An award-winning actress, Reese Witherspoon made her film debut in The Man in the Moon (1991) at the age of fifteen. Continuing to act into her teens, she later appeared in several other titles including Desperate Choices: To Save My Child (1992), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), and S.F.W. (1994). Quickly establishing herself in Hollywood, the blonde eventually received her first Golden Globe Award nomination for her lead role in the comedy film, Election (1999).
Born on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Reese Witherspoon lived in Germany for a few years due to his father’s work in the US Military, before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where she spent the rest of her childhood. While in high school, she attended an opening casting call for the film, The Man in the Moon after seeing an advertisement in the local paper. Though she originally tried out for a supporting role, she ultimately ended up being cast as the movie’s fourteen year old protagonist. Despite being her first acting gig, her performance later earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress.
How Reese Witherspoon Became Famous
More work soon followed over the next few years including the titles Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), S.F.W. (1994), Fear (1996), and Freeway (1996).
In 1999, Witherspoon was cast as the female lead in Alexander Payne’s comedy drama film, Election. Adapted from a novel of the same title, it starred the actress as Tracy Flick, an ambitious high school student who aspires to win the school election. Released in theaters on May 7, 1999, the movie was met with critical acclaim despite being a box office bomb. Praised by critics, her performance was later listed in Premiere Magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time”.
One of the standouts from her early acting career, Election eventually netted Witherspoon a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture in 2000. Not only that, but she was also nominated for an American Comedy Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Teen Choice Award.
Two years later, her popularity reached a new high with the release of the comedy film, Legally Blonde (2001), which saw her as the main character. Based on a novel by Amanda Brown, it told the story of Elle Woods (played by Witherspoon), a college student who attempts to win back her ex-boyfriend by obtaining a law degree. Screened on July 13, 2001, the movie quickly proved to be a major blockbuster. After making $20 million during its opening weekend, it went on to gross a total of $141.7 million worldwide.
A critical success, it received nothing but high praises from critics- most of whom lauded Witherspoon’s lead performance. For her portrayal of the sorority girl, she received her second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, as well as an MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance. To this day, Legally Blonde remains to be one of the greatest highlights of her acting career.
Continuing on her path of success, she later starred in the biographical film, Walk the Line in 2005. Based on the life and career of Johnny Cash, her co-stars included Ginnifer Goodwin, Joaquin Phoenix, and Robert Patrick. While Phoenix played the part of Cash, Witherspoon portrayed the role of his love interest, June Carter. Released in theaters on November 18, 2005, the film ended up taking in $22.3 million in ticket sales on its opening weekend. A huge hit, it ended up grossing a total of $186.4 million worldwide.
Met with positive reviews, critics such as Roger Ebert praised Witherspoon for her brilliant acting. Her second big break, the movie later netted her several awards including an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Satellite Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Reese Witherspoon’s More Recent Acting Projects
In 2015, the blonde co-starred in the action comedy film, Hot Pursuit alongside Robert Kazinsky and Sofia Vergara. Released in theaters on May 8, 2015, it ended up finishing second at the box office with an opening weekend gross of $13.9 million; by the end of its theatrical run, it had made $51.5 million worldwide. Though reviews for the movie were generally negative, it yielded her four Teen Choice Award nominations including those for Choice Movie Actress, Hissy Fit, Liplock, and Chemistry.
Most recently this February, Witherspoon starred in the HBO mini-series, Big Little Lies, which she also helped to produce. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the seven-episode series revolved around the “perfect lives” of three mothers. Premiered on February 19, 2017, the pilot episode drew in 1.13 million viewers in the United States. Though ratings dipped briefly in the subsequent weeks, it eventually went back up 1.86 million for the final episode.
Incredibly well received, Big Little Lies currently has a rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. A huge success, it has since been nominated for over a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards (results pending), one of which includes Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Witherspoon.
Reese Witherspoon’s Love Life
The actress is currently in a relationship with talent agent, Jim Toth. After a period of dating, the couple announced their engagement in the winter of 2010- they later tied the knot in Ojai, California on March 26, 2011. A year afterwards, they welcomed a son into the family.
Reese Witherspoon’s Snapchat Name – snapsbyreese
If you’d like to add the actress to your friend’s list, you can do so by clicking here.
Reese Witherspoon’s Other Social Media Accounts
Reese Witherspoon’s Facebook Account
If you’d like to follow the blonde on Facebook, you can do so by liking her official page at @ReeseWitherspoon- more than 3 million people have already done so!
Reese Witherspoon’s Twitter Account
Want to stay up to date with the star? You can find her over on Twitter at @RWitherspoon- she’s already got close to 2 million followers on the site!
Reese Witherspoon’s Instagram Account
Interested in seeing some photos/videos posted by the actress herself? You’ll be glad to know that she’s active on Instagram- you can find her at @reesewitherspoon.
Reese Witherspoon’s Youtube Account
From what we can tell, Reese Witherspoon does not have an Youtube account.
