Reese Witherspoon Biography

Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer who has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. She had her breakthrough in 1999 when she played a supporting role in Cruel Intention and the role of Tracy Flick in Election.

Reese Witherspoon Education

Witherspoon attended Stanford University after finishing her studies at Harding Academy and Harpeth Hall School in Nashville. During her time in college, she majored in English Literature. However, she dropped out of school so that she could pursue an acting career. While in high school, she served as a cheerleader.

Reese Witherspoon Career

Witherspoon has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards during her career. In 2006 and 2015, Times magazine named her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Forbes mentioned her on its list of World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, she was named the world’s highest-earning actress by Forbes. She was estimated to be among the richest women in America with an approximate net worth of $440 million in 2023.

Witherspoon’s career started in 1991 when she was a teenager when she made her screen debut in the film, The Man in the Moon. She had her breakthrough in 1999 when she played a supporting role in Cruel Intention and the role of  Tracy Flick in Election. Next, she starred in the comedy, Legally Blonde, and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, in the role of Elle Woods, which earned her more recognition. She also gained more recognition for her portrayal of Melanie Smooter in the romantic comedy, Sweet Home Alabama.

2005 to present;

In 2005, she played the role of  June Carter Cash in the biopic, Walk the Line. For her performance, she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. After her career collapsed, she made a comeback in 2014 when she starred as Cheryl Strayed in Wild, in which she also worked as its producer. Her portrayal of Cheryl earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. At the time of her career setback, her only successful was Water for Elephants where she portrayed Marlena Rosenbluth in 2011.

Primarily, she works in TV where she produces and makes appearances in a number of female-led scholarly adaptations under her company, Hello Sunshine. For example, Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere. She received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series for her work in Big Little Lies. In 2014, she served as the producer of Gone Girl, Where the Crawdads Sing, and Daisy Jones & the Six.

Witherspoon serves as the owner of Reese’s Book Club and Draper James, a clothing company. Aside from acting and producing, she’s involved in children’s and women’s advocacy associations. She works for the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) on its board. In 2007, she was named Global Ambassador of Avon Products. Also, she works as an honorary chair of the charitable Avon Foundation.

Upcoming projects

Aside from producing and appearing in her own TV shows, Witherspoon will work as an executive producer for 6 TV series for platforms including Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, ABC, Starz, and Netflix. For Netflix, she will produce Pyros and two romantic comedies. She will also produce A White Lie and a documentary about Martina Navratilova.

Witherspoon will recur her role as Elle Woods and produce Legally Blonde 3. An announcement that she’ll appear and produce a live-action film about Tinker Bell for Disney was made in 2015. Six years later, she will serve as the film’s producer as part of  Gary Marsh’s overall deal with Disney.

Reese Witherspoon Age

Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976, at Southern Baptist Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is 47 years old as of 2023. Witherspoon celebrates ehr birthday every March 22nd.

Reese Witherspoon Height

Witherspoon stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 1 inch.

Reese Witherspoon Family

Witherspoon was born to Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Reese and John Draper Witherspoon. At the time of ehr birth, her father student at Tulane University Medical School. Her father worked as a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve and previously worked in private practice as an otolaryngologist until 2012. On the other hand, her mother worked as a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University and had a Ph.D. in pediatric nursing. Her parents split in 1986 even though they’re still married. They raised her in the Episcopalian church.

When she was 7 years old, she started modeling for florist TV advertisements. This served as her motivation to start taking acting classes. She placed 1st in the Ten-State Talent Fair when she was 11 years old.

Reese Witherspoon Husband

Witherspoon is very private about her personal life therefore it is not known if she is in any relationship. She has three kids, Ava Elizabeth Phillipp, Deacon Reese Phillipp, and Tennessee James Toth.

Previously, she was married to Jim Toth on March 26, 2011, in Ojai, California, at Libbey Ranch. They have a son named Tennessee James Toth. James was born on September 27, 2012, and is 11 years old as of 2023. Reports about their dating started in February 2010. Jim works as a talent agent and co-head of motion picture talent at Creative Artists Agency. Jim and Witherspoon divorced in March 2023 after being together for 11 years. They shared news of their separation via her Instagram account a few days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary.

Previously, she dated Jake Gyllenhaal from 2007 until 2009. Before Gyllenhaal, she was married to Ryan Phillippe. They tied the knot on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation in Hollywood, South Carolina. He popped the big question in December 1998. They first met during her 21st birthday party in March 1997. During their marriage, they had two kids Ava Elizabeth Phillipp and Deacon Reese Phillipp. Ava was born on September 9, 1999, and is 24 years old as of 2023. Deacon was born on October 23, 2003, and is 20 years old as of 2023. Philippe and she announced news of their separation on October 30, 2006, mentioning irreconcilable differences.

Witherspoon requested that the court not give spousal support to Philippe since they had not arranged a prenuptial agreement before their marriage. Also, she requested joint legal custody and exclusive physical custody of their two children. Philippe didn’t seek any financial support and filed for joint physical custody on May 15, 2007. They share joint custody of their children.

Reese Witherspoon Net Worth

Witherspoon has an estimated net worth ranging between $440 million which she has earned through being an actress.

Reese Witherspoon Richest Actress

In 2023, Witherspoon was estimated to be among the richest women in America with an approximate net worth of $440 million. According to Forbes Magazine, she sold a majority of her shares in Hello Sunshine to a Blackstone-backed media company in August 2021 at $900 million. However, she still owns an 18% stake in the business making her the world’s richest actress. Reportedly, she received $20 million from appearing in 10 episodes of The Morning Show. The Hollywood Reporter named her as the highest-paid actress in Hollywood in 2007.

Reese Witherspoon Legally Blonde

In 2001, Witherspoon starred in the role of Elle Woods in the romantic comedy, Legally Blonde. Elle is a fashion-merchandising major who joined Harvard Law School so that she could follow her ex-boyfriend. Her portrayal of Elle earned her praise from critics and the press started calling her “the new Meg Ryan.” Also, she gained an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance and a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Globes.

In 2003, she recurred her role as Elle in the film’s sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. In the film, Elle is now a lawyer from Havard who is set on protecting animals from cosmetics industry science tests. She received $15 million for the film which made her Hollywood’s highest-paid actress between 2002 and 2010. In 2009, she served as a producer for the Legally Blonde spin-off, Legally Blondes. She is set to recur the role of Elle in Legally Blonde 3 which she’ll also produce.

Reese Witherspoon Cruel Intentions

In 1999, Witherspoon starred in the supporting role of Annette Hargrove in the teen romantic drama film, Cruel Intentions. Annette is the virgin daughter of the new headmaster at a high school for the wealthy. Annette wrote and published an essay by Seventeen magazine that supports chastity until marriage. Moreover, she made an appearance in the music video for the film’s soundtrack. In the film, she is pursued by Sebastian who initially wants to break her virginity but ends up falling in love with her.

Reese Witherspoon Election

In 1999, Witherspoon starred in the role of Tracy Flick in the comedy film, Election. Tracy is an overachieving student who is hated by Jim McAllister, a famous social studies teacher in high school. When she runs for student government president, McAllister spoils her candidacy by supporting a rival candidate and messing with the ballot count.

For her performance, she received praise and a nomination for the Golden Globes and the Independent Spirit Awards. Additionally, she attained the National Society of Film Critics’ Best Actress Award and the Online Film Critics Society’s Best Actress Award. Premiere ranked her on its list of 100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time.

Reese Witherspoon Book Club

Witherspoon owns a book sales club named Reese’s Book Club which is managed under her media company, Hello Sunshine. Founded in 2017, the book club gained popularity for elevating the careers of female authors like Delia Owens, Celeste Ng, and Megan Miranda. The book club has also participated in adapting several of her book picks into films and TV series like Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing, and Daisy Jones and the Six. Monthly, she picks books that have female protagonists she enjoys and makes book recommendations.

Reese Witherspoon Ashton Kutcher

Witherspoon and Kutcher worked together when they co-starred in the film, Your Place or Mine. In the film, they play the roles of two best friends, Debbie Dunn and Peter Coleman, who swap houses for a week. Aside from acting in the film, she also produced the film.

Reese Witherspoon Tom Brady

Rumors of Witherspoon and Brady dating surfaced after the two divorced from their respective partners. However, the rumors were dispelled saying that the two have not even met.

Reese Witherspoon Sweet Home Alabama

Witherspoon starred in the role of Melanie Carmichael in the romantic comedy, Sweet Home Alabama. Melanie is a young fashion designer who plans to tie the knot with a New York politician. However, she must return to Alabama to divorce her childhood sweetheart, from whom she has been divorced for seven years. Witherspoon saw the role as a personal one since it reminded her of her encounter of relocating from Nashville to Los Angeles. The film served as her biggest live-action box office hit.

Reese Witherspoon Wild

In 2014, Witherspoon served as the producer for the biographical adventure, Wild. She also starred in the role of Cheryl Strayed. The film follows Cheryl as she goes on a solo 1,000-mile (1,600 km) hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 following many personal problems that had left her life in shambles. The film is considered her comeback after her career setback. For her performance, she received a nomination for a second Academy Award.

Reese Witherspoon Fear

In 1996, Witherspoon starred in the thriller Fear in the role of Nicole Walker. Nicole is a teenager who begins to date a man with compulsive tendencies. She lives in the Seattle suburbs with her father, Steven, her new stepmother, Laura, and Laura’s son, Toby.

Reese Witherspoon Arrested

Witherspoon was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after her husband, Toth, was halted for suspicion of driving under the influence on April 19, 2013. After the arrest, she maintained no contest to obstruction of an officer and was demanded to pay court expenses. 

Is Reese Witherspoon Scottish?

Witherspoon has claimed descent from John Witherspoon, a Scottish-American, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. Regardless, the claim has not been confirmed by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists.

Reese Witherspoon Scar/Accident

Witherspoon has a quarter-inch scar on her forehead that she conceals with her bangs. She gained the scar after she was hit by a car on September 7, 2011, while jogging in Santa Monica. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

Reese Witherspoon Instagram

Witherspoon has an active Instagram account which has over 29.9M followers. CLICK HERE to view her Instagram account.

Reese Witherspoon Movies and TV Shows

Witherspoon has starred in a number of films and TV shows during her career such as

• The Man in the Moon
• Overnight Delivery
• The Importance of Being Earnest
• Four Christmases
• Monsters vs. Aliens
• Gone Girl
• A Wrinkle in Time
• Sing 2
• King of the Hill
• Big Little Lies
• The Mindy Project
• Shine On with Reese