Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon, born on March 22, 1976, was raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Considering that both her parents held occupations in the medical field, Reese grew up expecting to become a doctor, although she always knew in her heart that she wanted to be an actress.
While growing up in Nashville, a hot spot especially known for its country music talent, Reese Witherspoon was exposed to the entertainment industry at a very early age. Her career in the spotlight began at 7 years of age when she was introduced to the world of modeling. This exposure eventually enabled her to break onto the small screen by appearing in several television commercials.
Reese Witherspoon in man in the moon
After winning a 10-state talent search, Reese Witherspoon began to receive recognition for her acting and modeling abilities. In 1991, she landed her first lead role in Robert Mulligan’s The Man in the Moon. This role in particular kick-started Reese’s film career, and soon after, she found herself starring in two made-for-TV movies: 1991′s Wildflower and 1992′s Desperate Choices: To Save My Child.
Upon completing high school, Reese Witherspoon began receiving offers to appear in higher caliber films, including Jack the Bear (alongside Hollywood heavyweights Danny DeVito and Gary Sinise) and Disney’s A Far Off Place, both of which were released in 1993. The following year, Reese Witherspoon decided to put her acting career on hold for a little while and enrolled at Stanford University to major in English literature.
Reese Witherspoon in fear
This decision to pursue her studies was curbed shortly thereafter, when she accepted to star in two more big screen productions — both of which were slated for 1996 release dates. First came Fear, in which she portrayed a frightened teenager terrorized by her psychotic boyfriend (Mark Wahlberg, in one of his earlier roles). In the second film, Freeway, she was cast alongside Kiefer Sutherland in yet another dramatic role as a victimized teenager. Both roles pushed Reese Witherspoon well beyond her prior acting experiences and ultimately opened new doors for her as a rising starlet in Hollywood.
Reese Witherspoon in pleasantville
The following years found Reese Witherspoon starring in more prestigious film projects. In 1998, she appeared opposite legendary screen icons Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon in Robert Benton’s Twilight, and later that year she starred in Pleasantville along with fellow up-and-comer Tobey Maguire.
1999 was a big year for Reese Witherspoon in more ways than one. Her career was elevated to an even higher level by starring in two more box-office hits, Cruel Intentions (with Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Election, in which she wowed critics with her dark comedic performance. While filming Cruel Intentions, Reese Witherspoon and costar Ryan Phillippe became involved in a serious off-screen romance, which eventually led to their engagement in March of 1999. The pair married on June 5, 1999, in South Carolina and announced shortly thereafter that they were expecting their first child in the coming months.
Reese Witherspoon is legally blonde
After a brief break from the acting scene, Reese Witherspoon returned in February of 2000 with a guest spot on the hit NBC sitcom Friends. She starred in a few episodes as the younger sister of Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston). Later on that year, she reappeared on the big screen with relatively small roles in two more films, American Psycho and Little Nicky. However, in 2001, she once again found herself starring as the leading lady in the successful Legally Blonde.
In 2002, Reese Witherspoon appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest and had the lead role in Sweet Home Alabama, which was also quite a success. The following year, she reprised her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. She also gave birth to a little boy, Deacon.
Reese Witherspoon in walk the line
After 2004′s Vanity Fair, Reese Witherspoon could be seen in 2005′s Just Like Heaven and Walk the Line (as June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic). In 2006, she added Penelope, costarring Christina Ricci, to her resume. She starred in the flick Rendition with Jake Gyllenhaal the following year before divorcing her husband in June 2008. Apparently, she and Jake hit it off, because shortly after her divorce from Ryan Philippe, Reese Witherspoon was spotted getting cozy to her former costar, and they were officially dating shortly thereafter.
Buying cigarettes is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?
Reese Witherspoon in monsters vs. aliens
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Man in the Moon, TheThe Man in the Moon | Dani Trant | Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress
Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture |
| 1991 | Wildflower | Ellie Perkins | |
| 1992 | Desperate Choices: To Save My Child | Cassie | |
| 1993 | Far Off Place, AA Far Off Place | Nonnie Parker | |
| 1993 | Jack the Bear | Karen Morris | Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actress Co-Star |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove | Ferris Dunnigan | TV mini-series |
| 1994 | S.F.W. | Wendy Pfister | |
| 1996 | Freeway | Vanessa | Cognac Festival du Film Policier Award – Best Actress |
| 1996 | Fear | Nicole Walker | |
| 1998 | Twilight | Mel Ames | |
| 1998 | Overnight Delivery | Ivy Miller | |
| 1998 | Pleasantville | Jennifer/Mary Sue | Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Funniest Scene |
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Annette Hargrove | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress
Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Sexiest Love Scene Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress |
| 1999 | Election | Tracy Flick | Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated–American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated–Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated–Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated–Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female Nominated–Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated–Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit |
| 1999 | Best Laid Plans | Lissa | |
| 2000 | Little Nicky | Holly | Cameo appearance |
| 2000 | American Psycho | Evelyn Williams | |
| 2001 | Trumpet of the Swan, TheThe Trumpet of the Swan | Serena | Voice |
| 2001 | Legally Blonde | Elle Woods | MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
MTV Movie Award for Best Dressed MTV Movie Award for Best Line Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated–MTV Movie Award for Best Performance – Female Nominated–Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 2002 | Importance of Being Earnest, TheThe Importance of Being Earnest | Cecily Cardew | Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress |
| 2002 | Sweet Home Alabama | Melanie Carmichael | Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock
Nominated–MTV Movie Award for Best Performance – Female Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress |
| 2003 | Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde | Elle Woods | Executive Producer |
| 2004 | Vanity Fair | Becky Sharp | |
| 2005 | Walk the Line | June Carter Cash | Vocals
Academy Award for Best Actress Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated–Empire Award for Best Actress Nominated–MTV Movie Award for Best Performance |
| 2005 | Just like Heaven | Elizabeth Masterson | |
| 2007 | Rendition | Isabella El-Ibrahimi | Nominated–Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress |
| 2008 | Penelope | Annie | |
| 2008 | Four Christmases | Kate | |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Susan Murphy / Ginormica | Voice |
| 2010 | How Do You Know | Lisa | |
| 2011 | Water for Elephants | Marlena Rosenbluth |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde | Executive Producer |
| 2006 | Penelope (2008 film) | |
| 2008 | Four Christmases | |
| 2009 | Legally Blondes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | King of the Hill | Debbie | 2 episodes
voice |
| 2000 | Friends | Jill Green | 2 episodes
Nominated–American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series |
| 2002 | Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons | Greta Wolfcastle | 1 episode
voice |
| 2003 | Freedom: A History of Us | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space | Susan Murphy / Ginormica | Halloween TV Special
voice |
Discography
| Year | Soundtrack |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Walk the Line |
With a small part in the 2008 comedy Four Christmases, Reese Witherspoon will lend her voice to the animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens, which comes out in 2009 and also features the voices of Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Hugh Laurie, and Kiefer Sutherland.




