Biography of Reese Witherspoon
Full name Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon. Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 in the American city of New Orleans into a family of doctors.
Father John Witherspoon was a lieutenant colonel in the military. As a military doctor, John specialized in otorhinolaryngology. Father Reese still works in his specialty.
The mother of the future actress, Betty Reese Witherspoon, received a PhD in nursing and taught nursing at Vanderbilt University to students wishing to become doctors.
Childhood and youth
Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon was born in 1976 in the American city of New Orleans, into a family of medical workers. The mother of the future actress, Betty Reese Witherspoon, received a PhD in nursing and taught nursing at Vanderbilt University to students wishing to become doctors.
Father John Witherspoon was a lieutenant colonel in the military for a long time. As a military doctor, John specialized in otorhinolaryngology.
The girl spent the first years of her life with her parents in Germany, in the city of Wiesbaden, where John served in the military. When the family returned to the United States of America, they settled in Tennessee, where the daughter began attending school at Harding Academy and also graduated from the prestigious Harpeth Hall girls' school.
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Reese Witherspoon in childhood
Like many children at an early age, little Reese imitated her parents and only wanted to become a doctor. But an unexpected debut on television changed the future actress’s train of thought. She got her first experience in front of cameras as a child, at the age of 7, while filming a commercial for a flower shop. After this, the girl began to attend acting classes.
Reese did very well at school, was an excellent student, and little Witherspoon's main passion was English literature. Therefore, after graduating from school, she entered the Faculty of Philology at Stanford University. But she studied there for no more than one course, after which she left literature and decided to try to achieve success in her career as an actress.
Witherspoon's childhood
Until the age of four, the family of the future actress lived in Germany. And then they returned to the USA, to Tennessee.
Like many children, Reese also dreamed of becoming a doctor as a child, like her parents, but already at the age of 7, little Reese was invited to film an advertisement for a flower shop. After that, she began attending acting classes.
At school, Reese did very well, she loved to read, took an active part in all the shola clubs, played sports, and was also a very friendly girl.
After graduating from school, Reese entered Stanford without any problems and became interested in English literature. But a year later, Reese left the university and plunged headlong into the art of cinema.
Film career
One day in 1990, Reese and her friends went to audition for the film “Man on the Moon”, not expecting to get any role, Reese was approved for the main role in this film. She played a 14-year-old girl who fell in love with a 17-year-old neighbor.
Film "Man on the Moon"
The film was released at the end of 1991. Reese gave such a moving and unforgettable performance in her role and was nominated for a Young Actor Award.
The very next year, Reese played roles in the films Wildflower and Unbearable Choices: Save the Child .
Reese's career developed, the actress starred in two more films - Captivated by the Sands and Jack Bear , as well as the miniseries Lonesome Dove: The Return .
Also in 1994, she played the main role in the comedy drama "Japanese Policeman" , as well as in the thrillers "Highway" (1996), "Fear" (1996) and "Twilight" (1998).
Due to his busy work schedule, Reese decides to leave the university after studying for a year after enrolling. Pleasantville , which was nominated for several Oscar awards, brought popularity to the young actress
And also no less successful was the drama film “Cruel Intentions” in 1999, where Reese played with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe.
Film "Cruel Intentions"
Career breakthrough, film “Legally Blonde”
A breakthrough in Hollywood was the 2001 film Legally Blonde, in which Reese Witherspoon played the leading female role. The story of blonde Ellie Woods, whose frivolous appearance hides a sharp mind and steely character, brought the filmmakers about $150 million.
Film "Legally Blonde"
The image of the glamorous lawyer Ellie Woods, so charmingly and ironically embodied on the screen by Reese, was so popular with the audience that it was decided to film a sequel to the film. Filming of the second part ended in 2003, and Witherspoon herself was one of the producers of the film.
The film was a widespread success and the actress was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Since that moment, her fees have increased significantly, and offers to participate in new projects have been received more and more actively.
Film "Between Heaven and Earth"
Next, the film “Between Heaven and Earth” became successful, in which Reese played a girl who is in a coma, and who visits her apartment as a spirit. This film consolidated the success of Reese Witherspoon.
Film "Between Heaven and Earth"
Film "Walk the Line"
In 2005, the actress’s next role was in the film “Walk the Line.” For her role in this film, Reese had to sing herself, for which she took vocal lessons for six months. Witherspoon played prominent country singer June Carter Cash. There is no soundtrack in the film, and the actress performs live in front of the audience.
Film "Walk the Line"
For her performance in this role, Reese Witherspoon received many awards, including the long-awaited Oscar for Best Actress, the Golden Globe, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
Film "Water for Elephants!"
The years of the Great Depression are described, when circuses were not in demand by the public. Due to a lack of funds, animals are fed carrion, workers' salaries are delayed, and “extra” people are simply thrown out of the train.
Film "Water for Elephants!"
Reese played the role of trainer Marlena. Her partners were Christoph Waltz and Robert Pattinson. This is a very touching picture, although it did not receive any awards, but was very much loved by the audience.
Film "Wild"
In 2014, Reese played a role in the drama Wild. The path that Cheryl had to overcome was also overcome by Reese, she completely got used to the image of a woman who lost everything.
Film "Wild"
In playing this role, Reese went the route of empathizing with her character. 1,770 kilometers of someone else's life turned out to be too heavy a burden for the actress, and at the end of filming she was forced to take a vacation.
TV series "Big Little Lies"
In 2021, a series was released that the audience really liked, Big Little Lies.
Reese Witherspoon plays the role of Madeleine Mackenzie, a housewife with two children from different marriages who is putting on a play at a small local theater, one of the first to appear in the frame: in a burgundy Burberry trench coat and a Dolce & Gabbana dress with a floral print.
The plot is about how a young single mother Jane (Shailene Woodley) moves to a small coastal town where her first-grader son can go to a very good school. On her first day of school, Jane meets Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) and Celeste (Nicole Kidman), attractive and courteous wives of wealthy husbands. Their families seem ideal compared to Jane's, but in reality Madeline and Celeste have their own problems. The first is consumed by envy of her ex-husband’s young wife, and the second’s husband (Alexander Skarsgård) sometimes gives up.
TV series "Big Little Lies"
The star's favorite actress is the unsurpassed Meryl Streep. Reese often publishes her statements under his posts on social networks. Meryl even starred in the second season of Big Little Lies , which Reese produces.
TV series "Big Little Lies" Season 2
Movies
Reese's first professional work as an actress was the role of country girl Dani Trant in Robert Mulligan's film Man on the Moon. Reviews of her performance were praising, with Witherspoon's dramatic performance being called touching and unforgettable. Her film debut brought her first Young Actor nomination, which was prestigious for an unknown young actress.
Reese Witherspoon and Emily Warfield (still from the movie "Man on the Moon")
Witherspoon will win this award 2 years later, after filming the film “Jack the Bear,” as best supporting actress. The film was followed by several television work in projects such as “Unbearable Choices: Save the Child” and “The Return of Lonesome Dove.”
Reese’s subsequent dramatic roles in the films “Cruel Intentions” based on the famous book by Choderlos de Laclos, “Best Plans”, where the actress played in partnership with the popular actor Alessandro Nivola, and “Pleasantville”, in which Witherspoon starred with Tobey Maguire, turned out to be successful. Another striking work of the young performer was the main role in the thriller “Fear”, where she played together with Mark Wahlberg. The love of modern Romeo and Juliet turns into a tragedy for the girl's family.
Reese Witherspoon (still from the movie "Cruel Intentions")
Such famous films as “American Psycho”, “Nicky the Devil Jr.” and the series “Friends”, which were released in 2000, cemented the opinion of Reese’s talent. The actress became truly famous and popular for her role as blonde intellectual Elle Woods in the romantic comedy Legally Blonde, which was released in 2001. The success was deafening; we can safely say that Witherspoon woke up famous.
On the wave of popularity, Reese starred in several good films, such as “The Importance of Being Earnest” based on the play by Oscar Wilde, the comedy “Stylish Thing”, the sequel “Legally Blonde 2”, the film adaptation of William Thackeray’s classic novel “Vanity Fair”, as well as adaptation of the novel by French writer Marc Levy “Between Heaven and Earth.” Here, Witherspoon plays a girl in a coma who visits her apartment as a spirit. These films only consolidated the success that had come.
Reese Witherspoon (still from the movie Legally Blonde)
In 2006, Reese received the long-awaited Oscar statuette for Best Actress in the film Walk the Line, in which she plays June Carter Cash, the wife of country singer and songwriter Johnny Cash. For the same role, Witherspoon received a Golden Globe, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Reese has no other major awards yet, except for the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which the actress was presented with on December 1, 2010. The star brought recognition to the actress; from this period, at least one leading role appears in Witherspoon’s creative biography every year.
Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix (still from the movie Walk the Line)
In 2010, the actress played the main role in the melodrama "Who knows...", in 2011 - in the drama about America in the 20s "Water for Elephants!", and in 2012 - in the spy comedy "This Means War", where her partners were Tom Hardy and Chris Pine.
In 2013, the actress appeared in the crime drama The Devil's Knot. The film shows the problem of inertia and intolerance: a terrible murder occurs in a small town, but the police, instead of honestly investigating the case, accuse informal teenagers of the crime only on the basis of their social unacceptability. In the same year, the artist took part in the work on director Jeff Nichols’s film “Mud,” which was included in the top ten best independent films of the year.
Reese Witherspoon (still from the movie “Wild”)
In 2014, the actress played the main role in the biographical drama “Wild”. The film was based on Cheryl Strayed's autobiography, Wild. A dangerous journey as a way to find yourself." The author told how divorce and the death of her mother crippled the average American woman.
Cheryl was saved by an unexpected idea - to walk a thousand miles of the popular Pacific Crest Trail. Reese Witherspoon played the role of Cheryl Strayed. For this work, the actress was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress and for Satellite in the same category. The supporting role went to the actress in the comedy “Inherent Vice,” where the main character was played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix (still from the film “Inherent Vice”)
Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix (still from the film “Inherent Vice”)
Witherspoon also became interested in working in the drama about the civil war in Sudan, White Lies, where she was included in the main cast. The heroine Reese participates in the work of a refugee camp where victims of war find refuge. The topic of helping the disadvantaged is close to her - for a long time, the celebrity has been helping charitable organizations in the USA and Canada to collect necessary things for orphans.
In 2015, Witherspoon played the lead role in the action-comedy film Running Babes. Petite Reese (the actress's height is 156 cm and her weight is 46 kg) played a correct and brutal policewoman who protects the widow of a drug lord from killers, played by Sofia Vergara.
Reese Witherspoon (still from the series "Big Little Lies")
In 2021, Reese began filming the detective series Big Little Lies. The actress played the main role of Madeleine-Martha McKenzie, a strong and witty woman, a mother of many children. The film adapts the novel of the same name by Australian writer Liane Moriarty. The plot of the drama begins with a party for parents organized by the school.
During the fun, one of the participants dies, which starts a chain of investigations and searches. The author of the book focuses on 3 mothers. In addition to Witherspoon, the main roles in the film were played by Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz and Shailene Woodley. The film premiered in the United States in February 2017. The project turned out to be successful. Its creators received prestigious awards, including 4 Golden Globe statuettes and 8 Emmy awards.
Personal life
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
The actress's first husband was Ryan Phillippe, whom Reese met while filming Cruel Intentions. The couple officially married on June 9, 1999, and their daughter, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, was born in September of the same year.
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
Then in 2003, Reese and Ryan had another child, a boy, Deacon Reese Phillippe.
But Reese’s marriage did not last long; in the early 2000s, Reese’s film career was going uphill, but her husband’s, on the contrary, was in decline and Ryan began to drink and get involved in drugs because of this.
In 2007, Reese and Ryann officially filed for divorce.
Reese Witherspoon with children
After the divorce, Reese dated actor Jake Gyllenhaal for about 2 years; he even proposed to Reese, but received a negative response. Soon their relationship ended.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
In 2011, Reese Witherspoon married Jim Toth, the owner of his own Hollywood casting agency.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
In 2012, the couple had a child, a boy, Tennessee James Toth.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
The eldest daughter Ava studies at a university in New York, she wants to become a designer, Deacon attends school.
Jim has a good relationship with his daughter and son from his previous marriage. Reese Witherspoon often shares photos with her family on her Instagram account.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth with children
Reese Witherspoon with daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe
Reese Witherspoon now
In 2021, the actress’s filmography was expanded with a leading role in the film “A Wrinkle in Time.” This is Witherspoon's first time participating in a sci-fi film. Along with her, Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling appeared in the main cast. The film was created in New Zealand, where the artists had the opportunity to communicate with indigenous peoples.
In 2021, it became known about the start of filming for the 2nd season of the top-rated series “Big Little Lies.” In the new episodes, the already beloved ensemble of actors will be enhanced by the performance of the legendary Meryl Streep. The star will play the character Louise Wright, the mother of the deceased Perry Wright, who arrived in Monterey to clarify the circumstances of her son's death.
Now the tireless Witherspoon is working on a sequel to another famous film, Legally Blonde. The premiere of the third part of the film is scheduled for 2021. The actress also signed contracts with the creators of the projects “Tinker Bell” and “Bucket List”, the filming of which will begin in 2019.
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