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Reese Witherspoon Biography

Birth Name:
Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon
Birth Place:
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Profession
Actor, producer, model

Fast Facts

  • Descendant of John Witherspoon, one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence
  • Began acting in commercials at age 7
  • Landed first movie role (and first on-screen kiss) in 1991's The Man in the Moon after auditioning in a 10-state talent search
  • Garnered critical acclaim in the film as a 14-year-old tomboy
  • Turned down roles in the slasher flicks Scream (1996) and Urban Legend (1998)
  • Played sister to Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) in two episodes of Friends in 2000
  • Was the first to host Saturday Night Live following the Sept
  • 11 terrorist attacks
  • When Witherspoon and her then-husband, Ryan Phillippe, were co-presenters at the 2002 Academy Awards, he gestured to the envelope and joked, "You open it
  • You make more money than I do
  • " Named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2002

Awards

  • 2020Producers Guild Awards-Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2020Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
  • 2019Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018BAFTA Television Awards-Best International: nominated
  • 2017Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: winner
  • 2015Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2015Independent Spirit Awards-Robert Altman Award: winner
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2015BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actress: nominated
  • 2014Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2014Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2014Independent Spirit Awards-Robert Altman Award: winner
  • 2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2006BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2006People's Choice Awards-Favorite Leading Actress: winner
  • 2006Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005San Francisco Film Critics Circle-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2005Boston Society of Film Critics-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005National Society of Film Critics-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005Online Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005Las Vegas Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005Kansas City Film Critics Association-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2000Independent Spirit Awards-Best Female Lead: nominated
  • 1999National Society of Film Critics-Best Actress: winner

Relationships