- Date of Birth: March 22, 1976
- Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana
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Reese Witherspoon Biography
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"There's something timeless and important about making people laugh,
about being the bright spot in their day."
~* Reese Witherspoon *~
about being the bright spot in their day."
~* Reese Witherspoon *~
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 Actress and mother, Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to John and Betty Witherspoon. Reese spent the first four years of her life in Wiesbaden, Germany where her father was a lieutenant colonel in the US Army reserves. After this, the family returned to America and settled in Nashville, Tennessee, where she grew up and attended Harpeth Hall, a private all-girls high school. Reese was a cheerleader and twice a debutante.When Reese was 7-years old, the parents of a friend decided to run an ad for their flower shop and little Reese was chosen as the model. Immediately, she was hooked, beginning acting lessons and day dreaming of movie stardom while taking on more modeling gigs. By 11, she won a 10 State Talent Award. In 1990, Reese and her friends decided to try out as extras for a film being shot near by and were given some lines to read. The casting directors were so blown away by Reese that she was flown to Los Angeles for a screen test. Within a month she was hired as the star of the film. The film in question is of course 'The Man in the Moon' and it would end up taking 14-year old Reese Witherspoon on the road to stardom. Following high school graduation from Harpeth Hall in 1994, Reese was next seen as Wendy in 'S.F.W.' She then decided to put her acting career on hold to attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. There Reese studied English literature for one year but unfortunately the experience left her disappointed. She dropped out of Stanford when she realized she wanted to pursue acting seriously.  Since then, Reese has established herself as a talented actress in films such as 'Pleasantville', 'Election' and 'Cruel Intentions.' In 2001, she starred in the box-office hit 'Legally Blonde', where she played Elle Woods, a tow-headed sorority girl who follows her ex to Harvard Law School, this role made Reese a full-blown star. She also starred in and produced the sequel, 'Red, White and Blonde' (earning $15 million, 15 times what she was paid for the original) two years later. In 2005, she appeared as country singer June Carter to Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny Cash in the biopic 'Walk the Line' to much critical acclaim. She won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and a BAFTA to name a few.On June 5th 1999, Reese married actor Ryan Phillippe, whom she met at her 21st birthday party and subsequently worked together in 'Cruel Intentions' (1999). They have two children,daughter Ava Elizabeth (born 1999) and son Deacon (born 2003). But the couple announced their separation in October 2006 and divorced in October 2007. While experiencing difficulties in her personal life, Reese has thrived professionally. According to the Hollywood Reporter's2007 list, she is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses. Even though her film 'Rendition' was a flop, Reese commands $15 -$20 million a movie. It was on the set of Rendition that she met Jake Gyllenhaal. The two later started dating and have become one of the Hollywood couples that attracts a lot of media attention. In 2008, Reese co-starred in the fantastical comedy 'Penelope' with Christina Ricci. She also served a a producer on the project. Later that year, she starred with Vince Vaughn in the family holiday comedy Four Christmases. This year she lends her voice to Dreamwork's 'Monsters vs. Aliens',she is also working on an untitled 2009 James L. Brooks project and an untitled 2010 Cameron Crowe project. |
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| Full name: | Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon 'Reese' is her mother's maiden name | ||
| Height: | 5' 2" (157 cm) | ||
| Hair: | Blonde | ||
| Eyes: | Blue | ||
| Nicknames: | Bunnykins, Little Miss Type A | ||
| Notable features: | Heart shaped face | ||
| Star sign: | Western - Aries Chinese - Dragon | ||
| Nationality: | American | ||
| Education | Harpeth Hall, Nashville, TN, USA (class of 1994) Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA (English literature degree - dropped out) RW: "I thought I was going to have a community experience that would be incredibly inspiring but everybody was just drinking beer and running around to frat parties." | ||
| Family | Father: Dr. John Witherspoon Mother: Dr. Betty (Reese) Witherspoon Brother: John Draper Witherspoon Jr. (older) Daughter: Ava Elizabeth Phillippe Son: Deacon Reese Phillippe Partner: Jake Gyllenhaal Dogs: Dog Frank Sinatra (bulldog), Dog Coco Chanel (french bulldog), Chi Chi Rodriguez (chihuahua) | ||
| Resides in: | Los Angeles, CA, USA Ojai, CA, USA Nashville, TN, USA | ||
| Religious affiliation: | Episcopalian | ||
| Political affiliation: | RW: "Actors have this influence - people ask about our clothes and things like that. I don't want my politics to become part of that. It's personal to me." | ||
| Interests/Hobbies: | Cooking, reading, hiking, snowboarding, crafts (with Ava), yoga, collecting antique linens, flea markets. | ||
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| Other: | Has her own production company 'Type A Films' (Type A Productions) |
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Reese keeps her Oscar in a bookcase in her living room, she lets people touch it but says they have to make a speech if they do.RW: "I’ve considered making it into a doorknocker or a necklace but neither one of those are actually very practical."
Contrary to popular belief Reese is NOT a vegetarian, she has said many times that she enjoys meat in her diet. In March 2006 Reese brought a crock pot onto 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' in it was her favorite dish 'Coq Au Vin' a recipe which contains bacon and chicken.
Reese says the best career advice she has ever received was from her grandad, "Never miss an opportunity, just shut up."
Reese has said that her greatest influences are her mother and grandmother.
Reese's guilty pleasure is game shows like the new Crosswords, Deal or No Deal and has admitted that Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is very popular in her house.
When Reese was a little girl she always wanted to be Dolly Parton, "I was obsessed with her." She also really wanted to be a Broadway kid.
Reese loves Halloween and says she sometimes goes more out than her kids. "I love a good cheap wig, and I like to have a whole face full of make up too."
In 2006 she showed up at a celebrity kids Halloween party as Sally from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', on arrival when told all the kids go in the back, Reese had to assure the host that it was actually her, she was the only adult in costume. Later that night when told Bono wanted to meet her, Reese said "I think I'll pass." as she was too embarrassed by her costume. When asked if she would ever go to a party like that in costume again, she replied, "Absolutely!"
When Reese was a teenager she had a crush on The Doors frontman Jim Morrison.
Reese had her first kiss when she was 11 years old.
Reese believes that three of the most important things in a relationship are honesty, openness and communication. "You can't have a relationship without those things."
Some of her famous friends include Jennifer Garner, Selma Blair, Breckin Meyer and Tara Subkoff.
Reese is among the few celebrities that are not diet obsessed...especially around the holidays. She says that she feels there is a race being run for some unattainable goal, to be the best, the skinniest, the most beautiful and she just admits that's what she'll never be.
RW: "I’m made of cookies after the holidays. Everything inside me is made of sugar and flour and a little red wine–a lot of red wine."
Reese believes that family comes before everything!
Reese looks up to people who manage to have great careers and a great family life and manage to keep their feet on the ground. She also admires people who do great things with their celebrity and manage to create opportunities for other people who really need it. "I think that’s a great thing."
While Reese was pregnant she admits that even commercials made her cry, she craved crab legs and popsicles, and developed a love of yoga and 'Friends'.
Reese finds people fascinating, she loves to observe body language, voices, actions, and admits that she can't stop staring at people.
She says that she first felt famous when she was a question on Jeopardy.
Says that she thinks the most interesting thing about being an actor is losing yourself in the role and meeting lots of interesting people.
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 Reese WitherspoonManagement 360 9111 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90210 United States | Reese Witherspoon c/o William Morris Agency One William Morris Place Beverly Hills, CA 90212 United States |
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Comments
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faridawadallahposted 39 days ago -
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hiya me an my anite have wached leagerly blond so many times i loe no.2
posted 178 days ago -
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reese my name is jose from chicago i have always wanted to meet you but i guess is just a dream that will never come true what can i say about you nothing just that your lovely and sinple kind of girl everyone wants to be around with i hope you have a blessing day your friend from chicago Jose
posted 239 days ago -
i am you number one fan you are awesome legally blonde "bend and snap"
posted 252 days ago -
Hi reese I am a huge fan or yours just want to say your legally blonde movies are my fave and I like the enw one but my all time fave is legally Blonde. you made a great Elle Woods
posted 277 days ago
![Reese Witherspoon Spends Time With Kids After Dumping Jake Gyllenhaal [PHOTOS]](http://content9.flixster.com/photo/12/62/68/12626803_tmb.jpg)
