Biography
Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Reese Witherspoon made her mark as a smart, driven and self-respecting actress who refused to take the easy road to stardom with mindless teen flicks and broad comedies. Her sturdy Southern upbringing by an academic family was evident in the focus and confidence she brought to her first starring film role at the age of 14. Uncommon comedic talent paired with her high energy and charismatic spirit first …
Reese Witherspoon SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Raised in Nashville, TN | ||
1983 | Began acting in local commercials at age seven | |
1991 | Film debut in "The Man in the Moon"; also marked first on-screen kiss | |
1991 | TV acting debut in Lifetime movie "Wildflower"; directed by Diane Keaton | |
1993 | Acted in Marshall Herskowitz's "Jack the Bear" | |
1993 | Co-starred in CBS miniseries "Return to Lonesome Dove" | |
1993 | First starring role, "A Far Off Place" | |
1995 | Starred as satirical mini-mart hostage who lets loose a bitchy side in "S.F.W." | |
1996 | Played a troubled, precocious girl with a dark past in "Freeway" (aired on HBO before its theatrical release) | |
1996 | Starred as the object of Mark Wahlberg's obsession in "Fear" | |
1998 | Played the daughter of Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon in Robert Benton's "Twilight" | |
1998 | Transported back to the black-and-white world of 1950s television in Gary Ross' "Pleasantville" | |
1999 | Cast as Tracy Flick, a manipulative overachiever running for class president in Alexander Payne's "Election" | |
1999 | Cast as a virginal teenager in "Cruel Intentions," a modern-day spin on "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" | |
1999 | Starred alongside Alessandro Nivola and Josh Brolin in "Best Laid Plans" | |
2000 | Made two-episode appearance as the kid sister of Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) on the NBC sitcom "Friends" | |
2001 | Starred in the surprise hit comedy "Legally Blonde" as bubbly sorority girl-turned-legal eagle Elle Woods | |
2002 | Played Cecily Cardew in a film remake of "The Importance of Being Earnest" | |
2002 | Starred as a Southern girl who remakes herself as a New York socialite in "Sweet Home Alabama" | |
2003 | Reprised the role of Elle Woods for "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blond" | |
2004 | Starred in the period film "Vanity Fair," directed by Mira Nair | |
2005 | Portrayed June Carter Cash opposite Joaquin Phoenix in "Walk the Line," a biopic of country music legend Johnny Cash directed by James Mangold | |
2006 | Made producing debut (also co-starred) with "Penelope"; Christina Ricci starred in the title role | |
2006 | Surpassed Julia Roberts to become the highest paid actress of all time | |
2007 | Played a pregnant Midwestern woman who discovers that her Egyptian husband is being secretly held by the U.S. government in "Rendition" | |
2008 | Co-starred with Vince Vaughn in the holiday comedy "Four Christmases" | |
2009 | Voiced Susan Murphy, the 49 ft. central character in the computer-animated 3-D feature "Monsters vs. Aliens" | |
2010 | Co-starred with Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson in James L. Brooks' "How Do You Know" | |
2011 | Portrayed Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star in the film adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel "Water for Elephants" | |
2012 | Played the woman at the center of a battle between two best friends (Chris Pine and Tom Hardy) in action comedy ""This Means War" | |
Awards
1999 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Election |
1999 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in Election |
2000 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Election |
2001 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Legally Blonde |
2002 | MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance in Legally Blonde |
2003 | MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance in Sweet Home Alabama |
2005 | Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Walk the Line |
2005 | BAFTA Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Walk the Line |
2005 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line |
2005 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line |
2005 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Walk the Line |
2005 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line |
2005 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line |
2005 | San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in Walk the Line |
2006 | MTV Movie Award for Best Performance in Walk the Line |
2006 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in Walk the Line |
2011 | MTV Movie Award for MTV Generation Award |