fair (2004)
- Walk the Line (2005)
- Rendition (2007)
- Four Christmases (2008)
- Water for Elephants (2011)
- This Means War (2012)
- Mud (2012)
- Wild (2014)
- Hot Pursuit (2015)
- Home Again (2017)
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
- The Morning Show (2019)
- Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Man in the Moon | Dani Trant | |
| The Seventh Brother | Angie | ||
| 1993 | A Far Off Place | Nonnie Parker | |
| Jack the Bear | Karen Morris | ||
| 1994 | S.F.W. | Wendy Pfister | |
| 1996 | Freeway | Vanessa Lutz | |
| Fear | Nicole Walker | ||
| 1998 | Twilight | Mel Ames | |
| Overnight Delivery | Ivy Miller | ||
| Pleasantville | Jennifer / Mary Sue Parker | ||
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Annette Hargrove | |
| Election | Tracy Flick | ||
| Best Laid Plans | Lissa | ||
| 2000 | Little Nicky | Holly | |
| American Psycho | Evelyn Williams | ||
| 2001 | The Trumpet of the Swan | Serena | Voice[1] |
| Legally Blonde | Elle Woods | ||
| 2002 | The Importance of Being Earnest | Cecily Cardew | |
| Sweet Home Alabama | Melanie Smooter | ||
| 2003 | Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde | Elle Woods | Also executive producer |
| 2004 | Vanity Fair | Becky Sharp | |
| 2005 | Walk the Line | June Carter Cash | |
| Just like Heaven | Elizabeth Masterson | ||
| 2006 | Penelope | Annie | Also producer |
| 2007 | Rendition | Isabella Fields El-Ibrahimi | |
| 2008 | Four Christmases | Kate | |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Susan Murphy / Ginormica | Voice |
| Legally Blondes | — | Producer | |
| 2010 | How Do You Know | Lisa Jorgenson | |
| 2011 | Water for Elephants | Marlena Rosenbluth | |
| 2012 | This Means War | Lauren Scott | |
| Mud | Juniper | ||
| 2013 | Devil’s Knot | Pamela Hobbs | |
| 2014 | Gone Girl | — | Producer |
| Wild | Cheryl Strayed | Also producer | |
| The Good Lie | Carrie Davis | ||
| Inherent Vice | Penny Kimball | ||
| 2015 | Hot Pursuit | Officer Rose Cooper | Also producer |
| 2016 | Sing | Rosita | Voice |
| 2017 | Home Again | Alice Kinney | |
| 2018 | A Wrinkle in Time | Mrs. Whatsit | |
| 2019 | Lucy in the Sky | — | Producer |
| 2021 | Sing 2 | Rosita | Voice |
| 2022 | Where the Crawdads Sing | — | Producer |
| 2023 | Your Place or Mine | Debbie Dunne | Also producer |
TV Shows:
- Return to Lonesome Dove (1993)
- Friends (1995)
- King of the Hill (1997-2010)
- Saturday Night Live (2001, 2005)
- Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
- The Morning Show (2019-2021)
- Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Wildflower | Ellie Perkins | Television film |
| 1992 | Desperate Choices: To Save My Child | Cassie Robbins | Television film |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove | Ferris Dunnigan | Miniseries |
| 2000 | King of the Hill | Debbie Grund | Voice; 2 episodes[2] |
| Friends | Jill Green | 2 episodes | |
| 2001 | Saturday Night Live | Host / Various | Episode: “Reese Witherspoon/Alicia Keys“ |
| 2002 | The Simpsons | Greta Wolfcastle | Voice; Episode: “The Bart Wants What It Wants“ |
| 2003 | Freedom: A History of Us | Various roles | 3 episodes; documentary[3] |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space | Susan Murphy / Ginormica | Voice; Special[4] |
| 2015 | Saturday Night Live | Host / Various | Episode: “Reese Witherspoon/Florence + the Machine“[5] |
| 2015 | Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris | Guest announcer | Episode: “Reese Witherspoon”[6] |
| The Muppets | Herself | Episode: “Walk the Swine”[7] | |
| 2017, 2019 | Big Little Lies | Madeline Martha Mackenzie | Also executive producer |
| 2017 | The Mindy Project | Herself | Episode: “Girl Gone Wild”[8] |
| 2018 | Shine On with Reese | Host | Also executive producer[9][10] |
| 2019–present | The Morning Show | Bradley Jackson | Also executive producer |
| 2020 | Little Fires Everywhere | Elena Richardson | Also executive producer |
| 2021 | Friends: The Reunion | Herself | Special |
| 2023 | Daisy Jones & The Six | — | Post-production; executive producer |
| TBA | Tiny Trailblazers | Fern | Also executive producer. |
