Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is a Scottish American actress perhaps most familiar as Elle Woods in the film Legally Blonde (2001) and its sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003). Like Marilyn Monroe, she is not a natural blonde but a brunette.
Biography
Witherspoon was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to James Witherspoon (a surgeon) and Betty Reese (a nurse and college professor), and spent much of her childhood and adolescence in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. She is a direct descendant of Scottish-born John Witherspoon, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and founder of Princeton University who was also a Presbyterian minister. She has a younger brother named John, who works as a real estate broker. After graduating high school from Nashville's prestigious Harpeth Hall School, she attended Stanford University, but dropped out before completing her degree requirements.
Witherspoon married actor Ryan Phillippe on June 5, 1999. They starred in a movie together, Cruel Intentions, before they were engaged. They have two children together: Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born September 9, 1999, and Deacon Phillippe, born October 23, 2003. Their kids are mad cute because their parents are mad cute too.
Career
Reese Witherspoon is known for her versatility as an actress, playing both comedic and dramatic roles. She has won Best Actress awards from the National Society of Film Critics and the Online Film Critics Society. Among her critically-acclaimed performances are Vanessa in Freeway and Tracy Flick in Election. Witherspoon was the voice of the animated character Greta Wolfecastle in an episode of The Simpsons.
Filmography
- The Man in the Moon (1991)
- A Far Off Place (1993)
- Twilight (1998)
- Overnight Delivery (1998)
- Pleasantville (1998)
- Cruel Intentions (1999)
- Election (1999)
- Best Laid Plans (1999)
- American Psycho (2000)
- Little Nicky (2000)
- The Trumpet of the Swan (2001) (voice)
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
- Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
- Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003)
- Sonic Heroes (2004) (voice) (video game)
- Vanity Fair (2004)
- Just Like Heaven (2005)
- Walk the Line (2005) (Releases Nov. 11, 2005)
- Whiteout (2005) (currently announced start of production)
- Sports Widow (2006) (currently announced start of production) (also producer)
- Rapunzel Unbraided (2007) (currently announced start of production) (voice)