Reese Witherspoon

Personal details

Birth Name: Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Date of Birth: 22 March 1976, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA more
Height: 5' 2" (1.57 m)
Spouse: Ryan Phillippe (5 June 1999 - present) (filed for divorce) 2 children

Reese Witherspoon’s family background:

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon was the second child born to Dr. John Witherspoon and Betty Reese. Her father was a military surgeon and mother was a Registered Nurse who later became a PhD in pediatric nursing. She had spent the first four years of her life in Wiesbaden, Germany and then moved to the States, settling in Nashville, Tennessee.

She always thought that she would end up becoming a doctor as both her parents held profession in the medical field. However she always knew that she wanted to be an actress. She has an older brother, John D. Witherspoon.

Reese Witherspoon’s childhood:

Giving her the exposure of the entertainment industry at a very early age, this actress got into modeling at the age of 7 and made countless appearances on local television commercials. She got the first place in a Ten-State Talent Fair when she was barely 11 tears old.

It was in the year 1990 that she got her first break which was a major acting role in Robert Mulligan's Following high school graduation in 1994 from Harpeth Hall, a Nashville all girls school, Reese decided to put her acting career on hold and attend Stanford University where she would major in English literature.

However in the process she was offered yet another two major motion pictures: Fear (1996) alongside Mark Wahlberg and Freeway (1996) with Kiefer Sutherland. None of them gave her acknowledgment recognition but then eventually was noticed in the movies like Pleasantville (1998), Election (1999) and Cruel Intentions (1999). One of the major hits given by this actress is the Elle Woods in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde (2001).

Reese Witherspoon’s personal life:

She was married to Ryan Phillippe from 1999 to 2006. They had met on her 21st birthday party and afterward worked together in the movie Cruel Intentions that released in the year 1999. They have two children: a daughter, Ava Elizabeth who was born on the 9 September 1999 and a son, Deacon who was born on 23 October 2003. At the moment, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe are on a custody battle over their two children.

Reese Witherspoon’s interest:

She has a collection of antique linens and is extremely fascinated about old embroidery.

Reese Witherspoon’s facts and trivia:

She refused to do the lead roles in two horror movies, Scream (1996/I) and Urban Legend (1998).

She was also considered for the role of Juliet in Romeo + Juliet (1996).

Named #40 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Is the second actress to win the best actress Oscar for portraying a female singer in a biography; the first was Sissy Space for Coal Miner's Daughter (1980).

Named #34 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Reese Witherspoon’s current doing:

Currently filming Walk the Line (2005).

Currently filming Penelope (2006).

Honoring Dolly Parton, of whom she's a great big fan, at the Kennedy Center Honors TV special aired on December 26th, 2006.

Quoted by her:

"I'm not perfect! I'm human. I make mistakes. But I try to be as conscious as I can about things I should be. If I'm going to do something commercial and mainstream and made for the masses, I just believe you can make those kinds of films with quality - and good ideas and good intentions. There's a lot of negativity out there."