Witherspoon, Reese 1976–

Full name, Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon; born March 22, 1976, in Baton Rouge (some sources cite New Orleans), LA; raised in Nashville, TN; daughter of John (an otolaryngologist) and Betty (a registered nurse and university instructor; maiden name, Reese) Wither-spoon; married Ryan Phillippe (an actor), June 5, 1999; children: Ava Elizabeth, Deacon. Education: Attended Stanford University; studied acting. Avocational Interests: Collecting antique linens, lace, and vintage embroidery.

Addresses: Office—Type A Films, 100 Universal City Plaza, Building 1320, Suite 2E, Universal City, CA 91608. Agent—Patrick Whitesell, Endeavor, 9601 Wilshire Blvd., Sixth Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Manager—Evelyn O'Neill, Management 360, 9111 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Publicist—Baker/Wynokur/Ryder, 9100 Wilshire Blvd., Sixth Floor West, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Career: Actress and producer. Type A Films, Universal City, CA, partner; worked as a model, beginning c. 1983; appeared in television commercials, print advertisements, and other advertisements. Affiliated with charities.

Member: Screen Actors Guild, Gamma Phi Beta.

Awards, Honors: Young Artist Award nomination, best young actress starring in a motion picture, Young Artist Foundation, 1992, for The Man in the Moon; Young Artist Award nomination, best young actress in a television movie, 1993, for Desperate Choices: To Save My Child; Young Artist Award, best youth actress costarring in a motion picture drama, 1994, for Jack the Bear; Catalonian International Film Festival Award and Cognac Festival du Film Policier Award, both best actress, 1997, for Freeway; Young Hollywood Award, breakthrough female performance, Movieline, 1999, for Pleasantville; Teen Choice Award nominations, choice film actress and (with Ryan Phillippe) sexiest love scene in a film, both 1999, and Blockbuster Entertainment Award, favorite supporting actress—drama/romance, 2000, all for Cruel Intentions; Teen Choice Award nomination, choice film hissy fit, 1999, National Society of Film Critics Award, Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award, and Online Film Critics Society Award, all best actress, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical, Independent Spirit Award nomination, best female lead, Independent Features Project/West, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical, International Press Academy, Chicago Film Critics Association Award nomination, best actress, Sierra Award nomination, best actress, Las Vegas Film Critics Society, best actress, and American Comedy Award nomination, funniest actress in a motion picture (leading role), all 2000, all for Election; American Comedy Award nomination, funniest female guest appearance in a television series, 2001, for Friends; named one of the most intriguing people of 2001, People Weekly magazine, 2001; named one of the top entertainers of the year, E! Entertainment Television, 2001 and 2002; Teen Choice Award, extraordinary achievement, 2002; MTV Movie awards, best comedic performance, best line, and best dressed, Golden Globe Award nomination and Golden Satellite Award nomination, both best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical, Blimp Award nomination, favorite female movie star, Kids' Choice awards, and MTV Movie Award nomination, best female performance, all 2002, for Legally Blonde; Teen Choice Award nomination, choice actress in a comedy film, 2002, for The Importance of Being Earnest; Teen Choice Award (with Josh Lucas), choice movie liplock, MTV Movie Award nomination, best female performance, and Teen Choice Award nomination, choice movie actress in a comedy, all 2003, for Sweet Home Alabama; Mexican MTV Movie Award nomination, best look, 2004, for Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde; named favorite female film star, People Weekly magazine, 2004; New York Film Critics Circle Award, San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award, Boston Society of Film Critics Award, and Florida Film Critics Circle Award, all best actress, and Satellite Award, outstanding actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical, all 2005, Academy Award, best performance by an actress in a leading role, Golden Globe Award, best performance by an actress in a motion picture—musical or comedy, Screen Actors Guild Award, outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role, Film Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, best performance by an actress in a leading role, National Society of Film Critics Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award, and Online Film Critics Society Award, all best actress, and MTV Movie Award nomination, best female performance, all 2006, for Walk the Line; People's Choice Award, favorite leading lady, 2006; named one of the most powerful people in entertainment, Entertainment Weekly magazine; named one of the people of the year, Rolling Stone magazine; other awards and commendations; some sources state that Witherspoon won a multistate talent contest, c. 1986.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Danielle "Dani" Trant, The Man in the Moon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Pathe, 1991.

Karen Morris, Jack the Bear, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993.

Nonnie Parker, A Far Off Place, Buena Vista, 1993.

Wendy Pfister, S.F.W. (also known as So Fucking What?), Gramercy Pictures, 1994.

Ivy Miller, Overnight Delivery, New Line Cinema, 1996.

Nicole Walker, Fear (also known as No Fear and Obsession mortelle), Universal, 1996.

Jennifer/Mary Sue "Muffin" Parker, Pleasantville (also known as Color of Heart), New Line Cinema, 1998.

Mel Ames, Twilight (also known as The Magic Hour), Paramount, 1998.

Annette Hargrove, Cruel Intentions, Columbia, 1999.

Lissa, Best Laid Plans, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1999.

Tracy Enid Flick, Election, Paramount, 1999.

Angel Holly, Little Nicky, New Line Cinema, 2000.

Evelyn Williams, American Psycho, Lions Gate Films, 2000.

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2001.

Voice of Serena, The Trumpet of the Swan (animated), TriStar, 2001.

Cecily Cardew, The Importance of Being Earnest (also known as L'importance d'etre constant), Miramax, 2002.

Melanie Smooter/Melanie Carmichael, Sweet Home Alabama (also known as Melanie's Getting Married), Buena Vista, 2002.

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (also known as Legally Blonde 2 and Legally Blonde 2: Bigger, Bolder Blonder), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2003.

Becky Sharp, Vanity Fair, Focus Features, 2004.

Elizabeth Masterson, Just Like Heaven (also known as If Only It Were True), DreamWorks, 2005.

June Carter, Walk the Line, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2005.

Annie, Penelope, 2006.

Film Work:

Office production assistant, Devil in a Blue Dress (also known as Le diable en robe bleue), TriStar, 1995.

Executive producer, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (also known as Legally Blonde 2 and Legally Blonde 2: Bigger, Bolder & Blonder), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2003.

Producer, Penelope, 2006.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Ferris Dunnegan, Return to Lonesome Dove, CBS, 1993.

(In archive footage) The Ultimate Hollywood Blonde, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Ellie Perkins, Wildflower (also known as Wild Flower), Lifetime, 1991.

Cassie Robbins, Desperate Choices: To Save My Child (also known as The Final Choice and Solomon's Choice), ABC, 1992.

Vanessa Lutz, Freeway, HBO, 1996.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Untitled Jay Lacopo Project (also known as The Untitled Jay Lacopo Film Project), Sundance Channel, 1999.

The Concert for New York City, VH1, 2001.

Macy's 4th of July Spectacular (also known as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular), NBC, 2003.

I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash, CBS, 2005.

Reese Witherspoon: Hollywood's Golden Girl, E! Entertainment Television, 2005.

(In archive footage) Fashion Police Academy Awards 2006 (also known as Fashion Police), E! Entertainment Television, 2006.

Live from the Red Carpet: The 2006 Golden Globe Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2006.

Appeared in other specials.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The Sixth Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Fox, 2000.

Presenter, The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2001.

The Teen Choice Awards 2001, Fox, 2001.

Presenter, The 74th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2002.

Presenter, The Teen Choice Awards 2002, Fox, 2002.

The 2002 MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 2002.

Presenter, Premiere Magazine's 12th Annual Women in Hollywood Awards, American Movie Classics, 2005.

Presenter, The 39th Annual CMA Awards, CBS, 2005.

Presenter, The 78th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2006.

The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, The WB, 2006.

The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2006.

The 32nd Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 2006.

12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as Screen Actors Guild 12th Annual Awards), TNT and TBS, 2006.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Voice of Debbie, "Hanky Panky: Parts 1 & 2," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1999.

Jill Green, "The One with Rachel's Sister," Friends (also known as Across the Hall, Friends Like Us, Insomnia Cafe, and Six One), NBC, 2000.

Jill Green, "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry," Friends (also known as Across the Hall, Friends Like Us, Insomnia Cafe, and Six of One), NBC, 2000.

(In archive footage; uncredited) Herself, "Alyssa Milano," Revealed with Jules Asner, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Herself, "Reese Witherspoon," Revealed with Jules Asner, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Voice of Greta Wolfcastle, "The Bart Wants What It Wants," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2002.

Herself, "Dolly Parton," Biography (also known as A&E Biography: Dolly Parton), Arts and Entertainment, c. 2006.

Herself, "Reese Witherspoon," Famous, The Biography Channel, 2006.

(In archive footage) CMT Insider, Country Music Television (CMT), 2006.

Appeared in "The Films of Robert Luketic," The Directors, Encore.

Television Guest Appearances; Episodic:

Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1998, 2005.

Guest host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "Saturday Night," Saturday Night Live '80, SNL, and SNL 25), NBC, 2001.

Rove Live, Ten Network (Australia), 2001.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 2002.

"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," Movie House (also known as MTV's "Movie House!"), MTV, 2003.

"Legally Red," The Brendan Leonard Show, ABC Family Channel, 2003.

Entertainment Tonight (also known as Entertainment This Week, E.T., ET Weekend, and This Week in Entertainment), syndicated, 2003.

God kveld Norge, 2003.

In Entertainment, Ten Network, 2003.

Tinseltown TV, International Channel, 2003.

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (also known as Ellen and The Ellen DeGeneres Show), syndicated, 2004, 2005.

"Just Like Heaven," HBO First Look, HBO, 2005.

"Walk the Line," HBO First Look, HBO, 2005.

The Charlie Rose Show (also known as Charlie Rose), PBS, 2005.

The Film Programme (also known as Film 2005), BBC, 2005.

Good Morning America (also known as GMA), ABC, 2005.

The Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show and Late Show Backstage), CBS, 2005.

Live with Regis and Kelly, syndicated, 2005.

Magacine, [Spain], 2005.

The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah), syndicated, multiple episodes in 2005.

Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2005.

The View, ABC, 2005.

Herself, Corazon de …, Television Espanola (Spain), multiple episodes in 2005 and 2006.

Breakfast, BBC, 2006.

The Insider, syndicated, 2006.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Adam Sandler Goes to Hell, New Line Home Video, 2001.

Inside "Legally Blonde," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 2001.

The Hair That Ate Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 2003.

Singles:

(With Joaquin Phoenix) "Jackson," Wind-Up, 2005.

Music Videos:

Placebo, "Every You, Every Me," 1999.

Hoku, "A Perfect Day," 2001.

(With Joaquin Phoenix) "Jackson," 2005.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers, issue 1, Gale, 2002.

Periodicals:

Allure, May, 1999, pp. 170-75, 212.

Biography, March, 1999, p. 22.

Cosmopolitan, July, 2001, pp. 170-73.

Detour, February, 1998, pp. 58-62.

Entertainment Weekly, October 11, 1996, p. 99; October 11, 2002, pp. 10-11; August 19, 2005, pp. 26-31; February 10, 2006, p. 32.

The Face, December, 1998, pp. 116-20.

Good Housekeeping, December, 2005, pp. 118-23.

Interview, November, 1994, pp. 116-17; December, 2005, pp. 100-107.

Jane, November, 1998, pp. 98-99.

Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2004.

Newsweek, April 26, 1999, pp. 66-67.

People Weekly, December 31, 2001, p. 96; May 13, 2002, p. 158; October 14, 2002, p. 77; November 10, 2003, p. 21.

Premiere, August, 2001, pp. 44-49, 102; February, 2006, p. 91.

Radio Times, October 12, 2002, p. 67.

Reader's Digest, May, 2006.

Seventeen, December, 1993, pp. 100-103; May, 1996, p. 101; September, 1997, pp. 217-19; September, 2002.

Teen, May, 1995, pp. 90-93; September, 2001, p. 50.

Teen People, October 1, 2005, p. 102.

Total Film, November, 2001, p. 35.

USA Weekend, June 27, 2003, p. 8.

US Weekly, October 2, 2000, p. 12.

Vanity Fair, June, 2002, pp. 172-79, 233-34.

Washington Post, November 13, 2005, pp. N1, N5.