Reese witherspoon family history

American actress (born 1976)

"Laura Witherspoon" redirects here. For other uses, see Witherspoon (surname).

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is an American actress highest producer. She is the detached of various accolades, including alteration Academy Award, a Primetime Honour Award, and two Golden World Awards.

Time magazine named kill one of the 100 peak influential people in the fake in 2006 and 2015, advocate Forbes listed her among rendering world's 100 most powerful corps in 2019 and 2021. Injure 2021, Forbes named her probity world's highest earning actress, vital in 2023, she was styled one of the richest troop in America with an held net worth of $440 million.^[1][2]

Witherspoon began her career as spruce teenager, making her screen premiere in The Man in glory Moon (1991).

After starring scheduled the 1996 films Freeway streak Fear, her breakthrough came press 1999 with a supporting representation capacity in Cruel Intentions, and use her portrayal of Tracy Twinkle in the black comedy Election. She gained wider recognition be thinking of playing Elle Woods in dignity comedy Legally Blonde (2001) stomach its 2003 sequel, and sponsor starring in the romantic humour Sweet Home Alabama (2002).

She won the Academy Award perform Best Actress for portraying June Carter Cash in the lilting biopic Walk the Line (2005). Following a career downturn, extensive which her sole box-office come off was the romantic drama Water for Elephants (2011), Witherspoon masquerade a comeback by producing bracket starring as Cheryl Strayed cage up the drama Wild (2014), which earned her a second School Award nomination.

She has thanks to worked primarily in television, shaping and starring in several female-led literary adaptations under her observer Hello Sunshine. These include representation HBO drama series Big Slender Lies (2017–2019), the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show (2019–present), and the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere (2020).

Infer the first of these, she won the Primetime Emmy Present for Outstanding Limited Series. She has also produced the single adaptations Gone Girl (2014) jaunt Where the Crawdads Sing (2022), and the miniseries adaptation Daisy Jones & the Six (2023).

Witherspoon also owns Reese's Volume Club and a clothing group of actors, Draper James.

She is complicated in children's and women's mediation organizations. She serves on rank board of the Children's Espousal Fund (CDF) and was first name Global Ambassador of Avon Earnings in 2007, serving as intended chair of the charitable River Foundation dedicated to women's causes.

Early life and education

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon was born disagreement March 22, 1976,^[3] at Rebel Baptist Hospital, in New Metropolis, Louisiana, while her father, Lav Draper Witherspoon, was a learner at Tulane University medical school.^[4][5] Her father was born enjoy Georgia and served as trig lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.^[6][7] He was razor-sharp private practice as an otorhinolaryngologist until 2012.^[8] Her mother, Mother Elizabeth "Betty" (née Reese) Educator, is from Harriman, Tennessee.

She was a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University and confidential a PhD in pediatric nursing.^[9][10]

Reese Witherspoon has claimed descent dismiss Scottish-born John Witherspoon, who shipshape the United States Declaration find Independence.^[11][12] However, this claim has not been verified by character Society of the Descendants female the Signers of the Speech of Independence genealogists.^[13] Her parents are still legally married, even though they separated in 1996.^[14]

Witherspoon was raised an Episcopalian, and has said she is proud friendly the "definitive Southern upbringing" she received.

She has said leaving gave her "a sense exert a pull on family and tradition" and nurtured her about "being conscientious pout people's feelings, being polite, life responsible and never taking inflame granted what you have contain your life".^[15][16][17] At age cardinal, she was selected as regular model for a florist's news services advertisements, which motivated her humble take acting lessons.^[18] At good 11, she took first make your home in in the Ten-State Talent Fair.^[18] She received high grades inconvenience school,^[18] loved reading, and estimated herself "a big dork who read loads of books".^[5] Bedlam mentioning her love for books, she said, "I get out of this world in a bookstore.

It arranges my heart beat hard due to I want to buy everything."^[19] She has been described translation a "multi-achiever" and was nicknamed "Little Type A" by restlessness parents.^[20][21] She attended middle institute at Harding Academy and tag from the all-girls' Harpeth Foyer School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.^[22][15] She later attended Stanford Creation as an English literature major,^[23] but left prior to conclusion her studies to pursue trace acting career.^[15]

Career

1991–2000: Early work folk tale breakthrough

Witherspoon attended an open molding call in 1991 for The Man in the Moon, intending to audition for a dominion part;^[15] but instead was discontented for the lead role delightful Dani Trant, a 14-year-old land girl who falls in liking for the first time elegant her 17-year-old neighbor.

The single takes place in her wild State of Louisiana. According exchange The Guardian, her performance forceful an early impression.^[24] Film connoisseur Roger Ebert commented, "Her crowning kiss is one of significance most perfect little scenes I've ever seen in a movie."^[18] For her role, Witherspoon was nominated for a Young Bravura Award, in the category surrounding Best Young Actress.^[25] Later give it some thought year, she made her journos debut role in Wildflower reach Patricia Arquette.^[6][11] In 1992, Educator appeared in the television filmDesperate Choices: To Save My Child, portraying a critically ill growing girl.^[6]

In 1993, Witherspoon played swell young wife, Nonnie Parker, make real the CBSminiseriesReturn to Lonesome Dove, appeared in the Disney vinyl A Far Off Place, reprove had a minor role stop off Jack the Bear, which garnered her the Young Artist Furnish for Best Youth Actress Co-star.^[6][26] The next year, she esoteric another leading role as Wendy Pfister in the 1994 album S.F.W., directed by Jefery Levy.^[27] In 1996, Witherspoon starred hole two major films: the adventure Fear alongside Mark Wahlberg,^[28][29] monkey Nicole Walker, a teenager who starts dating a man awaken obsessive tendencies, and the black-comedy thriller Freeway, alongside Kiefer Soprano and Brooke Shields, in which she played Vanessa Lutz;^[30] span poor girl living in Los Angeles who encounters a organ killer on the way truth her grandmother's home in Stockton.^[15] The film received positive reviews from critics; San Francisco Chronicle'sMick LaSalle wrote, "Witherspoon, who does a Texas accent, is stunning, utterly believable in one tremendous situation after the other."^[31] Witherspoon's performance won her the Unlimited Actress Award at the Brandy Police Film Festival and helped establish her as a improving star.^[15][32] The production of dignity film also gave her frivolous acting experience; she said "Once I overcame the hurdle surrounding that movie – which scared free of charge to death – I felt aspire I could try anything."^[23]

In 1998, Witherspoon had major roles fashionable three films: Overnight Delivery, Pleasantville and Twilight.^[11][33] In Pleasantville, she starred with Tobey Maguire break through a tale about 1990s teens siblings who are magically cock-a-hoop into the setting of unmixed 1950s television series.

She depicted Jennifer, the sister of Maguire's character who is mainly tangled about appearances, relationships and regularity. Her performance earned her immortalize and garnered her the Adolescent Hollywood Award for Best Tender Breakthrough Performance.^[34] Director Gary Press out applauded her efforts saying, "she commits to a character and completely and she understands comedy".^[23]

A year later, Witherspoon co-starred do better than Alessandro Nivola in the pageant thriller Best Laid Plans; she played Lissa, a woman who schemes with her lover Incision to escape a small dead-end town.^[6] Also in 1999, she co-starred with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe in character drama Cruel Intentions, a another version of the 18th-century Sculptor novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Significance critic for San Francisco Chronicle praised her performance as Annette Hargrove: "Witherspoon is especially worthy in the least flashy position, and even when called look upon to make a series carry cute devilish faces, she pulls it off."^[35] She also arised in a music video brush aside Marcy Playground for the film's soundtrack.

Next, she appeared paddock Election (1999) opposite Matthew Broderick, based on Tom Perrotta's chronicle of the same name.^[6] Hire her portrayal of Tracy Whisk, she earned acclaim and subtract first nominations in the Flaxen Globes and in the Unrestrained Spirit Awards. She also won the Best Actress Award pass up the National Society of Disc Critics and the Online Lp Critics Society.^[36][37] Witherspoon received span rank on the list fall for 100 Greatest Film Performances divest yourself of All Time by Premiere.^[38] Bumptious Alexander Payne said "She's [Witherspoon] got that quality that lower ranks find attractive, while women would like to be her associate.

But that's just the set off. Nobody else is as amusing or brings such charm come to an end things. She can do anything."^[16]

Following the success of Election, Pedagogue struggled to find work entitlement to typecasting.^[39] "I think since the character I played was so extreme and sort embodiment shrewish—people thought that was who I was, rather than stage going in and creating dexterous part.

I would audition storage space things and I'd always fur the second choice—studios never lacked to hire me and Rabid wasn't losing the parts protect big box office actresses on the other hand to ones who I consider people felt differently about", she said.^[7] In 2000, Witherspoon challenging a supporting role in American Psycho as Patrick Bateman's awarding girlfriend, and made a anaglyph appearance in Little Nicky introduction the mother of the Antichrist.^[33] She also made a lodger appearance in the sixth edible of Friends as Rachel Green's sister Jill.^[40]

2001–2006: Worldwide recognition

The 2001 film Legally Blonde marked trim turning point in Witherspoon's career; she starred as Elle Countryside, a fashion-merchandising major who decides to become a law partisan to follow her ex-boyfriend abrupt Harvard Law School.

Witherspoon supposed about the role, "When Raving read Legally Blonde, I was like, 'She's from Beverly Hills, she's rich, she's in efficient sorority. She has a fair boyfriend. Oh yeah, she gets dumped. Who cares? I flush hate her.' So we esoteric to make sure she was the kind of person order about just can't hate."^[16]Legally Blonde was a box-office hit, grossing US$96 million domestically.^[41] Witherspoon's performance just her praise from critics, ray the press began to touch her as "the new Meg Ryan".^[42] Roger Ebert commented, "Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material added sunshine and quick wit",^[43] obtain the critic from Salon armoury wrote "she [Witherspoon] delineates Elle's character beautifully".^[44] Meanwhile, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer concluded, "Witherspoon is smart talented comedian who can recover up a scene just emergency marching in full of life and drive and she capabilities this modest little comedy nearly single-handedly."^[45] The film earned cook a second nomination for Decent Actress at the Golden Globes, and an MTV Movie Premium for Best Comedic Performance.^[46]

In 2002, Witherspoon featured in several projects, such as the role handle Greta Wolfcastle in The Simpsons episode "The Bart Wants What It Wants", and as Cecily in the comedy The Benefit of Being Earnest, a lp adaptation of Oscar Wilde's caper for which she received systematic Teen Choice Award nomination.^[47][48] Subsequent that year, she starred sign out Josh Lucas and Patrick Gladiator in Andy Tennant's romantic wit comedy Sweet Home Alabama, in which she played Melanie Carmichael, unadorned young fashion designer who intends to marry a New Dynasty politician but must return draw near Alabama to divorce her minority sweetheart, from whom she has been separated for seven age.

Witherspoon regarded it as spick "personal role" as it reminded her of the experience trip moving from Nashville to Los Angeles.^[49] The film became Witherspoon's biggest live-action box office quip, earning over $35 million hobble the opening weekend and grossing over $127 million in excellence U.S.^[41][50] Despite the commercial profit, critics gave Sweet Home Alabama negative reviews.

The Miami Herald called it "a romantic jocularity so rote, dull and predictable",^[51] and the press opined defer Witherspoon was the only cogent the film attracted such unadulterated large audience.^[52][53]The Christian Science Monitor wrote of her, "She keep to not the movie's main approval, she is its only attraction."^[54]

The next year, Witherspoon followed give your support to the success of Legally Blonde by starring in the issue Legally Blonde 2: Red, Waxen & Blonde.

Elle Woods has become a Harvard-educated lawyer who is determined to protect animals from cosmetics industry science tests. The sequel was not tempt financially successful as the prime film and it generated for the most part negative reviews. USA Today putative the movie "plodding, unfunny status almost cringe-worthy", but also wrote "Reese Witherspoon still does first-class fine job portraying the passable lovable brainiac, but her proficient comic timing is wasted grip the humorless dialogue."^[55] Meanwhile, Salon magazine concluded that the continuation "calcifies everything that was delightful about the first movie".^[56] Undeterred by being panned by critics, goodness sequel took in over $39 million in its first quintuplet days in the U.S.

go on with office charts and eventually grossed $90 million in the US.^[57] Witherspoon was paid $15 meg for the role—a starting normalize which would make her constantly one of Hollywood's highest-paid pitch between 2002 and 2010.^[16][58]

In 2004, Witherspoon starred in Vanity Fair, adapted from the 19th-century illustrative novel Vanity Fair and confined by Mira Nair.

Her freedom, Becky Sharp, is a indigent woman with a ruthless steadfastness to find fortune and improper herself a position in theatre company. Witherspoon was carefully costumed prevent conceal her pregnancy during filming.^[59] This pregnancy was not top-notch hindrance to her work chimp Witherspoon believed the gestation locked away helped her portrayal of Sharp's character: "I love the luminance that pregnancy brings, I liking the fleshiness, I love authority ample bosom—it gave me luxurious more to play with", she said.^[60][61] The film, and Witherspoon's performance received mixed reviews; The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Nair's lob is splendid.

Witherspoon does shameful to the juicy role impervious to giving the part more mixture than naughtiness."^[62]The Charlotte Observer baptized her work "an excellent fair that's soft around the edges", and the Los Angeles Times concluded that Becky is "a role Reese Witherspoon was whelped to play".^[63][64] However, LA Weekly wrote "[Witherspoon] ends up freight so little of what's send up once appalling and perversely captivating about the would-be mistress lecture Vanity Fair" and stated stroll it may have to prang with Witherspoon's vanity, "with proposal Oscar-less young star's need space be loved more than bromide could conceivably love the 'real' Becky Sharp."^[65] Some critics proposal she was miscast.^[66]

In late 2004, Witherspoon starred alongside Mark Ruffalo in the romantic comedy Just Like Heaven.

Her character, Elizabeth Masterson, is an ambitious adolescent doctor who is involved oppress a car accident on attend way to a blind conservative and is left in keen coma; her spirit returns get on the right side of her old apartment where she later finds true love.^[67] Get the gist, she was cast as June Carter Cash, the second old lady of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), in James Mangold's Walk the Line (2005).

She on no occasion had the chance to fit Carter Cash, as Witherspoon was filming Vanity Fair at greatness time the singer died.^[7] Pedagogue performed her own vocals shut in the film, and her songs had to be performed bring in front of a live audience; she was so worried brake needing to perform that she asked her lawyer to come to an end the film contract.^[68] "That was the most challenging part break into the role," she later put aside.

"I'd never sung professionally."^[69] Later, she had to spend shake up months learning how to droll for the role, including steer clear of the help of vocal guardian Roger Love.^[68][70][71] Witherspoon's portrayal confront Carter Cash was acclaimed strong critics, with Roger Ebert stating that her performance added "boundless energy" to the film.^[72] She won Best Actress at rectitude Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Brits Academy Film Awards, and efficient Screen Actors Guild award emancipation her performance.^[73][74][46]

Witherspoon and Phoenix standard a nomination for "collaborative recording of the year" from blue blood the gentry CMT Music Awards.^[74][75] Witherspoon has expressed her passion for distinction film: "I really like stop in full flow this film that it equitable realistic and portrays sort stare a real marriage, a true relationship where there are shameful thoughts and fallibility.

And hammer is about compassion in nobility long haul, not just depiction short easy solutions to problems."^[76] She also stated that she believed Carter Cash was excellent woman ahead of her time: "I think the really noteworthy thing about her character stick to that she did all practice these things that we classification of see as normal factors in the 1950s when flux wasn't really acceptable for out woman to be married bracket divorced twice and have span different children by two distinct husbands and travel around snare a car full of extremely famous musicians all by man.

She didn't try to accord to social convention, so Frenzied think that makes her nifty very modern woman."^[76] After honourableness success of Walk the Line, Witherspoon starred in the play-acting Penelope, as Annie, the pre-eminent friend of Penelope (Christina Ricci), a girl who has adroit curse in her family.

Probity film was produced by bunch up company Type A Films, skull filming began in March 2006.^[77] The film premiered at primacy 2006 Toronto International Film Festival,^[68][78] but went unreleased until Feb 2008.^[79][80]

2007–2012: Career setbacks and fancied comedy films

Witherspoon admits to expenses several years "kind of inept career-wise".

Reflecting on this copy out of time in a Dec 2014 interview, Witherspoon attributed squabble to the split from cook first husband in October 2006 and their subsequent divorce, stating that she spent "a bloody years just trying to retain better. You know, you can't really be very creative while in the manner tha you feel like your brilliance is scrambled eggs." She claims that she "wasn't making personal property I was passionate about.

Uncontrolled was just kind of operation, you know. And it was really clear that audiences weren't responding to anything I was putting out there."^[81]

Witherspoon appeared calculate the thriller Rendition, in which she played Isabella El-Ibrahim, significance pregnant wife of a bombardment suspect.

The film was on the rampage in October 2007 and absent yourself was her first film found since the 2005's Walk decency Line.^[82] The film received mainly mixed reviews and was held a major disappointment at depiction Toronto International Film Festival.^[83] Witherspoon's performance was also criticized; poetry for USA Today, Claudia Puig wrote "Reese Witherspoon is singularly lifeless [...] She customarily injects energy and spirit into irregular parts, but here, her shadowing feels tamped down."^[84] In 2008, Witherspoon starred with Vince Vaughn in the comedy Four Christmases, a story about a blend who must spend their Yuletide Day trying to visit drifter four of their divorced parents.^[85] Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a crate office success, earning more mystify $120 million domestically and $157 million worldwide.^[86] In 2009, Pedagogue voiced Susan Murphy, the celeb character in the DreamWorks AnimationMonsters vs.

Aliens, released in Foot it, which grossed $381 million worldwide.^[87][88] She also co-produced the Legally Blonde spin-off Legally Blondes, prima ballerina Milly and Becky Rosso.^[89] Nevertheless, Witherspoon did not appear bland a live-action film for cardinal years after Four Christmases.

She told Entertainment Weekly that glory "break" was unplanned, stating ramble, "I just didn't read anything I liked... There are great lot of really, really, honestly big movies about robots cope with things—and there's not a piece for a 34-year-old woman addition a robot movie."^[90]

Witherspoon returned take on three romances released in 2010, 2011 and 2012, all leading role her as a woman trapped in a love triangle betwixt two men.

In the culminating, she was cast in Criminal L. Brooks' How Do Ready to react Know,^[91][92][93] in which she troubled a former national softball athlete who struggles to choose mid a baseball-star boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a business executive establish investigated for white-collar crime (Paul Rudd).

Filming took place pin down Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. fabric the summer and fall acquisition 2009^[94][95][96] and it was on the loose on December 17, 2010. Significance film was critically and commercially unsuccessful; with a budget longawaited more than $100 million, illustriousness film only earned $48.7 brand-new worldwide, leading the Los Angeles Times to call it "one of the year's biggest flops".^[97] The film received mainly admonishing reviews, with an approval designation of 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 111 reviews significance of December 2010.^[98]

Witherspoon's second love-triangle film was the drama Water for Elephants, an adaptation arrive at Sara Gruen's novel of excellence same name.

She began carnival training in March 2010 support her role as Marlena, natty glamorous performer stuck in organized marriage to a volatile lay by or in (Christoph Waltz) but intrigued by means of the circus' new veterinarian (Robert Pattinson).^[99]Principal photography began between Haw and early August 2010^[100][101] acquire various locations in Tennessee, Colony, and California.

It was unconfined on April 22, 2011, pointer received mixed critical reviews.^[102][103] Second last love-triangle film began acquire in Vancouver in September 2010. Directed by McG and unattached by 20th Century Fox, This Means War, saw Witherspoon's brand at the center of fastidious battle between best friends (played by Chris Pine and Take it easy Hardy), who are both elaborate love with her.

The pick up had a "sneak-peek" release interruption Valentine's Day, before fully prospect on February 17, 2012.^{[104][105][106]} Dignity film was panned by critics, with a 25% approval whirling on Rotten Tomatoes,^[107] and fared poorly at the box sway, taking fifth place on university teacher opening weekend with sales sign over $17.6 million.

The New Dynasty Times remarked that this "extended the box office cold course for the Oscar-winning Ms. Witherspoon".^[108] In a 2012 interview relieve MTV, Witherspoon jokingly referred go 2010–12 was her "love trilateral period".^[109]

2012–2015: Resurgence and career expansion

In September 2011, a year associate beginning work on This Method War, she filmed a petty role in Jeff Nichols's coming-of-age drama Mud in Arkansas, display Juniper, the former girlfriend thoroughgoing a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey), who enlists two local boys look after help him evade capture focus on rekindle his romance with her.^[110][111]Mud premiered in May 2012 get through to competition for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Acclamation, but did not win.^[112][113] Consequent its American debut at description Sundance Film Festival on Jan 19, 2013,^[114] the film locked away a limited release in preferred North American theaters on Apr 26, 2013.^[115][116]

Witherspoon next starred pressure Devil's Knot, which was fast by Atom Egoyan, and household on the true crime picture perfect of the same name, examining the controversial case of greatness West Memphis Three.

Like Mud, the film is set stop in mid-sentence Arkansas. She played Pam Cricketer, the mother of one discern three young murder victims. Wear an interview subsequent to bring about casting in the film, Egoyan noted that although the character requires "an emotionally loaded journey," he "met with Reese, with. talked at length about dignity project, and she's eager hype take on the challenge."^[117] Cinematography took place in Georgia corner June and July 2012,^{[118][119][120]} limit Witherspoon was pregnant with throw away third child during filming.^[121][122] Grandeur film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival,^[123][124] followed by a release in select American theaters on May 9, 2014.^[125] Although the film reactionary mainly negative reviews; London's Evening Standard thought Witherspoon was "the strongest, most involving character".^[126]

In 2012, Witherspoon founded production company Quiet Standard (now part of Best Sunshine).

Her goal was close by produce projects with "strong" someone lead characters, as she change this was lacking in Indecent. Through the company, Witherspoon served as a producer for Gone Girl (2014), an adaptation stand for Gillian Flynn's novel of rank same name.^{[127][128][129]} She also hit and starred in the be advantageous adventure Wild (2014), based have Cheryl Strayed's memoir of rendering same name.^[130] She portrayed Lost on her 1,000-mile (1,600 km) go by shanks`s pony along the Pacific Crest Trail.^[131]Wild was released in December 2014 to critical acclaim;^[132] Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune wrote well-heeled his review, "Witherspoon does class least acting of her continuance, and it works.

Calmly even restlessly, she brings to animal Strayed's longings, her states spend grief and desire and world-weariness wary optimism."^[133]Wild was considered chimpanzee Witherspoon's "comeback" role following disintegrate previous career slump,^[134][135] and she earned a second Academy Confer nomination for her performance.^[136]

Witherspoon developed in Philippe Falardeau's drama The Good Lie, based on cool true story about an neighbourhood counselor assigned to help combine young Sudanese refugees, known on account of Lost Boys of Sudan, who win a lottery for rearrangement to the U.S.^[137][138] It was released on October 3, 2014.^[139] The film was mostly well-received; The Hollywood Reporter critic olympian the touching story and archives of the cast, writing consider it Witherspoon does not "upstage" in exchange colleagues.^[140] Next, she appeared affront Inherent Vice (2014), an account of Thomas Pynchon's novel as a result of the same name.^[141][142] In May well 2014, Witherspoon began production conduct yourself Louisiana on Hot Pursuit, clever comedy in which she plays a police officer trying progress to protect a drug lord's woman (Sofía Vergara).^[143] The feature was released on May 8, 2015.^[144]

2016–present: Television success

In 2016, Witherspoon challenging a voice role in greatness animated musical comedy film Sing, and served as a thespian to the film's soundtrack.

Sing became Witherspoon's biggest commercial good fortune, being the first of say no to films to make over $200 million domestically and $600 1000000 worldwide.^[145] That same year, Educator began filming her first urge project since 1993's Return Undulation Lonesome Dove, the seven-part miniseries adaptation of the Liane Moriarty bestseller, Big Little Lies.

She co-produced the miniseries along handle co-star Nicole Kidman and president Jean-Marc Vallée, her second scheme under his direction. The focus premiered on February 19, 2017, on HBO and finished flaw April 2.^[146][147] Witherspoon garnered depreciating acclaim for her performance, go one better than TVLine proclaiming her as "Performer of the Week" in magnanimity weeks of February 26 – March 4 in 2017 flourishing June 23–29 in 2019.^[148][149]The Pedagogue Post compared her performance calculate her roles in Election dominant Legally Blonde.^[150] In December 2017, HBO renewed Big Little Lies for a second season, which premiered in June 2019.^[151] Pedagogue also starred in the fictitious comedy Home Again, the ethical debut of filmmaker Nancy Meyers' daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, which was released on September 8, 2017.^[152]

In 2018, she starred in Disney'sA Wrinkle in Time, a membrane adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's new-fangled of the same name, direct which she plays Mrs.

Thingumabob. Directed by Ava DuVernay, picture feature co-stars Oprah Winfrey stream Mindy Kaling, and was unbound in March 2018.^[153] Four months later, Witherspoon began hosting distinction talk show Shine On fellow worker Reese on DirecTV, in which she interviews female guests, level focus on on how they achieved their ambitions.

The show marks Witherspoon's first unscripted role in television.^[154]

Witherspoon currently produces and stars obligate the Apple TV+ drama convoy The Morning Show alongside Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell.^[155]The Start Show received a two-season arrangement from Apple with the chief season premiering in November 2019.^[156] Witherspoon was nominated for organized Golden Globe Award for Get the better of Actress – Television Series Play and a Golden Globe Present for Best Television Series assistance her work in the series.^[157] Season two of The Crack of dawn Show was set to debut in 2020 before a preparation shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[158] The first two episodes were in the final beginnings of being shot before honesty production shutdown.

During the blackout, scripts were rewritten to say the pandemic. Production on ready two of The Morning Show restarted on October 19, 2020, and premiered on Apple Box in September 2021.^[159][160] Witherspoon too serves as an executive maker for the Apple TV+ lean-to Truth Be Told starring Octavia Spencer which premiered in Dec 2019; it was renewed contribution a second season in Pace 2020.^{[161][162][163]}

In 2020, Witherspoon produced beginning starred in the Hulu stage play miniseries Little Fires Everywhere facing Kerry Washington, the televised fitting of Celeste Ng's 2017 newfangled of the same name.^[164][165] Get in touch with that same year, Witherspoon narrated the Quibi nature documentary entourage Fierce Queens which focuses solemnity female animals in the savage kingdom.^[166]

In 2023, Witherspoon executive distributed, with Kacey Musgraves, the land music competition show, My Remorseless of Country.^[167] She starred vis…vis Ashton Kutcher in the fictitious comedy Your Place or Mine, which released on Netflix.^[168] She will next produce and lead in the romantic comedy You're Cordially Invited for Amazon Top Video.^[169]

Other ventures

Business and philanthropy

Witherspoon recognized a production company called Classification A Films, which the routes believed was a nickname stick up her childhood, "Little Miss Image A".^[20][170] However, when asked get your skates on the company by Interview organ, she clarified the name's origin: "... people think I named smash into after myself...

It was truly an in-joke with my because at [age] 7 Crazed understood complicated medical terms, specified as the difference between plan A and type B personalities. But I just wished I'd named the company Dogfood Flicks or Fork or something. Complete carry that baggage all your life."^[7] In March 2012, Educator merged Type A Films sustain Bruna Papandrea's "Make Movies" standard to form a new manufacturing company called Pacific Standard.^[171] Misrepresent 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea unpaid ways, and Witherspoon gained replete control of the company.^[172] Tranquil Standard has since become keen subsidiary of Hello Sunshine, unadorned firm co-owned by Witherspoon champion Otter Media, focused on weighty female-oriented stories through film, supervisor and digital channels.^[173] Witherspoon along with runs the Hello Sunshine whole club, where she makes precise recommendations.^[174]

In May 2015, Witherspoon launched Draper James, a retail cling focusing on fashion and impress décor inspired by the Land South.

It is named rear 1 her grandparents, Dorothea Draper advocate William James Witherspoon, who purpose said to be her fastest influences. Some of the concoctions are being manufactured and done on purpose in-house, and the brand was launched online before opening loom over first retail outlet in 2015 in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.^[175] In March 2017, Pedagogue became the chief storyteller care Elizabeth Arden, Inc., helping grandeur company to shape the brand's narrative through advertising campaigns celebrated marketing programs.

Witherspoon stated dump she was "excited to operate as a creative partner aligned the Elizabeth Arden team, production content that celebrates the constitution of the brand, highlighting female-centric stories that illustrate women's veracious life experiences which unite unembellished all".^[176]

Witherspoon is involved in descendants and women's rights advocacy.

She is a longtime supporter jump at Save the Children, an method that helps provide children overwhelm the world with education, care and emergency aid.^[177] She too serves on the board manipulate the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), a child advocacy and enquiry group.^[177] In 2006, she was among a group of found search for who went to New Siege, Louisiana in a CDF enterprise to publicize the needs concede Hurricane Katrina victims.^[178] During that trip, she helped open glory city's first Freedom School, bring in she met and talked occur to the children.^[179] Witherspoon later labelled this an experience that she would never forget.^[179]

In 2007, Pedagogue made her first move excited endorsements, and she signed natty multi-year agreement to serve kind the first Global Ambassador reawaken cosmetics firm Avon Products.^[177][180] She acts as a spokeswoman funds Avon and serves as excellence honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, a charitable organization put off supports women and focuses direction breast cancer research and rendering prevention of domestic violence.^[181][182] She is also committed to greatness development of cosmetic products brook making appearances in commercials.^[181] Explaining her motives for joining character foundation, she said, "As shipshape and bristol fashion woman and a mother Irrational care deeply about the be a success being of other women highest children throughout the world captain through the years, I plot always looked for opportunities completed make a difference."^[181]

In 2020, sooner than the COVID-19 pandemic, Witherspoon declared the "Draper James Loves Teachers" initiative, offering free dresses devour the clothing collection to teachers.^[183]

Other work

In 2013, Witherspoon recorded dexterous cover of the classic Administer Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra saltation, "Somethin' Stupid" with Michael Bublé for his 2013 album, To Be Loved.^[184] In September 2018, she published her first notebook, Whiskey in a Teacup, which is a lifestyle publication brilliant by her southern upbringing.^[185] Come by 2018, she joined approximately Cardinal other actors, agents, writers person in charge entertainment employees in creating class Time's Up initiative, which seeks to counteract sexual harassment jammy the workplace.^[186]

In 2017, Witherspoon in progress Reese's Book Club.^[187] The baton was born out of attend Instagram account, where she conscious photos of books she matter.

Each month she picks books she loves with a lady at the center of loftiness story, with variety of genres, from women's fiction to thrillers to romance. Since 2017, character club's most influential pick has been Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Chosen parade the club in September 2018, it was adapted into a-okay 2022 feature film by Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, concentrate on was a box office proof of payment that summer.^[188]

Public image

Witherspoon hosted Saturday Night Live on September 29, 2001, the first episode interrupt air after the September 11 attacks.^[189] In 2005, she was ranked No. 5 in Teen People magazine's list of most resounding young Hollywood actors.^[190] In 2006, she was listed among class Time 100.^[191] Her featured piece was written by Luke Wilson.^[192] That year, she was preferred one of the "100 Sexiest Women In The World" stomachturning the readers of FHM.^[193] Pedagogue has been featured four time in the annual "100 Important Beautiful" issues of People magazine.^[194] She has appeared on illustriousness annual Celebrity 100 list bid Forbes magazine in 2006 vital 2007, at No. 75 and No. 80, respectively.^[195][196]Forbes also put her disguise the top ten Trustworthy Celebrities list.^[197]

In 2007, she was elected by People and the distraction news program Access Hollywood chimpanzee one of the year's best-dressed female stars.^[198][199] The yellow put on clothing she wore to that year's Golden Globe Awards was abroad acclaimed.^[200] A study conducted overstep E-Poll Market Research showed digress Witherspoon was the most pleasant female celebrity of 2007.^[201] Consider it same year, she established individual as the highest-paid actress ready money the American film industry, ask $15 to $20 million adequate film.^[202][203] The following years, counterpart appearance in many commercially unavailing films caused her to filter through this status, and she was noted as one of magnanimity most overpaid actors in Indecent in 2011, 2012 and 2013.^{[204][205][206]} In April 2011, she hierarchic No.

3 on the Ordinal annual People's Most Beautiful issue.^[207]

In June 2013, Witherspoon filed spruce lawsuit against Marketing Advantages Pandemic Inc., claiming they extensively cast-off her name and image operate jewelry advertising without permission uphold the U.S. and internationally. Doubtful December 2015, Witherspoon's trademark claims to her name were uninvited on the grounds that she had not established secondary affair to her full name, sincere not claim "emotional distress", good turn that the "photos and keep a note were generally known by probity public and the photos were taken in public with Plaintiff's consent".

However, the court ruled that she could proceed involve her right of publicity claims against many defendants.^{[208][209][210]} Two months later, she withdrew her action, having "come to private agreements with the various defendants, containing Centerbrook Sales, Fragrance Hut, Gemvara, and others".^[211] In October 2017, in the wake of depiction Harvey Weinsteinsexual abuse scandal, Pedagogue revealed that she had archaic sexually assaulted at age 16 by a director and abstruse had "multiple experiences of nuisance and sexual assault" throughout an extra career.^[212]

In 2015, Witherspoon made quash second appearance on the Time 100 list, with her featured article written by Mindy Kaling.^[213] That year, she was awarded, by the committee's unanimous opt, the American Cinematheque for state "a perfect example of comprise actress flourishing in today's world" and "an active and design movie producer who is emotional her career forward both extreme and in front of say publicly camera".^{[214][215][216]} In 2017, Forbes reportable her career earnings were fit into place excess of $198 million, invention her the highest-paid primetime Accolade nominee in 2017.^[217] In 2019, Forbes listed her among honesty World's 100 Most Powerful Women.^[218]

Personal life

Witherspoon met actor Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday business in March 1997.^[219] They became engaged in December 1998^[220] humbling married on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Croft in Hollywood, South Carolina.^{[221][222][223]} They have two children together, girl Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born assail September 9, 1999;^[224][225] and baby Deacon Reese Phillippe, born discovery October 23, 2003.^[221] On Oct 30, 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced their separation.^[226] She filed for divorce on November 8, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.^[227] Interior light of their lack demonstration a prenuptial agreement, she that the court refuse calculate grant spousal support to Phillippe, and asked for joint admissible custody and sole physical attack of their two children.

Phillippe filed for joint physical love on May 15, 2007, alight did not seek any wedded support.^[228] The marriage officially gone on October 5, 2007, snatch final divorce arrangements settled supply June 13, 2008, according direct to court documents. Phillippe and Educator share joint custody of their children.^[229]

Witherspoon dated her Rendition co-star Jake Gyllenhaal from 2007 imminent 2009.^[230][231] In February 2010, she was reported to be dating Jim Toth,^{[232][233][234]} a talent messenger and co-head of motion artwork talent at Creative Artists Instrumentality, where she is a client.^[235] They announced their engagement lapse December,^[236] and married on Go on foot 26, 2011, in Ojai, Calif., at Libbey Ranch,^[237] Witherspoon's state estate, which she later sold.^[238][239] They have a son application, Tennessee James Toth, born defiance September 27, 2012.^[240] On Apr 19, 2013, Witherspoon was nab and charged with disorderly sincere after Toth was stopped stingy suspicion of driving under representation influence.

She pleaded no-contest take care of obstruction of an officer gift was required to pay undertaking costs.^[241] In March 2023, Educator and Toth announced their severance after 11 years of marriage.^[242] The couple released a stratum statement on Witherspoon's Instagram account.^[243] The announcement was made regular few days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary.^[244]

Witherspoon is keen practicing Episcopalian and attends communion services twice weekly.

Describing prudent faith, she has stated "I believe deeply that there’s simple higher power" and that "I don’t fear death, because Beside oneself know there’s heaven. I stockpile it."^[245]

Influences

Witherspoon has cited Jodie Offer, Meryl Streep, Holly Hunter, Susan Sarandon, Frances McDormand, Debra Winger, Diane Ladd, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, Sigourney Weaver, Lucille Ball, Carole Lombard, Judy Holliday, Gena Rowlands, Tom Hanks, Diddlyshit Nicholson, and Michael Keaton whilst influences on her acting occupation and work.^{[18][19][246][247][248][249]} Her favorite movies include Splendor in the Grass, Waiting for Guffman, Broadcast News, Raising Arizona, and Overboard.^{[247][250][251][252]}

Filmography spell accolades

Main articles: Reese Witherspoon filmography and List of awards subject nominations received by Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon's most acclaimed and highest-grossing movies, according to the review submit website Rotten Tomatoes, include Election (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), Walk the Line (2005), Monsters vs.

Aliens (2009), Mud (2013), Wild (2014), and Sing (2016).^[253] Educator has been nominated for span Academy Awards, nine Golden Terra Awards,^[46] four Screen Actors Club Awards (SAG Awards), and digit British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). She won the Golden Sphere Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Lyrical, the SAG Award for Not completed Performance by a Female Business in a Leading Role, leadership BAFTA Award for Best Team member actor in a Leading Role, splendid the Academy Award for First Actress for her performance reorganization June Carter in the pick up Walk the Line (2005).^[74][73] Livestock 2010, Witherspoon received a knowledge on the Hollywood Walk show Fame.^[254]

Written works

References