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Reese Witherspoon Profile |
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Birth Date: March 22, 1976
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Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Birth Name: Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
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Height: 5'2"
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Biography |
Reese Witherspoon, born on March 22, 1976, was
raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Considering that both her
parents held occupations in the medical field, Reese grew up
expecting to become a doctor, although she always knew in
her heart that she wanted to be an actress.
While growing up in Nashville, a hot spot especially known
for its country music talent, Reese was exposed to the
entertainment industry at a very early age. Her career in
the spotlight began at 7 years of age when she was
introduced to the world of modeling. This exposure
eventually enabled her to break onto the small screen by
appearing in several television commercials.
reese in man in the moon
After winning a 10-state talent search, Reese began to
receive recognition for her acting and modeling abilities.
In 1991, she landed her first lead role in Robert Mulligan's
The Man in the Moon. This role in particular kick-started
Reese's film career, and soon after, she found herself
starring in two made-for-TV movies: 1991's Wildflower and
1992's Desperate Choices: To Save My Child.
Upon completing high school, Reese began receiving offers to
appear in higher caliber films, including Jack the Bear
(alongside Hollywood heavyweights Danny DeVito and Gary
Sinise) and Disney's A Far Off Place, both of which were
released in 1993. The following year, Reese decided to put
her acting career on hold for a little while and enrolled at
Stanford University to major in English literature.
reese witherspoon in fear
This decision to pursue her studies was curbed shortly
thereafter, when she accepted to star in two more big screen
productions -- both of which were slated for 1996 release
dates. First came Fear, in which she portrayed a frightened
teenager terrorized by her psychotic boyfriend (Mark
Wahlberg, in one of his earlier roles). In the second film,
Freeway, she was cast alongside Kiefer Sutherland in yet
another dramatic role as a victimized teenager. Both roles
pushed Reese well beyond her prior acting experiences and
ultimately opened new doors for her as a rising starlet in
Hollywood.
reese witherspoon in pleasantville
The following years found Reese starring in more prestigious
film projects. In 1998, she appeared opposite legendary
screen icons Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon in
Robert Benton's Twilight and later that year she starred in
Pleasantville along with fellow up-and-comer Tobey Maguire.
1999 was a big year for Reese in more ways than one. Her
career was elevated to an even higher level by starring in
two more box-office hits, Cruel Intentions (with Sarah
Michelle Gellar) and Election, in which she wowed critics
with her dark comedic performance. While filming Cruel
Intentions, Reese and co-star Ryan Phillippe became involved
in a serious off-screen romance, which eventually led to
their engagement in March of 1999. The pair married on June
5, 1999, in South Carolina and announced shortly thereafter
that they were expecting their first child in the coming
months.
reese witherspoon is legally blonde
After a brief break from the acting scene, Reese returned in
February of 2000 with a guest spot on the hit NBC sitcom,
Friends. She starred in a few episodes as the younger sister
of Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston). Later on that year,
she reappeared on the big screen with relatively small roles
in two more films, American Psycho and Little Nicky.
However, in 2001, she once again found herself starring as
the leading lady in the successful Legally Blonde.
In 2002, Reese appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest
and had the lead role in Sweet Home Alabama, which was also
quite a success. The following year, she reprised her role
as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde.
reese witherspoon in walk the line
Reese is currently keeping herself extremely busy by
juggling marriage, motherhood and her career. After 2004's
Vanity Fair, Reese can be seen in 2005's Just Like Heaven,
Walk the Line (as June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic) and
Whiteout. In 2006, she can add Sports Widow to her resume. |
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Other
Information |
Majored in English Literature at Stanford University; on
leave from her studies as of 1998.
Shortly after she started acting she had an audition for a
role in Cape Fear (1991). She was supposed to meet with
Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese for the audition, but at
the time didn't really know who they were. On the plane she
was talking to the man next to her about her audition, and
the man started to rave to her about De Niro and Scorsese.
This made her so nervous that she completely blew the
audition and the role eventually went to Juliette Lewis.
daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe born [9 September 1999]
Refused the lead roles in two horror movies, Scream (1996)
and Urban Legend (1998).
Was considered for the role of Juliet in Romeo + Juliet
(1996).
One of her ancestors, John Witherspoon, signed the
Declaration of Independence. In the movie 1776 (1972), the
role of Dr. John Witherspoon was played by James Noble.
Her mother, Betty, has a Ph.D. in pediatric nursing and her
dad, John, is a surgeon.
Named one of People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People of
2001"
Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".
Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People
Magazine in 2002.
Went to Harpeth Hall School, a private school for girls in
Nashville, Tennessee
She runs a production company called "Type A Films" with
Debra Siegal
Appears in Entertainment Weekly's Most Powerful List sitting
at #22
At the young age of 11 she won the "Ten State Talent Award"
She was a cheerleader in high school and a debutante.
Reese is her mother's maiden name.
Has moved her current Production Company "Type A Films" to
Universal Pictures. Has signed a 2 year first-look
production pact with Universal. They have already picked up
a romantic comedy pitch Sports Widow (2006) for Reese to
star in and produce.
She appeared in a television commercial when she was 7 for a
local Nashville Florist.
Has been named one of Rolling Stone's "People of the Year"
along with Eminem and Kelly Osbourne.
She lived in Wiesbaden, Germany, as a young child.
Her Gap ad appeared on a 6-story-high building on Sunset
Blvd
Named one of E! 2002 Entertainers of the year.
Her daughter, Ava, is named after Ryan's grandmother.
Steve Dontanville from the William Morris Agency - is still
her agent. They got together after The Man in the Moon
(1991).
She can trace her family all the way back to Scotland, UK.
Her wedding ring is an early 1990s Neil Lane, Asscher-cut-diamond,
and there are only a few like it in the world.
Has an older brother, John D. Witherspoon
Ranked #1 on E!'s Hollywood's Hottest Blondes (2003)
Son Deacon Phillippe was born [October 23rd, 2003]
As extra credit for a high school class, she worked as an
office production assistant for the film Devil in a Blue
Dress (1995). Director Carl Franklin paid homage to her by
featuring Legally Blonde (2001) in the film Out of Time
(2003/I).
She collects antique linens and is crazy about old
embroidery.
Ryan proposed to her in December of 1998 while the couple
was vacationing at The Planter's Inn in Charleston, South
Carolina.
Used to model in the Sunday paper, modeling kids' track
suits and such. She said that it was creative for her when
she was a kid. She was paid $50 a day.
Started children's acting classes at a community college at
the age of 7. By the age of 9 she was taking adult acting
classes.
Her son is named after former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher
Deacon Phillippe, a distant relative of her husband Ryan
Phillippe.
Gymnast for 7 years
Named 'Favorite Female Film Star' by People Magazine (2004)
Is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.
Neither she nor her husband, actor Ryan Phillippe, use their
real first names - Reese's first name is Laura, Ryan's first
name is Matthew.
Was the first person to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975)
after the September 11th terror attacks.
Auditioned for a role in Mallrats (1995)
Was approached by a few companies to record music after she
provided her own singing voice for Walk the Line (2005).
Has appeared in four movies bearing the names of songs: Jack
the Bear (1993), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Just Like Heaven
(2005) and Walk the Line (2005).
Is precisely two weeks older than Candace Cameron Bure.
Friend of Renée Zellweger.
She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less
fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.
The year she won her Oscar for Walk the Line (2005) her
husband Ryan Phillippe appeared in the movie that won "Best
Picture": Crash (2004). |
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