Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Young Reese Witherspoon
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
College/University
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Young Reese Witherspoon
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
Young Reese Witherspoon
Career
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1986
Witherspoon modeled for a florist's television advertisements at the age of seven. Soon after, she started taking acting lessons, and by the time she was 13, had already appeared in several TV commercials for companies like Ames and Opryland.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1991
She made her silver screen debut at the age of 14 in "The Man in the Moon" (1991). Though she had auditioned for a minor role, Witherspoon ended up bagging the lead in the movie. For her performance, she was nominated for Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1993
Roles in bigger films followed, including "Jack the Bear" (1993).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1994
Roles in bigger films followed, including "S.F.W." (1994). In 1996, she delivered a breakout performance of a gun-toting, foul-mouthed juvenile offender named Vanessa Lutz in "Freeway" (pictured). The role earned her the Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Actress. The same year, she was also cast alongside Mark Wahlberg in "Fear."
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1994
Roles in bigger films followed, including "S.F.W." (1994).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1998
In 1998, she also starred in the comedy-drama "Pleasantville" alongside Tobey Maguire. The duo played '90s teenage siblings who are magically transported into the setting of a '50s sitcom. Witherspoon won the Young Hollywood Award for Breakthrough Performance - Female for this role.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1998
United States
In 1998, Witherspoon acted alongside Hollywood legends like Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman in "Twilight."
(Pictured, L-R) Witherspoon, Newman and Sarandon at the premiere of the film.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1999
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1999
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1999
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
1999
The actress married her "Cruel Intentions" co-star Ryan Phillippe in 1999. The couple had two children together — Ava and Deacon, before divorcing in 2007.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2000
In 2000, she made a guest appearance on the popular sitcom "Friends" in two of its episodes. She played Jill, the younger sister of Rachel — played by Jennifer Aniston (L).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2000
In 2000, she made a guest appearance on the popular sitcom "Friends" in two of its episodes. She played Jill, the younger sister of Rachel — played by Jennifer Aniston (L).
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2001
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2001
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2001
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2001
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2004
She was next seen in the historical drama "Vanity Fair" (2004), adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel of the same name and directed by Mira Nair. She played the central character of Becky Sharp, who uses her charm and sensuality to climb the ranks of British society. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2004
She was next seen in the historical drama "Vanity Fair" (2004), adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel of the same name and directed by Mira Nair. She played the central character of Becky Sharp, who uses her charm and sensuality to climb the ranks of British society. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2005
The 2005 biographical drama "Walk the Line" cemented Witherspoon's position as one of the finest actresses of her generation. She played country singer June Carter, the love interest of musician Johnny Cash, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. The actress swept the 2006 award season, winning three major awards — Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2008
She was seen alongside Vince Vaughn in the film "Four Christmases," a story about a couple who must spend their Christmas trying to visit all four of their divorced parents. The film was a box-office success, earning over $160 million worldwide.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2009
Berlin, Germany
In 2009, the actress voiced Susan Murphy, the main character in animated 3D film "Monsters vs. Aliens." It is the tale of a young woman who is struck by a radioactive meteor on her wedding day, causing her to mutate and transform into a giant. The film won the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film in 2010.
Reese Witherspoon (in Valentino) puts one hand on her hip as she poses with an indestructible gelatinous mass at the premiere of her new animated flick, Monsters vs. Aliens, on Monday (March 9) in Berlin, Germany.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2010
Witherspoon featured in the Time’s 100 most influential people list in 2015 — her second appearance since 2006. In 2010, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2011
Her next three films were love triangles — "How Do You Know" (2010), "Water for Elephants" (2011), and "This Means War" (2012, pictured). In 2013, she starred opposite Colin Firth and Stephen Moyer in the biographical crime tale, "Devil's Knot."
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2011
She married talent agent Jim Toth (pictured) in March 2011. They have a son, Tennessee, born in 2012.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2014
In 2014, she also appeared in two other films — "The Good Lie" and "Inherent Vice." In the first, she played an employment counselor for a Sudanese refugee family in the United States. In "Inherent Vice," she portrays a district attorney passing on confidential files to the man she has an affair with.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2014
Witherspoon launched a production company named Pacific Standard in 2012, producing critically and commercially successful films "Gone Girl" and "Wild" (pictured) in 2014. In "Wild," she portrayed a woman who undertakes a solo journey to recover from a personal tragedy. Her performance brought her Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG nominations.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2015
Hollywood, United States
In 2015, Witherspoon starred alongside Sofia Vergara (L) in the comedy "Hot Pursuit" and also made a cameo appearance in the series "The Muppets." The same year, she launched a Southern-inspired home and apparel line called Draper James.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2018
Hollywood, United States
The actress will next be seen in the film “A Wrinkle in Time,” releasing on March 9, 2018. She plays the role of Mrs. Whatsit, who lives in a haunted house with her two friends. The fantasy adventure also stars Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2003
The actress turned into an executive producer with the film "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde." The 2003 sequel saw her reprise the character of Elle Woods, who this time joins a congresswoman's team to fight pass a law banning animal testing.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2008
Witherspoon's second outing as an actor-producer was the 2008 film "Penelope," a modern-day fairy tale, also starring Christina Ricci (L) and Catherine O'Hara. She played the best friend of Penelope, a girl who has a curse in her family, which can only be broken by finding true love.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2017
Primetime Emmy Awards
2017, Outstanding Limited Series (as Producer) - Big Little Lies
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2017
Hollywood, United States
She starred in the HBO limited series "Big Little Lies," co-starring (pictured) Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley. The show and Witherspoon, Kidman, Dern and Woodley were nominated for 2017 Emmy Awards.
Reese Witherspoon At premiere of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” in Hollywood
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2018
In April 2018, Witherspoon announced her first book Whiskey in a Teacup. The book is a lifestyle book inspired by Witherspoon's southern upbringing and will be released on September 18, 2018.
Gallery of Reese Witherspoon
2018
In April 2018, Witherspoon announced her first book Whiskey in a Teacup. The book is a lifestyle book inspired by Witherspoon's southern upbringing and will be released on September 18, 2018.
Achievements
2006
Academy Award
2006, Best Actress - Walk the Line
Membership
Avon Foundation
2007
Awards
MTV Movie Awards
2002
MTV Movie Awards
2002, 2011
Academy Award
2006
Academy Award
2006, Best Actress - Walk the Line
British Academy Film Award
2006
British Academy Film Award
2006, Best Actress in a Leading Role - Walk the Line
Golden Globe Awards
2006
Golden Globe Awards
2006, Best Actress — Motion Picture Comedy or Musical - Walk the Line
2018, Best Miniseries or Television Film - Big Little Lies
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2006
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2006, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Walk the Line
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
2006
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
2006, Best Actress - Walk the Line
People's Choice Awards
2009
People's Choice Awards
2006, 2008, 2009
Walk of Fame
2010
Witherspoon featured in the Time’s 100 most influential people list in 2015 — her second appearance since 2006. In 2010, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Primetime Emmy Awards
2017
Primetime Emmy Awards
2017, Outstanding Limited Series (as Producer) - Big Little Lies
Witherspoon modeled for a florist's television advertisements at the age of seven. Soon after, she started taking acting lessons, and by the time she was 13, had already appeared in several TV commercials for companies like Ames and Opryland.
She made her silver screen debut at the age of 14 in "The Man in the Moon" (1991). Though she had auditioned for a minor role, Witherspoon ended up bagging the lead in the movie. For her performance, she was nominated for Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film.
The actress made her small screen debut the same year in the TV movie "Wildflower," directed by Diane Keaton and starring Patricia Arquette. This was followed by another TV movie in 1992, "Desperate Choices: To Save My Child" (pictured), where she played a critically ill girl.
Roles in bigger films followed, including "S.F.W." (1994). In 1996, she delivered a breakout performance of a gun-toting, foul-mouthed juvenile offender named Vanessa Lutz in "Freeway" (pictured). The role earned her the Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Actress. The same year, she was also cast alongside Mark Wahlberg in "Fear."
In 1998, she also starred in the comedy-drama "Pleasantville" alongside Tobey Maguire. The duo played '90s teenage siblings who are magically transported into the setting of a '50s sitcom. Witherspoon won the Young Hollywood Award for Breakthrough Performance - Female for this role.
In 1998, Witherspoon acted alongside Hollywood legends like Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman in "Twilight."
(Pictured, L-R) Witherspoon, Newman and Sarandon at the premiere of the film.
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
She continued her march to fame with three 1999 releases — as a conniving temptress in "Best Laid Plans," an overachiever student in the darkly satiric "Election," and a principled teenager in "Cruel Intentions" (pictured).
The actress married her "Cruel Intentions" co-star Ryan Phillippe in 1999. The couple had two children together — Ava and Deacon, before divorcing in 2007.
In 2000, she made a guest appearance on the popular sitcom "Friends" in two of its episodes. She played Jill, the younger sister of Rachel — played by Jennifer Aniston (L).
In 2000, she made a guest appearance on the popular sitcom "Friends" in two of its episodes. She played Jill, the younger sister of Rachel — played by Jennifer Aniston (L).
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
It was her performance in the 2001 box-office hit "Legally Blonde" that turned her into a star worldwide. Witherspoon played Elle Woods, a spirited sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School. The movie helped establish her as one of the top female draws in Hollywood. In 2002, she delivered another hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," which grossed over $100 million worldwide.
The actress turned into an executive producer with the film "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde." The 2003 sequel saw her reprise the character of Elle Woods, who this time joins a congresswoman's team to fight pass a law banning animal testing.
She was next seen in the historical drama "Vanity Fair" (2004), adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel of the same name and directed by Mira Nair. She played the central character of Becky Sharp, who uses her charm and sensuality to climb the ranks of British society. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.
She was next seen in the historical drama "Vanity Fair" (2004), adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel of the same name and directed by Mira Nair. She played the central character of Becky Sharp, who uses her charm and sensuality to climb the ranks of British society. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.
The 2005 biographical drama "Walk the Line" cemented Witherspoon's position as one of the finest actresses of her generation. She played country singer June Carter, the love interest of musician Johnny Cash, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. The actress swept the 2006 award season, winning three major awards — Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA.
Witherspoon's second outing as an actor-producer was the 2008 film "Penelope," a modern-day fairy tale, also starring Christina Ricci (L) and Catherine O'Hara. She played the best friend of Penelope, a girl who has a curse in her family, which can only be broken by finding true love.
She was seen alongside Vince Vaughn in the film "Four Christmases," a story about a couple who must spend their Christmas trying to visit all four of their divorced parents. The film was a box-office success, earning over $160 million worldwide.
In 2009, the actress voiced Susan Murphy, the main character in animated 3D film "Monsters vs. Aliens." It is the tale of a young woman who is struck by a radioactive meteor on her wedding day, causing her to mutate and transform into a giant. The film won the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film in 2010.
Reese Witherspoon (in Valentino) puts one hand on her hip as she poses with an indestructible gelatinous mass at the premiere of her new animated flick, Monsters vs. Aliens, on Monday (March 9) in Berlin, Germany.
Witherspoon featured in the Time’s 100 most influential people list in 2015 — her second appearance since 2006. In 2010, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Her next three films were love triangles — "How Do You Know" (2010), "Water for Elephants" (2011), and "This Means War" (2012, pictured). In 2013, she starred opposite Colin Firth and Stephen Moyer in the biographical crime tale, "Devil's Knot."
In 2014, she also appeared in two other films — "The Good Lie" and "Inherent Vice." In the first, she played an employment counselor for a Sudanese refugee family in the United States. In "Inherent Vice," she portrays a district attorney passing on confidential files to the man she has an affair with.
Witherspoon launched a production company named Pacific Standard in 2012, producing critically and commercially successful films "Gone Girl" and "Wild" (pictured) in 2014. In "Wild," she portrayed a woman who undertakes a solo journey to recover from a personal tragedy. Her performance brought her Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG nominations.
In 2015, Witherspoon starred alongside Sofia Vergara (L) in the comedy "Hot Pursuit" and also made a cameo appearance in the series "The Muppets." The same year, she launched a Southern-inspired home and apparel line called Draper James.
She starred in the HBO limited series "Big Little Lies," co-starring (pictured) Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley. The show and Witherspoon, Kidman, Dern and Woodley were nominated for 2017 Emmy Awards.
Reese Witherspoon At premiere of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” in Hollywood
The actress will next be seen in the film “A Wrinkle in Time,” releasing on March 9, 2018. She plays the role of Mrs. Whatsit, who lives in a haunted house with her two friends. The fantasy adventure also stars Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine.
In April 2018, Witherspoon announced her first book Whiskey in a Teacup. The book is a lifestyle book inspired by Witherspoon's southern upbringing and will be released on September 18, 2018.
In April 2018, Witherspoon announced her first book Whiskey in a Teacup. The book is a lifestyle book inspired by Witherspoon's southern upbringing and will be released on September 18, 2018.
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.
Reese Witherspoon, in full Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress who appeared in a wide range of genres but was perhaps best known for her romantic comedies, in which she often portrayed charming yet determined characters.
Background
Ethnicity:
Reese has English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and distant Dutch, ancestry.
Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 at Southern Baptist Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana, while her father, Dr. John Draper Witherspoon, was a student at Tulane University medical school. Dr. Witherspoon was born in Georgia and served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He was in private practice as an otolaryngologist until 2012. Her mother, Dr. Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (née Reese), is from Harriman, Tennessee. Dr. Betty Witherspoon earned five degrees in total, including a Ph.D in pediatric nursing. She became a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University. Witherspoon has claimed descent from Scottish-born John Witherspoon, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence; however, this claim has not been verified by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists. Her parents are still legally married, although they separated in 1996.
Because Witherspoon's father worked for the U.S. military in Wiesbaden, Germany, she lived there for four years as a little girl. After returning to the U.S., she spent her childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. Witherspoon was raised as an Episcopalian, and has said she is proud of the "definitive Southern upbringing" which she received. She said that it gave her "a sense of family and tradition" and taught her about "being conscientious about people's feelings, being polite, being responsible and never taking for granted what you have in your life."
Education
At the age of seven, Witherspoon was selected as a model for a florist's television advertisements, which motivated her to take acting lessons. At age eleven, she took first place in the Ten-State Talent Fair. Witherspoon received high grades in school, loved reading, and considered herself "a big dork who read loads of books." She has been described as a "multi-achiever" and was given the nickname "Little Type A" by her parents.
Witherspoon attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader. She later attended Stanford University as an English literature major in 1994–95, but left the school prior to completing her studies to pursue an acting career.
As a child, Reese worked as a model and appeared in commercials. In 1991 she made her big-screen debut, portraying a tomboy in The Man in the Moon. That coming-of-age drama was critically acclaimed, and Witherspoon garnered accolades for her performance. Other roles followed, including a supporting role on the television miniseries Return to Lonesome Dove (1993). Resuming her career, she appeared in such notable films as the dark crime comedy Freeway (1996), which was inspired by the Grimm’s fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood”; Pleasantville (1998), a comedy centering on teenaged siblings in the 1990s who become trapped in a 1950s TV sitcom; and Cruel Intentions (1999), a modern take on the 18th-century novel Dangerous Liaisons, set in high school.
In 1999 Witherspoon earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Tracy Flick, an overly ambitious high-school student running for class president, in Alexander Payne’s black comedy Election. The following year she was cast against type as the girlfriend of a serial killer (played by Christian Bale) in the violent satire American Psycho, an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial novel. Also in 2000 Witherspoon had a memorable turn as the sister of Jennifer Aniston’s character on the popular television series Friends, and she provided a voice on the animated series King of the Hill.
Returning to the big screen, Witherspoon had her first major box-office hit with Legally Blonde (2001), a romantic comedy in which she played Elle Woods, a spoiled sorority girl who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School; she reprised the role for the 2003 sequel. During that time she also appeared in the hugely popular comedy Sweet Home Alabama (2002) and in several adaptations, notably The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), which was based on the play by Oscar Wilde.
Witherspoon turned to more serious fare with Walk the Line (2005), an acclaimed biopic of country singer Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix). For the role of June Carter, she learned to sing and to play the autoharp, and her commitment to the part helped Witherspoon win an Academy Award for best actress. She then appeared in a series of romantic comedies, including the box-office hit Four Christmases (2008) and the less-seen How Do You Know (2010) and This Means War (2012). In 2011 she starred in the Depression-era drama Water for Elephants, portraying a performer in a traveling circus who is caught in a love triangle (Robert Pattinson and Christoph Waltz). Better received was Mud (2012), in which she had a supporting role as the girlfriend of a troubled loner (Matthew McConaughey) who befriends two boys.
Continuing with dramatic roles, Witherspoon appeared in The Good Lie (2014) as a job recruiter who helps Sudanese refugees who have relocated to the United States and in Wild (2014) as a woman who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail in an effort to overcome the effects of a series of tragedies. The latter film was adapted from the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, the rights to which Witherspoon had purchased through her production company. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress.
In Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice (2014), adapted from the comic crime noir by Thomas Pynchon, she played the love interest of a private investigator (Joaquin Phoenix). The farcical Hot Pursuit (2015) featured Witherspoon as a straight-laced police officer who must protect the widow of a criminal. She later supplied the voice of a pig who enters a singing contest in the animated film Sing (2016). In 2017 she starred as an overachieving mother in the HBO miniseries Little Big Lies, adapted from Liane Moriarty’s best-selling novel. Later that year Witherspoon appeared in the romantic comedy Home Again. She played the role of Mrs. Whatsit in the 2018 film adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s acclaimed 1962 sci-fi novel, A Wrinkle in Time.
In April 2018, Witherspoon announced her first book Whiskey in a Teacup. The book is a lifestyle book inspired by Witherspoon's southern upbringing and will be released on September 18, 2018.
In July 2018, Witherspoon began hosting the talk show Shine On With Reese on DirecTV. The show is a one-on-one interview between Witherspoon and a female guest focussing on how the guest achieved her dreams. Like Big Little Lies, the show is produced by her production company Hello Sunshine. The show marks Witherspoon's first unscripted role in television.
Reese was raised in a devout Episcopalian family and keeps the faith to this day. Witherspoon won’t publicly address her religious beliefs but she isn’t afraid to show her devotion. She regularly attends Episcopalian services in her hometown of Los Angeles and seems to have managed to get her various boyfriends and husbands to either attend services with her or even have their wedding administered by an Episcopalian minister. Witherspoon has occasionally justified her faith and, like most, she’s looking for answers to life’s unanswerable questions. She said:
"(Church) takes you out of your personal experience and universalizes it. You understand that whatever you’re dealing with, someone in that room has either dealt with the same thing or will in the future. We are all struggling to figure out what life is about, we are all just looking for answers."
Politics
Witherspoon is a Democrat and, in 2003 and 2005, she donated to Hillary Clinton’s New York U.S. Congress campaigns–but only to the grand total of $1,500.
Reese once helped promote an organization called Divided We Fail, a supposedly non-partisan group whose aims include affordable health care for all.
She also endorsed Obama during the 2008 election cycle.
Views
In 2007, Witherspoon made her first move into the world of endorsements, as she signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the first Global Ambassador of cosmetic company Avon Products. She acts as a spokeswoman for Avon's cosmetic products and serves as the honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, a charitable organization that supports women and focuses on breast cancer research and the prevention of domestic violence. Witherspoon is also committed to participating in cosmetics product development and appearing in commercial advertisements. Explaining her motives for joining the foundation, she said, "As a woman and a mother I care deeply about the well being of other women and children throughout the world and through the years, I have always looked for opportunities to make a difference."
Quotations:
"I don't believe in perfection. I don't think there is such a thing. But the energy of wanting things to be great is a perfectionist energy."
Being a Southern person and a blonde, it's not a good combination. Immediately, when people meet you, they think of you as not being smart."
"I get crazy in a bookstore. It makes my heart beat hard because I want to buy everything."
"Confidence is everything in this business."
"It really bothers me when people don't use coasters. Particularly on my table."
"Well I always wanted to be Dolly Parton when I was a little girl. I was obsessed with her."
"I started working on trying to sound like June from the very beginning."
"We each own one car, and we have a reasonable house. It's a lovely place to be, but it's not extravagant."
"That said, I'd love to do a musical, either in film or on stage."
"I'm just chatty. But I do express my opinion."
Membership
Avon Foundation
2007
Personality
Reese Witherspoon says she possesses a buzzing and nervous squirrely energy.
She is a vegetarian.
Reese is best friends with Selma Blair, Chelsea Handler and Renée Zellweger.
She picks pearls over diamonds, heels over flats, and believes the best fashion trend of all time is skinny jeans.
Physical Characteristics:
Witherspoon has an expressive face, smooth voice with a strong southern accent, blonde hair and blue eyes.
Interests
She collects antique linens and is crazy about old embroidery.
Witherspoon is a big fan of Easter. She hunts for Easter eggs with the family, and even launched a line of bunny clothing for the special occasion through her brand, Draper James.
As the daughter of parents who are both medically trained (her dad was an otolaryngologist and her mom was a pediatric nurse and nursing professor), it’s no surprise that Witherspoon says if she could moonlight as another profession, it would be as a pediatric cardiologist.
Witherspoon’s favorite Disney character is Tinkerbell, and her favorite board game is Taboo.
Philosophers & Thinkers
Brené Brown
Politicians
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
Writers
On mentioning her love for books, she said, "I get crazy in a bookstore. It makes my heart beat hard because I want to buy everything." Her favourite books are: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman, Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo, Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, The Lying Game by Ruth Ware, Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, The Awkward Age by Francesca Segal, Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty, The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and The Dry by Jane Harper.
Artists
Witherspoon has cited actresses Meryl Streep, Holly Hunter, Susan Sarandon, Frances McDormand, Debra Winger, Diane Ladd, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Aniston, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, Sigourney Weaver, Lucille Ball, Carole Lombard, Judy Holliday, Gena Rowlands, and actors Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, and Michael Keaton as influences on her acting.Her favorite films are Splendor in the Grass, Waiting For Guffman, Broadcast News, Raising Arizona, and Overboard.
Considers Meryl Streep's performance in Sophie's Choice (1982) as the greatest female performance of all time. Witherspoon also states that she was influenced by Streep.
Sport & Clubs
She was a gymnast for seven years when she was younger.
Leading up to the production of Water for Elephants (2011), Witherspoon went to circus school for three months. She practiced acrobatics and trapeze with Cirque du Soleil performers, and thanks her days as a gymnast for her flexibility.
Music & Bands
If given the chance to be a groupie for any band living or dead, Witherspoon would choose to be one for The Doors.
Connections
Witherspoon met actor Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday party in March 1997. They became engaged in December 1998 and married near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation. They have two children together, a daughter, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born on September 9, 1999, and a son, Deacon Reese Phillippe, born on October 23, 2003. In October 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced their separation.
In early February 2010, it was reported that Witherspoon was dating Jim Toth, a talent agent and co-head of motion picture talent at Creative Artists Agency, where Witherspoon is a client. Witherspoon and Toth announced their engagement in December 2010, and married on March 26, 2011, in Ojai, California, at Libbey Ranch, Witherspoon's country estate, which she later sold. The couple have a son, Tennessee James Toth, born on September 27, 2012.