Reese Witherspoon was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to John and Betty Witherspoon. Her father was a lieutenant colonel in the US Army reserves and her mother was a nurse and college professor from Harriman, Tennessee. She claims to be the direct descendant of John Witherspoon who was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence, the sixth president of Princeton University, and Presbyterian minister. Reese Witherspoon was raised in the Episcopalian religion. Her father worked for the US military in Wiesbaden, Germany, were she lived there for four years as a child. After returning to U.S, army brat Witherspoon spent most of her childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating Harpeth Hall School, a private all-girls school in Nashville, she attended Stanford University in California as an English literature major. After completing a year of her studies, she left Stanford to pursue her acting career.
Witherspoon’s first role was in a TV movie called Wildflower, directed by Diane Keaton. At age 15, Witherspoon attended a casting call for The Man in the Moon. She earned a leading role and was nominated for the Young Artist Award “Best Young Actress”. After her success in The Man in the Moon, Witherspoon had many leading and supporting roles. She had a minor role in Jack the Bear in 1993 which earned her a Young Artist Award “Best Youth Actress co-starring in Motion Picture Drama.” She has also appeared in TV movie Desperate Choices: To Save My Child, and was cast as leading character “Nonnie Parker” in the Disney film A Far Off Place. She gained another leading role in the 1994 film S.F.W. Witherspoon won best actress for the 1996 film Freeway. In 1998, Witherspoon made three films: Twilight, Overnight Delivery, and Pleasantville. Her role in Pleasantville won her the Young Hollywood Award for “Best Female Breakthrough Performance.” In 1999, Witherspoon starred in the drama Best Laid Plans. Meanwhile, she starred in Cruel Intentions, where she co-starred with Sarah Michelle Geller and future husband Ryan Phillippe. Her role in Election caused Witherspoon to struggle in finding work. She finally received a supporting role in American Psycho in 2000. She also made and appearance in Little Nicky. Witherspoon had two minor roles in Friends and King of the Hill. In 2001 Witherspoon finally landed a leading role as Elle Woods in the film Legally Blonde. The box office hit helped Witherspoon gain her fame. Witherspoon received a Golden Globe for “Best Actress” and an MTV Movie Award for “Best Comedic Performance.” She later received a Teen Choice Award for her role in the comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. That same year she starred in Sweet Home Alabama. In 2003, Witherspoon starred in the Legally Blonde sequel, Legally Blonde 2. The movie earned her a $15 million paycheck for the sequel, which made her one of Hollywood’s highest paid actresses. She later starred in the films Vanity Fair and Just Like Heaven. In 2005 she gained many awards and reviews for her role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.
Witherspoon runs a production company called Type A films. Type A Films had produced the Legally Blonde Sequel and Penelope. Witherspoon’s first post-Oscar role came in the modern-day fairy tale, Penelope. Filming of Penelope began in March 2006, but the film has been set to a February 2008 release. Rendition, starring Witherspoon was released on October 12, 2007. In 2007, Witherspoon made her first move in endorsements as she signed to serve as Avon Products Global Ambassador. She will be involved in product development, appear in advertisements, and will serve as the chairwoman of Avon Foundation. Her upcoming works include Midnight and Four Christmases.
Witherspoon and actor Ryan Phillippe married in 1999. Together they have two children, daughter Ava Elizabeth and son Deacon. After seven years of marriage, the couple announced their divorce on October 30, 2006. It has been recently reported that Witherspoon has been linked to actor and co-star Jake Gyllenhaal.
Did you know…
- Reese has said that her first child Ava--who was born when she was 23--was the first baby she ever held in her life.
- Reese was a cheerleader in high school.
- When Reese chooses a movie role, she puts her daughter's opinion into consideration.
- Reese was a gymnast for seven years
- Reese used her real voice in the making of Walk the Line
- When Reese was eleven she was ranked number one in Ten-State Talent Fair
- Reese got in trouble in 5th grade when she was passing inappropriate notes. She ended up with 2 weeks of detention.
- Reese has been named one of Rolling Stones, "People of the Year" along with Eminem and Kelly Osbourne.
- Reese was named one of People Magazine's '25 Most Intriguing People of 2001' and also named one of E!'s "top 20 entert
