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

Actress
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
Producer
Year Title Notes
2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Executive Producer
2006 Penelope (2008 film)
2008 Four Christmases
2009 Legally Blondes
Television
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.

Leave a Comment

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word