:en:Reese Witherspoon
{{short description|American actress (born 1976)}}
{{Redirect|Laura Witherspoon||Witherspoon (surname)}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Reese Witherspoon
| image = Reese Witherspoon at TIFF 2014.jpg
| caption = Witherspoon in 2014
| birth_name = Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|3|22}}
| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
| works = Filmography
| awards = Full list
| signature = Reese Witherspoon Signature.png
| organization = {{unbulleted list
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|producer|entrepreneur}}
| years_active = 1991–present
| spouse = {{unbulleted list
|{{marriage|Ryan Phillippe|June 5, 1999|October 5, 2007|end=divorced}}
|{{marriage|Jim Toth|March 26, 2011|March 24, 2023|reason=divorced}}
}}
| children = 3
}}
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2015, and Forbes listed her among the world's 100 most powerful women in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, Forbes named her the world's highest earning actress, and in 2023, she was named one of the richest celebrities in America with an estimated net worth of $440 million.{{Cite web|title=How Reese Witherspoon Has Become The World's Richest Actress|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2021/08/02/how-reese-witherspoon-has-become-the-worlds-richest-actress/?sh=2cf621a34d9b|access-date=March 30, 2022|website=Forbes|date=April 2, 2021|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330231833/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2021/08/02/how-reese-witherspoon-has-become-the-worlds-richest-actress/?sh=2cf621a34d9b|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Here Are The 15 Richest Women Celebrities In America|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/06/01/here-are-the-15-richest-women-celebrities-in-america/?sh=7e9309ca253e|access-date=June 1, 2023|website=Forbes|date=June 1, 2023}}
Witherspoon began her career as a teenager, making her screen debut in The Man in the Moon (1991). After starring in the 1996 films Freeway and Fear, her breakthrough came in 1999 with a supporting role in Cruel Intentions, and for her portrayal of Tracy Flick in the black comedy Election. She gained wider recognition for playing Elle Woods in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001) and its 2003 sequel, and for starring in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama (2002). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for portraying June Carter Cash in the musical biopic Walk the Line (2005). Following a career downturn, during which her sole box-office success was the romantic drama Water for Elephants (2011), Witherspoon made a comeback by producing and starring as Cheryl Strayed in the drama Wild (2014), which earned her a second Academy Award nomination.
She has since worked primarily in television, producing and starring in several female-led literary adaptations under her company Hello Sunshine. These include the HBO drama series Big Little Lies (2017–2019), the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show (2019–present), and the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere (2020). For the first of these, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series. She has also produced the film adaptations Gone Girl (2014) and Where the Crawdads Sing (2022), and the miniseries adaptation Daisy Jones & the Six (2023).
Witherspoon also owns Reese's Book Club and a clothing company, Draper James. She is involved in children's and women's advocacy organizations. She serves on the board of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and was named Global Ambassador of Avon Products in 2007, serving as honorary chair of the charitable Avon Foundation dedicated to women's causes.
Early life and education
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976,{{cite magazine|title=Monitor|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 22, 2013|issue=1251|page=25}} at Southern Baptist Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana, while her father, John Draper Witherspoon, was a student at Tulane University medical school.{{cite web| title = Green Threads on the Red Carpet| author = Martin, Aaron| publisher = Tulane University magazine| date = March 1, 2006| url = http://www2.tulane.edu/article_news_details.cfm?ArticleID=6294| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311170410/http://www2.tulane.edu/article_news_details.cfm?ArticleID=6294| archive-date = March 11, 2007| access-date = April 30, 2007}} Her father was born in Georgia and served as a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon biography |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/bio |access-date=October 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605184759/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/bio |archive-date=June 5, 2007 }}{{Cite journal|title = That's Reese: stepping into the ring of fire|last = Slschy|first = Ingrid |date = December 1, 2005|journal = Interview|issn = 0149-8932}} He was in private practice as an otolaryngologist until 2012.{{cite news|url=https://people.com/crime/reese-witherspoon-parents-lawsuit-mother-sues-father-for-bigamy/ |title=Reese Witherspoon's Mom: My Husband Married Another Woman |first1=Mike|last1=Fleeman|first2=Kay|last2=West |publisher=People|date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173200/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20594553%2C00.html |archive-date=January 2, 2016}} Her mother, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (née Reese) Witherspoon, is from Harriman, Tennessee. She was a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University and had a PhD in pediatric nursing.{{cite web |url=http://news.uthsc.edu/nursing-2012-outstanding-alums |title=College of Nursing Honors 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients |author=Communications and Marketing |publisher=uthsc.edu |date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173202/http://news.uthsc.edu/nursing-2012-outstanding-alums/ |archive-date=January 2, 2016 }}{{cite web |author=Wills, Dominic |title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 1) |publisher=Tiscali |url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog.html |access-date=November 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015052438/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog.html |archive-date=October 15, 2007 }}
Reese Witherspoon has claimed descent from Scottish-born John Witherspoon, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon: Legally Blonde. Physically flawed? |author=Stuges, Fiona |date=August 7, 2004 |work=The Independent |location=UK |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-legally-blonde-physically-flawed-555711.html |access-date=November 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707021148/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-legally-blonde-physically-flawed-555711.html |archive-date=July 7, 2009 }}{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon: Legally Blonde... Again |publisher=Agirlsworld.com |url=http://www.agirlsworld.com/rachel/hangin-with/reesewitherspoon_legally2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030812012242/http://www.agirlsworld.com/rachel/hangin-with/reesewitherspoon_legally2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2003 |access-date=October 25, 2007 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104619/http://www.agirlsworld.com/rachel/hangin-with/reesewitherspoon_legally2.html |date=September 28, 2007 }} However, this claim has not been verified by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists.{{cite web |title=John Witherspoon – The Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence |author=DSDI Staff |date=December 11, 2011 |location=USA |url=http://www.dsdi1776.com/signers-by-state/john-witherspoon/ |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212194841/http://www.dsdi1776.com/signers-by-state/john-witherspoon/ |archive-date=February 12, 2013 }} Her parents are still legally married, although they separated in 1996.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/10/showbiz/witherspoon-bigamy-suit/ |title=Reese Witherspoon's parents in bigamy dispute |work=CNN |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123044410/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/10/showbiz/witherspoon-bigamy-suit/ |archive-date=January 23, 2015}}
Witherspoon was raised an Episcopalian, and has said she is proud of the "definitive Southern upbringing" she received. She has said it gave her "a sense of family and tradition" and taught her about "being conscientious about people's feelings, being polite, being responsible and never taking for granted what you have in your life".{{Cite news|url=http://www.etonline.com/news/194799_reese_witherspoon_opens_up_about_religion_and_the_afterlife|title=Reese Witherspoon Opens Up About Religion and the Afterlife: 'I Think You Get an Angel and Wings and a Halo'|work=Entertainment Tonight|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531125106/https://www.etonline.com/news/194799_reese_witherspoon_opens_up_about_religion_and_the_afterlife|archive-date=May 31, 2019|url-status=live}} At age seven, she was selected as a model for a florist's television advertisements, which motivated her to take acting lessons.{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/2|title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 2)|author=Wills, Dominic|publisher=Tiscali|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015052443/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/2|archive-date=October 15, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=November 26, 2007}} At age 11, she took first place in the Ten-State Talent Fair. She received high grades in school, loved reading, and considered herself "a big dork who read loads of books".{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/the-dork-who-grew-into-a-hollywood-princess-d5f9lq7rdjh|title=The dork who grew into a Hollywood princess|last=Hurst|first=Greg|date=March 5, 2006|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=November 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815092546/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article737573.ece?token=null&offset=12|archive-date=August 15, 2011|url-status=live|location=UK}} On mentioning her love for books, she said, "I get crazy in a bookstore. It makes my heart beat hard because I want to buy everything."{{cite web|url=http://www.rd.com/face-to-face-with-reese-witherspoon/article18040-3.html|title=Face to Face With Reese Witherspoon|author=Grant, Meg|date=September 30, 2005|work=Reader's Digest|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512055151/http://www.rd.com/face-to-face-with-reese-witherspoon/article18040-3.html|archive-date=May 12, 2008|access-date=October 19, 2009}} She has been described as a "multi-achiever" and was nicknamed "Little Type A" by her parents.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-a-novel-challenge-for-blonde-ambition-18059.html|title=Reese Witherspoon: A novel challenge for blonde ambition|date=January 7, 2005|access-date=June 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904093721/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-a-novel-challenge-for-blonde-ambition-18059.html|archive-date=September 4, 2015|url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent|location=London}}{{cite news|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20020927-9999_1c27reese.html|title=A type A is already on A-list|author=Meyer, Norma|date=November 13, 2005|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507112108/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20020927-9999_1c27reese.html|archive-date=May 7, 2005|url-status=dead|access-date=November 26, 2007}} She attended middle school at Harding Academy and graduated from the all-girls' Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, during which time she was a cheerleader.{{cite news |title=Playing It Straight (page 1) |author=Booth, William |date=November 13, 2005 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100442.html |access-date=November 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511191249/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100442.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |url-status=live }} She later attended Stanford University as an English literature major,{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon; Commitment, Success and the Age of Ambivalence |author=Gardner, Elysa |date=September 13, 1998 |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E0DA1F3FF930A2575AC0A96E958260 |access-date=October 25, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108022406/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E0DA1F3FF930A2575AC0A96E958260 |archive-date=January 8, 2008}} but left prior to completing her studies to pursue an acting career.{{cite news|title=Talent behind Witherspoon's win |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4581664.stm |access-date=October 25, 2007 |date=January 17, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905162643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4581664.stm |archive-date=September 5, 2007 }}
Career
=1991–2000: Early work and breakthrough=
Witherspoon attended an open casting call in 1991 for The Man in the Moon, intending to audition for a bit part; but instead was cast for the lead role of Dani Trant, a 14-year-old country girl who falls in love for the first time with her 17-year-old neighbor. The film takes place in her native State of Louisiana. According to The Guardian, her performance made an early impression.{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Pulver|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/09/reese-witherspoon-hollywood-producer-film-profile|title=Reese Witherspoon: behind-the-scenes revival of Hollywood's unlikely feminist|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 9, 2015|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108094319/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/09/reese-witherspoon-hollywood-producer-film-profile|archive-date=November 8, 2017|url-status=live}} Film critic Roger Ebert commented, "Her first kiss is one of the most perfect little scenes I've ever seen in a movie." For her role, Witherspoon was nominated for a Young Artist Award, in the category of Best Young Actress.{{cite magazine|first=Sam|last=Escobar|url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g3391/reese-witherspoon-young-style-evolution/|title=Reese Witherspoon Through the Years|magazine=Good Housekeeping|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108093848/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g3391/reese-witherspoon-young-style-evolution/|archive-date=November 8, 2017|url-status=live}} Later that year, she made her television debut role in Wildflower with Patricia Arquette. In 1992, Witherspoon appeared in the television film Desperate Choices: To Save My Child, portraying a critically ill young girl.
In 1993, Witherspoon played a young wife, Nonnie Parker, in the CBS miniseries Return to Lonesome Dove, appeared in the Disney film A Far Off Place, and had a minor role in Jack the Bear, which garnered her the Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actress Co-star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000702/awards|title=Reese Witherspoon|website=IMDb|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029050803/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000702/awards|archive-date=October 29, 2017|url-status=live}} The next year, she had another leading role as Wendy Pfister in the 1994 film S.F.W., directed by Jefery Levy.{{Citation|first=Jefery|last=Levy|title=S.F.W.|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111048/|others=Stephen Dorff, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Busey|date=January 20, 1995|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201105008/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111048/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}} In 1996, Witherspoon starred in two major films: the thriller Fear alongside Mark Wahlberg,{{cite web |first=Jocelyn |last=Vena |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655037/reese-witherspoons-love-life-from-ryan-phillippe-jim-toth.jhtml |title=Reese Witherspoon's Love Life: From Ryan Phillippe To Jim Toth |publisher=MTV |date=December 29, 2010 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927185108/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655037/reese-witherspoons-love-life-from-ryan-phillippe-jim-toth.jhtml |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}{{cite news|first=Lauren|last=Zupkus|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/29/alyssa-milano-reese-witherspoon_n_6573878.html|title=Alyssa Milano Shares A '90s #TBT Photo With Reese Witherspoon|work=Huffington Post|date=January 29, 2015|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702095828/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/29/alyssa-milano-reese-witherspoon_n_6573878.html|archive-date=July 2, 2016|url-status=live}} as Nicole Walker, a teenager who starts dating a man with obsessive tendencies, and the black-comedy thriller Freeway, alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Brooke Shields, in which she played Vanessa Lutz;{{Cite news|url=http://www.eonline.com/photos/11832/reese-witherspoon-s-best-roles/365575|title=Freeway (1996) from Reese Witherspoon's Best Roles|work=E! Online|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035938/http://www.eonline.com/photos/11832/reese-witherspoon-s-best-roles/365575|archive-date=November 8, 2017|url-status=live}} a poor girl living in Los Angeles who encounters a serial killer on the way to her grandmother's home in Stockton. The film received positive reviews from critics; San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle wrote, "Witherspoon, who does a Texas accent, is dazzling, utterly believable in one extreme situation after the other."{{cite news|first=Mick |last=LaSalle| author-link=Mick LaSalle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1996/08/23/DD13791.DTL|title='Freeway's' Wild, Funny Ride |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 23, 1996 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225135130/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1996%2F08%2F23%2FDD13791.DTL |archive-date=December 25, 2007 }} Witherspoon's performance won her the Best Actress Award at the Cognac Police Film Festival and helped establish her as a rising star.{{cite web |url=http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/reese-witherspoon.html |title=Reese Witherspoon |publisher=The Biography Channel |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108144226/http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/reese-witherspoon.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }} The production of the film also gave her significant acting experience; she said "Once I overcame the hurdle of that movie – which scared me to death – I felt like I could try anything."
In 1998, Witherspoon had major roles in three films: Overnight Delivery, Pleasantville and Twilight. In Pleasantville, she starred with Tobey Maguire in a tale about 1990s teenage siblings who are magically transported into the setting of a 1950s television series. She portrayed Jennifer, the sister of Maguire's character who is mainly concerned about appearances, relationships and popularity. Her performance earned her praise and garnered her the Young Hollywood Award for Best Female Breakthrough Performance.{{cite web |url=http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/artists/w/Reese-Witherspoon/awards-135363.html |title=Reese Witherspoon Awards |publisher=uk.movies.yahoo.com |access-date=July 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109022843/http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/artists/w/Reese-Witherspoon/awards-135363.html |archive-date=January 9, 2007 }} Director Gary Ross applauded her efforts saying, "she commits to a character so completely and she understands comedy".
A year later, Witherspoon co-starred with Alessandro Nivola in the drama thriller Best Laid Plans; she played Lissa, a woman who schemes with her lover Nick to escape a small dead-end town. Also in 1999, she co-starred with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe in the drama Cruel Intentions, a modern version of the 18th-century French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The critic for San Francisco Chronicle praised her performance as Annette Hargrove: "Witherspoon is especially good in the least flashy role, and even when called upon to make a series of cute devilish faces, she pulls it off."{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Graham| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/03/05/DD31451.DTL|title=Dangerous Liaisons' Junior| newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=March 5, 1999| access-date=December 6, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121020409/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1999%2F03%2F05%2FDD31451.DTL |archive-date=November 21, 2007 }} She also appeared in a music video by Marcy Playground for the film's soundtrack. Next, she appeared in Election (1999) opposite Matthew Broderick, based on Tom Perrotta's novel of the same name. For her portrayal of Tracy Flick, she earned acclaim and her first nominations in the Golden Globes and in the Independent Spirit Awards. She also won the Best Actress Award from the National Society of Film Critics and the Online Film Critics Society.{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon Award |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/awards |access-date=November 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630043657/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/awards |archive-date=June 30, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.spiritawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SA_Nomswinners.pdf |title=Film Independent Spirit Awards |publisher=spiritawards.com |access-date=April 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422005611/http://www.spiritawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SA_Nomswinners.pdf |archive-date=April 22, 2012 }} Witherspoon received a rank on the list of 100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time by Premiere.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |title=100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time |publisher=Filmsite.org |access-date=July 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090604/http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }} Director Alexander Payne said "She's [Witherspoon] got that quality that men find attractive, while women would like to be her friend. But that's just the foundation. Nobody else is as funny or brings such charm to things. She can do anything."
Following the success of Election, Witherspoon struggled to find work due to typecasting.{{cite news|first=William|last=Booth|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100442_3.html|title=Playing It Straight (page 3)|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 13, 2005|access-date=November 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726051206/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100442_3.html|archive-date=July 26, 2008|url-status=live}} "I think because the character I played was so extreme and sort of shrewish—people thought that was who I was, rather than me going in and creating a part. I would audition for things and I'd always be the second choice—studios never wanted to hire me and I wasn't losing the parts to big box office actresses but to ones who I guess people felt differently about", she said. In 2000, Witherspoon had a supporting role in American Psycho as Patrick Bateman's trophy girlfriend, and made a cameo appearance in Little Nicky as the mother of the Antichrist.{{cite news|first=Philip|last=Booth|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/06/Weekend/Spoonfuls_of_video_tr.shtml|title=Spoonfuls of video treats |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=February 6, 2003|access-date=November 10, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228031118/http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/06/Weekend/Spoonfuls_of_video_tr.shtml |archive-date=December 28, 2007 }} She also made a guest appearance in the sixth season of Friends as Rachel Green's sister Jill.{{cite news|first=Eric|last=Deggans|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/04/Floridian/Guest_stars__The_good.shtml|title=Guest stars: The good, the bad, the twin sister |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=May 4, 2004 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213124437/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/04/Floridian/Guest_stars__The_good.shtml |archive-date=December 13, 2007 }}
=2001–2006: Worldwide recognition=
The 2001 film Legally Blonde marked a turning point in Witherspoon's career; she starred as Elle Woods, a fashion-merchandising major who decides to become a law student to follow her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School. Witherspoon said about the role, "When I read Legally Blonde, I was like, 'She's from Beverly Hills, she's rich, she's in a sorority. She has a great boyfriend. Oh yeah, she gets dumped. Who cares? I still hate her.' So we had to make sure she was the kind of person you just can't hate." Legally Blonde was a box-office hit, grossing US$96 million domestically.{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon |website=Box Office Mojo |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=reesewitherspoon.htm |access-date=December 2, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020183153/http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=reesewitherspoon.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2007 }} Witherspoon's performance earned her praise from critics, and the press began to refer her as "the new Meg Ryan".{{cite news|first=John|last=Harkness|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=135400&archive=22,23,2003|title=Classic Crawford |newspaper=NOW |date=February 6, 2003 |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911065807/http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=135400&archive=22,23,2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 1, 2012 }} Roger Ebert commented, "Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit",{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010713/REVIEWS/107130303/1023|title=Reviews: Legally Blonde |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=February 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522085254/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010713%2FREVIEWS%2F107130303%2F1023 |archive-date=May 22, 2007}} and the critic from Salon magazine wrote "she [Witherspoon] delineates Elle's character beautifully".{{cite news |first=Stephanie |last=Zacharek |url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/07/13/legally_blonde/index.html |title=Legally Blonde |work=Salon.com |date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205183719/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/07/13/legally_blonde/index.html |archive-date=December 5, 2007 }} Meanwhile, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer concluded, "Witherspoon is a talented comedian who can perk up a scene just by marching in full of pep and drive and she powers this modest little comedy almost single-handedly."{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Axmaker|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/31039_blonde13q.shtml|title=Enough energy in this 'Blonde' to perk up limp comedy |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=December 12, 2007}} The film earned her a second nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, and an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.{{Cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/reese-witherspoon|website=www.goldenglobes.com|language=en|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416003115/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/reese-witherspoon|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}
In 2002, Witherspoon featured in several projects, such as the role of Greta Wolfcastle in The Simpsons episode "The Bart Wants What It Wants", and as Cecily in the comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, a film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play for which she received a Teen Choice Award nomination.{{cite news|first=John|last=Clark|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/05/12/PK236774.DTL&type=movies|title=Young and talented, headstrong and 'Earnest' Reese Witherspoon gets what she wants |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 12, 2002 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204002716/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2002%2F05%2F12%2FPK236774.DTL&type=movies |archive-date=December 4, 2007 }}{{cite web |title=Announces the 4th Annual 2002 Teen Choice Awards Nominees |publisher=PR Newswire |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-03-2002/0001739538&EDATE= |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030829132136/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F06-03-2002%2F0001739538&EDATE= |archive-date=August 29, 2003 }} Later that year, she starred with Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey in Andy Tennant's romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama, in which she played Melanie Carmichael, a young fashion designer who intends to marry a New York politician but must return to Alabama to divorce her childhood sweetheart, from whom she has been separated for seven years. Witherspoon regarded it as a "personal role" as it reminded her of the experience of moving from Nashville to Los Angeles.{{cite web |website=IGN |url=http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/371/371856p1.html |title=Interview with Reese Witherspoon |access-date=June 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005004/http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/371/371856p1.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |date=September 23, 2002 }} The film became Witherspoon's biggest live-action box office hit, earning over $35 million in the opening weekend and grossing over $127 million in the U.S.{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 6) |author=Wills, Dominic |publisher=Tiscali |url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/6 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507041829/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/6 |archive-date=May 7, 2008 }} Despite the commercial success, critics gave Sweet Home Alabama negative reviews. The Miami Herald called it "a romantic comedy so rote, dull and predictable",{{cite news|first=Connie|last=Ogle|url=http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=72299&reviewId=9832|title= Linin' up good ol' cliches, in a fashion| newspaper=Miami Herald|date=September 27, 2002| archive-url=https://archive.today/20070623044747/http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=72299&reviewId=9832| url-status=dead| archive-date=June 23, 2007 |access-date=December 1, 2007}} and the press opined that Witherspoon was the only reason the film attracted such a large audience.{{cite news|first=Roger |last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020927/REVIEWS/209270304/1023 |title=Sweet Home Alabama |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=September 27, 2002 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212113353/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020927%2FREVIEWS%2F209270304%2F1023 |archive-date=December 12, 2007}}{{cite web |publisher=Tiscali |url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/sweet_home_alabama.html |title=Sweet Home Alabama |access-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507042101/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/sweet_home_alabama.html |archive-date=May 7, 2008 }} The Christian Science Monitor wrote of her, "She is not the movie's main attraction, she is its only attraction."{{Cite journal|first=David|last=Sterritt|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0927/p15s01-almo.html|title=A down-home dilemma|journal=Christian Science Monitor|date=September 27, 2002|access-date=December 12, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312064543/http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0927/p15s01-almo.html|archive-date=March 12, 2008}}
The next year, Witherspoon followed up the success of Legally Blonde by starring in the sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. Elle Woods has become a Harvard-educated lawyer who is determined to protect animals from cosmetics industry science tests. The sequel was not as financially successful as the first film and it generated mostly negative reviews. USA Today considered the movie "plodding, unfunny and almost cringe-worthy", but also wrote "Reese Witherspoon still does a fine job portraying the fair-haired lovable brainiac, but her top-notch comic timing is wasted on the humorless dialogue."{{cite news|first=Claudia|last=Puig|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-blonde_x.htm|title=Legally Blonde 2 Review|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 2, 2003|access-date=December 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904003700/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-blonde_x.htm|archive-date=September 4, 2007|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, Salon magazine concluded that the sequel "calcifies everything that was enjoyable about the first movie".{{cite news |first=Charles|last=Taylor|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2003/07/02/blonde/|title=Legally Blonde 2 |work=Salon.com |date=July 2, 2003 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607001319/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2003/07/02/blonde/ |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }} Despite being panned by critics, the sequel took in over $39 million in its first five days in the U.S. box office charts and eventually grossed $90 million in the US.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3089425.stm| title=Witherspoon leads UK première |date=July 23, 2003|access-date=November 4, 2007|work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217193451/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3089425.stm |archive-date=December 17, 2003 }} Witherspoon was paid $15 million for the role—a starting point which would make her consistently one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses between 2002 and 2010.{{cite news|first=Claudia|last=Puig|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-09-18-reese-witherspoon_x.htm|title=Witherspoon's 'Sweet Home'|work=USA Today|date=September 18, 2002|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217050107/http://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-09-18-reese-witherspoon_x.htm|archive-date=February 17, 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Steven M.|last=Silverman|url=https://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-tops-actress-power-list/|title=Julia Roberts Tops Actress Power List|publisher=People|date=December 3, 2002|access-date=February 29, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416074936/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C625295%2C00.html|archive-date=April 16, 2008}}
In 2004, Witherspoon starred in Vanity Fair, adapted from the 19th-century classic novel Vanity Fair and directed by Mira Nair. Her character, Becky Sharp, is a poor woman with a ruthless determination to find fortune and establish herself a position in society. Witherspoon was carefully costumed to conceal her pregnancy during filming.{{cite news|first=David|last=Edelstein|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/witherspoon-walks-the-line/|title=Witherspoon Walks The Line |work=CBS News |date=November 13, 2005|access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224160212/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/12/sunday/main1041397.shtml |archive-date=December 24, 2007}} This pregnancy was not a hindrance to her work as Witherspoon believed the gestation had helped her portrayal of Sharp's character: "I love the luminosity that pregnancy brings, I love the fleshiness, I love the ample bosom—it gave me much more to play with", she said.{{cite news|title=Mira's early feminist |date=September 6, 2004 |work=The Telegraph |location=Kolkota, India |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040906/asp/atleisure/story_3722983.asp |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203221405/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040906/asp/atleisure/story_3722983.asp |archive-date=December 3, 2007}}{{cite news|title=Director Nair's Vanity project|work=BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4056147.stm|access-date=November 4, 2007 | date=December 1, 2004}} The film, and Witherspoon's performance received mixed reviews; The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Nair's cast is splendid. Witherspoon does justice to the juicy role by giving the part more buoyancy than naughtiness."{{cite news|date=August 27, 2004 |author=Honeycutt, Kirk |title=Vanity Fair |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000619958 |access-date=December 2, 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Charlotte Observer called her work "an excellent performance that's soft around the edges", and the Los Angeles Times concluded that Becky is "a role Reese Witherspoon was born to play".{{cite web|first=Lawrence |last=Toppman|url=http://ae.charlotte.com/entertainment/ui/charlotte/movie.html?id=164734&reviewId=15989&startDate=NEXT7|title=A 'Vanity Fair' with flair |work=The Charlotte Observer| date=September 1, 2004 |access-date=December 2, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=Musdan77 |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|first=Carina|last=Chocano |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/chocano/cl-et-chocano1sep01,2,3554055.story |title='Vanity Fair'Review |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 1, 2004 |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310235538/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/chocano/cl-et-chocano1sep01%2C2%2C3554055.story |archive-date=March 10, 2008 |url-status=dead }} However, LA Weekly wrote "[Witherspoon] ends up conveying so little of what's at once appalling and perversely attractive about the would-be mistress of Vanity Fair" and stated that it may have to do with Witherspoon's vanity, "with an Oscar-less young star's need to be loved more than anyone could conceivably love the 'real' Becky Sharp."{{cite news|first=Ron|last=Stringer|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-02/film-tv/becky-we-hardly-knew-ye/ |title=Becky, We Hardly Knew Ye |newspaper=LA Weekly|date=September 2, 2004| access-date=February 12, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124010456/http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-02/film-tv/becky-we-hardly-knew-ye/ |archive-date=January 24, 2013 }} Some critics thought she was miscast.{{cite news|first=Emanuel |last=Levy|url=http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/vanity-fair-9/ | title=Vanity Fair |work=Cinema 24/7 |date=September 7, 2004|access-date=February 12, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407143424/http://emanuellevy.com/review/vanity-fair-9/ |archive-date=April 7, 2017}}
File:Reese Witherspoon 2005.jpg at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival]]
In late 2004, Witherspoon starred alongside Mark Ruffalo in the romantic comedy Just Like Heaven. Her character, Elizabeth Masterson, is an ambitious young doctor who is involved in a car accident on her way to a blind date and is left in a coma; her spirit returns to her old apartment where she later finds true love.{{cite news|first=Katie|last=Moten|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1229/justlikeheaven.html |title=Just Like Heaven (PG) |website=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=December 29, 2005 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023101757/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1229/justlikeheaven.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007}} Next, she was cast as June Carter Cash, the second wife of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), in James Mangold's Walk the Line (2005). She never had the chance to meet Carter Cash, as Witherspoon was filming Vanity Fair at the time the singer died. Witherspoon performed her own vocals in the film, and her songs had to be performed in front of a live audience; she was so worried about needing to perform that she asked her lawyer to terminate the film contract. "That was the most challenging part of the role," she later recalled. "I'd never sung professionally."{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, live on Breakfast |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4666180.stm |access-date=November 7, 2007 |date=February 1, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106220629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4666180.stm |archive-date=January 6, 2007 }} Subsequently, she had to spend six months learning how to sing for the role, including from the help of vocal coach Roger Love.{{cite news|title=Faces of the week |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6113620.stm |access-date=November 5, 2007 |date=November 3, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213153356/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6113620.stm |archive-date=February 13, 2009 }}{{cite news |title=Stars Learn to Sing for Roles ... or Do They? |date=February 8, 2006 |author=Donaldson-Evans, Catherine |work=Fox News Channel |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/stars-learn-to-sing-for-roles-or-do-they |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203032648/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C184170%2C00.html |archive-date=December 3, 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-begin-again-vocal-coach-20140625-story.html|title=Vocal coach Roger Love helps put the sing in Hollywood performances|date=June 25, 2014|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230150820/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-begin-again-vocal-coach-20140625-story.html|archive-date=December 30, 2019|url-status=live}} Witherspoon's portrayal of Carter Cash was acclaimed by critics, with Roger Ebert stating that her performance added "boundless energy" to the film.{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/REVIEWS/51107006/1023 |title=Walk the Line |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 27, 2002 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212120132/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20051117%2FREVIEWS%2F51107006%2F1023 |archive-date=December 12, 2007 }} She won Best Actress at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance.{{Cite web|title=2006 Film Actress in a Leading Role {{!}} BAFTA Awards|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/film/actress-in-a-leading-role|website=awards.bafta.org|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428200124/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/film/actress-in-a-leading-role|archive-date=April 28, 2020|url-status=live}}
Witherspoon and Phoenix received a nomination for "collaborative video of the year" from the CMT Music Awards.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4824306.stm |title=Movie stars up for country award |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 17, 2008 |date=March 20, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521194812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4824306.stm |archive-date=May 21, 2006}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/microsites/cmt-music-awards/2006/nominees.jhtml |title=2006 Nominees |publisher=Country Music Television |access-date=July 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719195902/http://www.cmt.com/microsites/cmt-music-awards/2006/nominees.jhtml |archive-date=July 19, 2008 }} Witherspoon has expressed her passion for the film: "I really like in this film that it is realistic and portrays sort of a real marriage, a real relationship where there are forbidden thoughts and fallibility. And it is about compassion in the long haul, not just the short easy solutions to problems."{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Murray |url=http://movies.about.com/od/walktheline/a/walklinrw111405_2.htm |title=Reese Witherspoon Interview |publisher=About.com |date=July 31, 2017 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820081417/http://movies.about.com/od/walktheline/a/walklinrw111405_2.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2007 }} She also stated that she believed Carter Cash was a woman ahead of her time: "I think the really remarkable thing about her character is that she did all of these things that we sort of see as normal things in the 1950s when it wasn't really acceptable for a woman to be married and divorced twice and have two different children by two different husbands and travel around in a car full of very famous musicians all by herself. She didn't try to comply to social convention, so I think that makes her a very modern woman." After the success of Walk the Line, Witherspoon starred in the fantasy Penelope, as Annie, the best friend of Penelope (Christina Ricci), a girl who has a curse in her family. The film was produced by her company Type A Films, and filming began in March 2006.{{cite magazine |title=Exclusive: Penelope Set Pics |date=March 15, 2006 |magazine=Empire |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=18285 |access-date=December 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231234128/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=18285 |archive-date=December 31, 2014 }} The film premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival,{{cite news|first=Moira|last=Macdonald |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html|title=From Toronto: Let the film festival begin! |newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=September 6, 2006 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622034054/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html |archive-date=June 22, 2011 }} but went unreleased until February 2008.{{cite web|first=Jennifer M.|last=Wood|url=https://www.moviemaker.com/archives/moviemaking/directing/articles-directing/mark-palansky-penelope-christina-ricci-20080229/|title=Deconstructing Penelope|work=MovieMaker|date=February 29, 2008|access-date=December 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113310/https://www.moviemaker.com/archives/moviemaking/directing/articles-directing/mark-palansky-penelope-christina-ricci-20080229/|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first=Gregg|last=Goldstein|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/penelope-slides-summit-149560|title=Penelope' slides to Summit| work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 6, 2007 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110052325/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/penelope-slides-summit-149560 |archive-date=November 10, 2012}}
=2007–2012: Career setbacks and romantic comedy films=
File:Reese Witherspoon, 2009.jpg in 2009]]
Witherspoon admits to spending several years "kind of floundering career-wise". Reflecting on this period of time in a December 2014 interview, Witherspoon attributed it to the split from her first husband in October 2006 and their subsequent divorce, stating that she spent "a few years just trying to feel better. You know, you can't really be very creative when you feel like your brain is scrambled eggs." She claims that she "wasn't making things I was passionate about. I was just kind of working, you know. And it was really clear that audiences weren't responding to anything I was putting out there."{{cite news|first=Charlie |last=Rose |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-ready-for-a-change/ |title=Reese Witherspoon: Ready for a Change|work=CBS News |date=December 21, 2014 |access-date=December 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229042618/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-ready-for-a-change/ |archive-date=December 29, 2014}}
Witherspoon appeared in the thriller Rendition, in which she played Isabella El-Ibrahim, the pregnant wife of a bombing suspect. The film was released in October 2007 and it was her first film appearance since the 2005's Walk the Line.{{cite news|first=David|last=Germain|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601378.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews|title=Witherspoon Gives a Dramatic 'Rendition'|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 16, 2007|access-date=November 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110192520/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601378.html?nav=rss_artsandliving%2Fentertainmentnews|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}} The film received mostly mixed reviews and was deemed a major disappointment at the Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Mathews|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2007/10/19/2007-10-19_rendition_is_story_of_torture.html |title='Rendition' is story of torture |work=New York Daily News |date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222114101/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2007/10/19/2007-10-19_rendition_is_story_of_torture.html |archive-date=December 22, 2007}} Witherspoon's performance was also criticized; writing for USA Today, Claudia Puig wrote "Reese Witherspoon is surprisingly lifeless [...] She customarily injects energy and spirit into her parts, but here, her performance feels tamped down."{{cite news|first=Claudia|last=Puig|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2007-10-18-rendition_N.htm|title='Rendition' fails to turn over interest|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 18, 2007|access-date=December 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021061032/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2007-10-18-rendition_N.htm|archive-date=October 21, 2007|url-status=live}} In 2008, Witherspoon starred with Vince Vaughn in the comedy Four Christmases, a story about a couple who must spend their Christmas Day trying to visit all four of their divorced parents.{{cite magazine |first=Dave |last=McNary |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/vaughn-witherspoon-set-for-comedy-2-1117969202/ |title=Vaughn, Witherspoon set for comedy |magazine=Variety |date=July 26, 2007 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012004547/http://variety.com/article/VR1117969202.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }} Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success, earning more than $120 million domestically and $157 million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fourchristmases |title=Four Christmases (2008):Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=November 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205082540/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fourchristmases |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }} In 2009, Witherspoon voiced Susan Murphy, the lead character in the DreamWorks Animation Monsters vs. Aliens, released in March, which grossed $381 million worldwide.{{Cite web|title=Monsters vs. Aliens|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl224757249/|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428191727/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=monstersvsaliens.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first=Susan|last=Wloszczyna|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-10-monsters-aliens_N.htm|title=First look: 'Monsters vs. Aliens' is the ultimate; a 3-D 'first'|newspaper=USA Today|date=March 11, 2008|access-date=April 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625093637/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-10-monsters-aliens_N.htm|archive-date=June 25, 2010|url-status=live}} She also co-produced the Legally Blonde spin-off Legally Blondes, starring Milly and Becky Rosso.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/457937/Legally-Blondes/details |title=Legally Blondes (2008) |access-date=February 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214203637/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/457937/Legally-Blondes/details |work=The New York Times |date=2015 |archive-date=February 14, 2015}} However, Witherspoon did not appear in a live-action film for two years after Four Christmases. She told Entertainment Weekly that the "break" was unplanned, stating that, "I just didn't read anything I liked... There are a lot of really, really, really big movies about robots and things—and there's not a part for a 34-year-old woman in a robot movie."{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/12/09/this-weeks-cover-reese-witherspoon/ |title=This Week's Cover: The return of Reese Witherspoon |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101233929/http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/12/09/this-weeks-cover-reese-witherspoon/ |archive-date=January 1, 2011 }}
File:Reese Witherspoon May 2011.jpg in 2011]]
Witherspoon returned with three romances released in 2010, 2011 and 2012, all starring her as a woman caught in a love triangle between two men. In the first, she was cast in James L. Brooks' How Do You Know,{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Cieply|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/movies/23brooks.html |title=Star-Heavy Big-Budget Love Story Bucks Trend |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330102910/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/movies/23brooks.html |archive-date=March 30, 2010 }}{{cite news|title=Gordon and the Whale |publisher=Gordon and the Whale |date=June 9, 2010 |url=http://gordonandthewhale.com/james-l-brooks-comedy-now-titled-everything-youve-got/ |access-date=June 21, 2010 |first=Joshua |last=Brunsting |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613160856/http://gordonandthewhale.com/james-l-brooks-comedy-now-titled-everything-youve-got/ |archive-date=June 13, 2010 }}{{cite news|title=Film trailer: Witherspoon, Rudd, Wilson and Nicholson in 'How Do You Know' |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=August 14, 2010 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/film-trailer-witherspoon-rudd-wilson-and-nicholson-in-lsquohow-do-you-knowrsquo-2052468.html |access-date=August 14, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108191322/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/film-trailer-witherspoon-rudd-wilson-and-nicholson-in-lsquohow-do-you-knowrsquo-2052468.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012}} in which she played a former national softball player who struggles to choose between a baseball-star boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a business executive being investigated for white-collar crime (Paul Rudd). Filming took place in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. during the summer and fall of 2009{{cite magazine | first = Tatiana | last = Siegel | url = https://variety.com/2009/film/news/rudd-wilson-in-talks-for-brooks-film-1118000256/ | title = Rudd, Wilson in talks for Brooks film | magazine = Variety | date = February 17, 2009 | access-date = February 29, 2020 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120917172407/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000256.html?categoryid=13&cs=1= | url-status = live | archive-date = September 17, 2012 }}{{cite news |title=Reese Witherspoon: Filming in Philly |publisher=GossipCenter Network |date=October 1, 2009 |url=http://celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/reese-witherspoon-filming-in-philly-219333 |access-date=April 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023718/http://celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/reese-witherspoon-filming-in-philly-219333 |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson Movie Coming to D.C. |newspaper=Washington City Paper |date=June 4, 2009 |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/06/04/reese-witherspoon-owen-wilson-movie-coming-to-dc/ |access-date=March 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618060638/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/06/04/reese-witherspoon-owen-wilson-movie-coming-to-dc/ |archive-date=June 18, 2009 }} and it was released on December 17, 2010. The film was critically and commercially unsuccessful; with a budget of more than $100 million, the film only earned $48.7 million worldwide, leading the Los Angeles Times to call it "one of the year's biggest flops".{{cite news|title=Box office: 'How Do You Know' flops; 'Tron' doesn't; and like the bear himself, 'Yogi' is soft [Updated] |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 19, 2010 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/12/box-office-tron-good-but-not-great-how-do-you-know-flops-yogi-bear-soft.html |access-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222170312/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/12/box-office-tron-good-but-not-great-how-do-you-know-flops-yogi-bear-soft.html |archive-date=December 22, 2010}} The film received mainly unfavorable reviews, with an approval rating of 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 111 reviews as of December 2010.{{cite web |title=Rotten Tomatoes: How Do You Know |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=December 17, 2010 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/everything_youve_got/ |access-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223051030/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/everything_youve_got/ |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }}
Witherspoon's second love-triangle film was the drama Water for Elephants, an adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel of the same name. She began circus training in March 2010 for her role as Marlena, a glamorous performer stuck in a marriage to a volatile husband (Christoph Waltz) but intrigued by the circus' new veterinarian (Robert Pattinson).{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Frazier|title=Reese Witherspoon Goes to Washington |work=Entertainment Tonight |date=March 10, 2010 |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/84864_Reese_Witherspoon_Goes_to_Washington/ |access-date=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403192149/http://www.etonline.com/news/84864_Reese_Witherspoon_Goes_to_Washington/ |archive-date=April 3, 2012 }} Principal photography began between May and early August 2010{{cite news|title=Robert Pattinson begins shooting for "Water for Elephants |publisher=Hollywood News |date=May 20, 2010 |url=http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/20/robert-pattinson-begins-shooting-for-%E2%80%9Cwater-for-elephants%E2%80%9D/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104111216/http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/20/robert-pattinson-begins-shooting-for-%E2%80%9Cwater-for-elephants%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=January 4, 2013}}{{cite tweet |first=Francis |last=Lawrence|title= That's a wrap on WFE!!!!!! |date=August 5, 2012|user=Hibbits|number=20362637500 |access-date=February 29, 2020|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809032505/http://twitter.com/Hibbits/status/20362637500 |archive-date=August 9, 2010}} in various locations in Tennessee, Georgia, and California. It was released on April 22, 2011, and received mixed critical reviews.{{cite news|title=Fox Pushes Rio, Water for Elephants Releases |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 23, 2010 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-pushes-rio-water-elephants-65332 |access-date=December 28, 2010 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227041725/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-pushes-rio-water-elephants-65332 |archive-date=December 27, 2010}}{{cite web |title=Rotten Tomatoes: Water for Elephants |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=April 22, 2011 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water_for_elephants/ |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627145827/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water_for_elephants/ |archive-date=June 27, 2011 }} Her last love-triangle film began production in Vancouver in September 2010. Directed by McG and released by 20th Century Fox, This Means War, saw Witherspoon's character at the center of a battle between best friends (played by Chris Pine and Tom Hardy), who are both in love with her. The film had a "sneak-peek" release on Valentine's Day, before fully opening on February 17, 2012.{{cite news|title=This Means War to start filming |work=Vancouver Sun |date=September 3, 2010 |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/This+Means+start+filming/3477453/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907072205/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/This%2BMeans%2Bstart%2Bfilming/3477453/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2010 }}{{cite news |title=This Means War Gets Romantic Release Date |work=Movieline |date=April 12, 2011 |url=http://www.movieline.com/2011/04/this-means-war-gets-romantic-release-date.php |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415094826/http://www.movieline.com/2011/04/this-means-war-gets-romantic-release-date.php |archive-date=April 15, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Fox to Release McG's 'This Means War' on Valentine's Day |work=Reuters |date=January 8, 2012 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS332453756520120118 |access-date=January 22, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726091508/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/idUS332453756520120118 |archive-date=July 26, 2012}} The film was panned by critics, with a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes,{{cite web |title=This Means War – Rotten Tomatoes |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=February 17, 2012 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/this_means_war/ |access-date=February 20, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221112952/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/this_means_war/ |archive-date=February 21, 2012 }} and fared poorly at the box office, taking fifth place on its opening weekend with sales of $17.6 million. The New York Times remarked that this "extended the box office cold streak for the Oscar-winning Ms. Witherspoon".{{cite news|first=Brooks|last=Barnes| url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/this-means-box-office-dud/ |title=This Means Box Office Dud |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 19, 2012 |access-date=February 20, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221012047/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/this-means-box-office-dud/ |archive-date=February 21, 2012 }} In a 2012 interview with MTV, Witherspoon jokingly referred that 2010–12 was her "love triangle period".{{cite web|first=Amy|last=Wilkinson|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2557078/reese-witherspoon-love-triangles-this-means-war/|title='This Means War' Star Reese Witherspoon is in her 'Love Triangle Period'|publisher=MTV|date=February 1, 2012|access-date=February 29, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510095149/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/02/01/reese-witherspoon-love-triangles-this-means-war/|archive-date=May 10, 2012}}
=2012–2015: Resurgence and career expansion=
In September 2011, a year after beginning work on This Means War, she filmed a small role in Jeff Nichols's coming-of-age drama Mud in Arkansas, playing Juniper, the former girlfriend of a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey), who enlists two local boys to help him evade capture and rekindle his romance with her.{{cite news|title=Everything We Know About Reese Witherspoon's Film 'Mud,' Filming in Arkansas |work=InArkansas |date=September 28, 2011 |url=http://www.inarkansas.com/26908/everything-we-know-about-reese-witherspoons-film-mud-filming-in-arkansas |access-date=October 3, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930142018/http://www.inarkansas.com/26908/everything-we-know-about-reese-witherspoons-film-mud-filming-in-arkansas |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}{{cite news|title='Mud' banks trio of thesps |work=Variety |date=September 26, 2011 |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/mud-banks-trio-of-thesps-1118043478/|access-date=February 29, 2020|first=Dave |last=McNary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516213017/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118043478 |archive-date=May 16, 2012}} Mud premiered in May 2012 in competition for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, but did not win.{{cite news |title=Cannes sets 2012 fest lineup |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 19, 2012 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-cannes-2012-movies20120419,0,6459352.column |access-date=May 5, 2012 |first=Michael |last=Phillips |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420062513/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-cannes-2012-movies20120419%2C0%2C6459352.column |archive-date=April 20, 2012 }}{{cite news|title=Cannes 2012: Jeff Nichols' 'Mud' Slides Into Competition with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=May 26, 2012 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-matthew-mcconaughey-reese-witherspoon-jeff-nichols-mud-329891 |access-date=May 27, 2012 |first=Rebecca |last=Leffler |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528093457/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-matthew-mcconaughey-reese-witherspoon-jeff-nichols-mud-329891 |archive-date=May 28, 2012}} Following its American debut at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013,{{cite magazine |title=Sundance: Matthew McConaughey in 'Mud' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 21, 2013 |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/01/21/sundance-matthew-mcconaughey-mud/ |access-date=January 23, 2013 |first=Jeff |last=Labrecque |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123205844/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/21/sundance-matthew-mcconaughey-mud/ |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }} the film had a limited release in selected North American theaters on April 26, 2013.{{cite news|title=Mud Trailer: Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon Have a Southern-Accent-Off |work=Vulture |date=January 16, 2013 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/watch-matthew-mcconaughey-in-the-mud-trailer.html |access-date=January 16, 2013 |first=Jesse David |last=Fox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120051437/http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/watch-matthew-mcconaughey-in-the-mud-trailer.html |archive-date=January 20, 2013}}{{cite news|title='Mud' trailer with Matthew McConaughey reignites the fuse in advance of Sundance bow |work=HitFix |date=January 16, 2013 |url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/mud-trailer-with-matthew-mcconaughey-reignites-the-fuse-in-advance-of-sundance-bow |access-date=January 16, 2013 |first=Kristopher |last=Tapley |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118025908/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/mud-trailer-with-matthew-mcconaughey-reignites-the-fuse-in-advance-of-sundance-bow |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}
File:Reese Witherspoon Cannes 2012.jpg at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival|alt=Witherspoon at the premiere of Mud at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival]]
Witherspoon next starred in Devil's Knot, which was directed by Atom Egoyan, and based on the true crime book of the same name, examining the controversial case of the West Memphis Three. Like Mud, the film is set in Arkansas. She played Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of three young murder victims. In an interview subsequent to her casting in the film, Egoyan noted that although the role requires "an emotionally loaded journey," he "met with Reese, and... talked at length about the project, and she's eager to take on the challenge."{{cite news|title=Egoyan signs Reese Witherspoon for new film |work=Globe and Mail |date=December 16, 2011 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/egoyan-signs-reese-witherspoon-for-new-film/article2274510/ |access-date=December 30, 2011 |first=Gayle |last=Macdonald |location=Toronto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218060113/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/egoyan-signs-reese-witherspoon-for-new-film/article2274510/ |archive-date=December 18, 2011}} Filming took place in Georgia in June and July 2012,{{cite news|title=Cannes 2012: Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon's West Memphis Three Pic Gets Financing (Exclusive) |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=May 16, 2012 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/colin-firth-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-325588 |access-date=May 27, 2012 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520053843/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/colin-firth-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-325588 |archive-date=May 20, 2012}}{{cite news | title =Pregnant Reese Witherspoon Spotted Shooting New Movie|work=E! News| date = June 26, 2012| url =https://www.eonline.com/news/326144/pregnant-reese-witherspoon-spotted-shooting-new-movie| archive-url =https://archive.today/20130122060649/http://ca.eonline.com/news/pregnant_reese_witherspoon_spotted/326144| url-status=live| archive-date =January 22, 2013| access-date = June 30, 2012| first=Peter| last=Gicas}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon movie filming in Cartersville |work=Access Atlanta |date=July 5, 2012 |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2012/07/05/reese-witherspoon-movie-filming-in-cartersville/ |access-date=January 23, 2013 |first=Jennifer |last=Brett |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017122733/http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2012/07/05/reese-witherspoon-movie-filming-in-cartersville/ |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }} and Witherspoon was pregnant with her third child during filming.{{cite news|title=Pregnant Reese Witherspoon Begins Shooting Devil's Knot in Atlanta |work=Us Weekly |date=June 26, 2012 |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/pic-pregnant-reese-witherspoon-begins-shooting-devils-knot-in-atlanta-2012266#ixzz2IossVNdt |access-date=January 23, 2013 |first=Zach |last=Johnson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128051943/http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/pic-pregnant-reese-witherspoon-begins-shooting-devils-knot-in-atlanta-2012266 |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon talks of prom dresses, pregnancy and new film |work=Chicago Sun Times |date=June 23, 2012 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/13358045-421/in-chicago-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-her-pregnancy-prom-dress-shopping-and-new-film-devils.html |access-date=January 23, 2013 |first=Bill |last=Zwecker |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919233739/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/13358045-421/in-chicago-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-her-pregnancy-prom-dress-shopping-and-new-film-devils.html |archive-date=September 19, 2012 }} The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival,{{cite news|title=TIFF: WikiLeaks movie The Fifth Estate to open film festival |work=Toronto Star |date=July 23, 2013 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/07/23/tiff_brad_pitts_12_years_a_slave_to_premiere_at_festival.html |access-date=July 24, 2013 |first=Linda |last=Barnard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726141224/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/07/23/tiff_brad_pitts_12_years_a_slave_to_premiere_at_festival.html |archive-date=July 26, 2013}}{{cite news |title=TIFF 2013: All the night moves with Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon and Jesse Eisenberg on the red carpet (but no George Clooney, sorry) |work=National Post |date=September 8, 2013 |url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/09/09/tiff-2013-all-the-night-moves-with-jesse-eisenberg-sandra-bullock-and-reese-witherspoon/ |access-date=September 8, 2013 |first=Nathalie |last=Atkinson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130909150243/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/09/09/tiff-2013-all-the-night-moves-with-jesse-eisenberg-sandra-bullock-and-reese-witherspoon/ |archive-date=September 9, 2013}} followed by a release in selected American theaters on May 9, 2014.{{cite magazine |title=West Memphis Three drama 'Devil's Knot' with Reese Witherspoon sets release date – EXCLUSIVE |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 10, 2014 |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |access-date=February 29, 2020 |first=Jeff |last=Labrecque |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502015909/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |archive-date=May 2, 2014 }} Although the film received mainly negative reviews; London's Evening Standard thought Witherspoon was "the strongest, most involving character".{{Cite web|title=Devil's Knot - film review: 'Colin Firth brings to the role all of his|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/film/devils-knot-film-review-colin-firth-brings-to-the-role-all-of-his-wounded-sorrow-9533034.html|last=Sexton|first=David|date=June 13, 2014|website=Evening Standard|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507114201/https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/film/devils-knot-film-review-colin-firth-brings-to-the-role-all-of-his-wounded-sorrow-9533034.html|archive-date=May 7, 2019|access-date=May 21, 2020}}
In 2012, Witherspoon founded production company Pacific Standard (now part of Hello Sunshine). Her goal was to produce projects with "strong" female lead characters, as she felt this was lacking in Hollywood. Through the company, Witherspoon served as a producer for Gone Girl (2014), an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name.{{cite news|title=David Fincher in Talks to Direct 'Gone Girl' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 22, 2013 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-talks-direct-gone-414316 |access-date=January 23, 2013 |first=Borys |last=Kit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124002728/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-talks-direct-gone-414316 |archive-date=January 24, 2013}}{{cite news|title='Gone Girl' filming at Giant City State Park |work=The Southern |date=September 17, 2013 |url=http://thesouthern.com/news/gone-girl-filming-at-giant-city-state-park/article_a0982f54-1f53-11e3-be49-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=October 16, 2013 |first=Dustin |last=Duncan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920023739/http://thesouthern.com/news/gone-girl-filming-at-giant-city-state-park/article_a0982f54-1f53-11e3-be49-0019bb2963f4.html |archive-date=September 20, 2013}}{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/10/15/gone-girl-gets-release-date/ |title='Gone Girl' gets release date |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Erin |last=Strecker |date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906020111/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/15/gone-girl-gets-release-date/ |archive-date=September 6, 2014 }} She also produced and starred in the biographical adventure Wild (2014), based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir of the same name.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2012/03/reese_witherspoon_buys_movie_r.html |title=Reese Witherspoon buys movie rights to Cheryl Strayed's memoir |publisher=Oregon Live |date=March 8, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426232320/http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2012/03/reese_witherspoon_buys_movie_r.html |archive-date=April 26, 2012}} She portrayed Strayed on her {{convert|1000|mi|adj=on}} hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoons-wild-adds-michiel-huisman-w-earl-brown-1200715187/ |title=Reese Witherspoon's 'Wild' Adds Michiel Huisman, W. Earl Brown |work=Variety |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=October 11, 2013 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013061107/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoons-wild-adds-michiel-huisman-w-earl-brown-1200715187/ |archive-date=October 13, 2013}} Wild was released in December 2014 to critical acclaim;{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_2014/ |title=Wild (2014) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=December 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126091852/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_2014/ |archive-date=November 26, 2014 }} Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune wrote in his review, "Witherspoon does the least acting of her career, and it works. Calmly yet restlessly, she brings to life Strayed's longings, her states of grief and desire and her wary optimism."{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-wild-review-20141204-column.html |title=Review: 'Wild' |work=Chicago Tribune |first=Michael |last=Phillips |date=December 4, 2014 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207035842/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-wild-review-20141204-column.html |archive-date=December 7, 2014}} Wild was considered as Witherspoon's "comeback" role following her previous career slump,{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/09/can-reese-witherspoon-have-her-own-mcconaissance/ |title=Can Reese Witherspoon Have Her Own 'McConaissance?' |work=Forbes |first=Scott |last=Mendelson |date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909150810/http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/09/can-reese-witherspoon-have-her-own-mcconaissance/ |archive-date=September 9, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/wild/review/ |title=Wild is Reese Witherspoon's major comeback |work=The Telegraph |first=Tim |last=Robey |date=December 29, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2015 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101201256/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/wild/review/ |archive-date=January 1, 2015}} and she earned a second Academy Award nomination for her performance.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/15/reese-witherspoon-oscar-nomination |title=Reese Witherspoon on her Oscar nomination: 'I can't imagine ever having a year this good' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Tim |last=Stack |date=January 15, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219020230/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/15/reese-witherspoon-oscar-nomination |archive-date=February 19, 2015 }}
Witherspoon appeared in Philippe Falardeau's drama The Good Lie, based on a true story about an employment counselor assigned to help four young Sudanese refugees, known as Lost Boys of Sudan, who win a lottery for relocation to the U.S.{{cite news|title=Corey Stoll, Sarah Baker, Sudanese Lost Boys Cast In 'The Good Lie' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 3, 2013 |url=https://deadline.com/2013/04/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-corey-stoll-cast-466877/ |access-date=April 7, 2013 |first=Jen |last=Yamato |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407040700/http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-corey-stoll-cast/ |archive-date=April 7, 2013}}{{cite news |title=ATLwood: Reese Witherspoon back in town for "The Good Lie" |work=Creative Loafing Atlanta |date=April 5, 2013 |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-216882-atlwood-reese-witherspoon-back-in-town-for-the-good |access-date=April 7, 2013 |first=Allison |last=Keene |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520204248/http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/04/05/atlwood-reese-witherspoon-back-in-town-for-the-good-lie |archive-date=May 20, 2013}} It was released on October 3, 2014.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Drama 'The Good Lie' Shifts to October Release |work=Variety |date=May 27, 2014 |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-release-date-1201193861/ |access-date=January 1, 2015 |first=Brent |last=Lang |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112053802/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-release-date-1201193861/ |archive-date=January 12, 2015}} The film was mostly well-received; The Hollywood Reporter critic praised the touching story and performances of the cast, writing that Witherspoon does not "upstage" her colleagues.{{Cite web|title='The Good Lie': Toronto Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/good-lie-toronto-review-730926|last=Felperin|first=Leslie|date=September 7, 2014|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005190229/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/good-lie-toronto-review-730926|archive-date=October 5, 2019|access-date=May 21, 2020}} Next, she appeared in Inherent Vice (2014), an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel of the same name.{{cite news|title=First Look At Joaquin Phoenix On The Set Of 'Inherent Vice' |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-at-joaquin-phoenix-oh-inherent-vice-maya-rudolph-joins-the-cast-20130604 |access-date=June 26, 2013 |newspaper=indiewire.com |date=June 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608134319/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-at-joaquin-phoenix-oh-inherent-vice-maya-rudolph-joins-the-cast-20130604 |archive-date=June 8, 2013 }}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Eyes Reteam With Joaquin Phoenix in 'Inherent Vice' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoon-eyes-reteam-with-joaquin-phoenix-in-vice-1200480816/ |access-date=July 22, 2013 |newspaper=Variety |date=May 15, 2013 |first=Justin |last=Kroll |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713084558/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoon-eyes-reteam-with-joaquin-phoenix-in-vice-1200480816/ |archive-date=July 13, 2013}} In May 2014, Witherspoon began production in Louisiana on Hot Pursuit, a comedy in which she plays a police officer trying to protect a drug lord's widow (Sofía Vergara).{{cite news |url=http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/05/dont_mess_with_texas_starring.html |title='Don't Mess With Texas,' starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, starts filming this week in New Orleans |work=The Times-Picayune |first=Mike |last=Scott |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=March 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228224002/http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/05/dont_mess_with_texas_starring.html |archive-date=December 28, 2014}} The feature was released on May 8, 2015.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/hot-pursuit-trailer-reese-witherspoon-sofia-vergara-watch-1201432880/ |title=Watch: First Trailer for Reese Witherspoon-Sofia Vergara's 'Hot Pursuit' |work=Variety |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=February 12, 2015 |access-date=March 8, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226194704/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/hot-pursuit-trailer-reese-witherspoon-sofia-vergara-watch-1201432880/ |archive-date=February 26, 2015}}
=2016–present: Television success=
File:Sing 29 (29689607731).jpg at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival]]
In 2016, Witherspoon had a voice role in the animated musical comedy film Sing, and served as a performer to the film's soundtrack. Sing became Witherspoon's biggest commercial success, being the first of her films to make over $200 million domestically and $600 million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2016.htm |title=Sing (2016) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114182912/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2016.htm |archive-date=January 14, 2017 }} That same year, Witherspoon began filming her first television project since 1993's Return To Lonesome Dove, the seven-part miniseries adaptation of the Liane Moriarty bestseller, Big Little Lies. She co-produced the miniseries along with co-star Nicole Kidman and director Jean-Marc Vallée, her second project under his direction. The series premiered on February 19, 2017, on HBO and finished on April 2.{{cite news|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title='Big Little Lies' Limited Series Starring Nicole Kidman & Reese Witherspoon Picked Up By HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/big-little-lies-nicole-kidman-reese-witherspoon-hbo-limited-series-1201423026/ |access-date=May 8, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509233414/http://deadline.com/2015/05/big-little-lies-nicole-kidman-reese-witherspoon-hbo-limited-series-1201423026/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2016/01/25/64259/ |title='Big Little Lies', starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, is filming in Monterey, CA this week |publisher=On Location Movies |access-date=January 26, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126084721/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2016/01/25/64259/ |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |date=January 25, 2016 }} Witherspoon garnered critical acclaim for her performance, with TVLine proclaiming her as "Performer of the Week" in the weeks of February 26 – March 4 in 2017 and June 23–29 in 2019.{{cite news |title=Performer of the Week: Reese Witherspoon |url=https://tvline.com/2017/03/04/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-performance/ |access-date=March 30, 2017 |work=TVLine |date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331083913/http://tvline.com/2017/03/04/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-performance/ |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Performer of the Week: Reese Witherspoon |url=https://tvline.com/2017/03/04/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-performance/ |access-date=May 10, 2020 |work=TVLine |date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510182957/https://tvline.com/2017/03/04/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-performance/ |archive-date=May 10, 2020 |url-status=live }} The Washington Post compared her performance to her roles in Election and Legally Blonde.{{cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Alyssa |title=Reese Witherspoon is unlikable again in 'Big Little Lies.' Thank goodness. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2017/02/24/reese-witherspoon-is-unlikable-again-in-big-little-lies-thank-goodness/ |access-date=March 30, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410080411/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2017/02/24/reese-witherspoon-is-unlikable-again-in-big-little-lies-thank-goodness/ |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |url-status=live }} In December 2017, HBO renewed Big Little Lies for a second season, which premiered in June 2019.{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/12/08/big-little-lies-season-2-director/|title='Big Little Lies' renewed for season 2 with new director|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182508/http://ew.com/tv/2017/12/08/big-little-lies-season-2-director/|archive-date=July 23, 2018|url-status=live}} Witherspoon also starred in the romantic comedy Home Again, the directorial debut of filmmaker Nancy Meyers' daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, which was released on September 8, 2017.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/reese-witherspoon-home-again-rose-byrne-nancy-meyers-1201816375/ |title=Reese Witherspoon in Talks to Star in 'Home Again' (EXCLUSIVE) |website=Variety |first=Justin |last=Kroll |date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110105618/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/reese-witherspoon-home-again-rose-byrne-nancy-meyers-1201816375/ |archive-date=November 10, 2016 }}
In 2018, she starred in Disney's A Wrinkle in Time, a film adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's novel of the same name, in which she plays Mrs. Whatsit. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the feature co-stars Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling, and was released in March 2018.{{cite news|title=Wrinkle in Time Cast Announced as Filming Begins |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/782179-a-wrinkle-in-time-cast-announced-as-filming-begins |access-date=March 30, 2017 |work=ComingSoon.net |date=November 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129231914/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/782179-a-wrinkle-in-time-cast-announced-as-filming-begins |archive-date=November 29, 2016}} Four months later, Witherspoon began hosting the talk show Shine On with Reese on DirecTV, in which she interviews female guests, focusing on how they achieved their ambitions. The show marks Witherspoon's first unscripted role in television.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/reese-witherspoon-shine-on-with-reese-hello-sunshine-att-directv-1202868192/|title=Reese Witherspoon Interview Series to Kick Off Her Hello Sunshine Channel Debut on AT&T, DirecTV|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=July 10, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710180032/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/reese-witherspoon-shine-on-with-reese-hello-sunshine-att-directv-1202868192/|archive-date=July 10, 2018|url-status=live}}
Witherspoon currently produces and stars in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show alongside Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/08/business/media/apple-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-show.html|title=Apple Lands New Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston TV Show|newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182743/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/08/business/media/apple-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-show.html|archive-date=July 23, 2018|url-status=live|last1=Koblin |first1=John }} The Morning Show received a two-season order from Apple with the first season premiering in November 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/10/apple-celebrates-the-morning-show-coming-to-apple-tv-november-1/|title=Apple celebrates "The Morning Show," coming to Apple TV+ November 1|website=Apple Inc.|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211094121/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/10/apple-celebrates-the-morning-show-coming-to-apple-tv-november-1/|archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Witherspoon was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series for her work in the series.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/golden-globes-nominations-announced-updating-live-1202804135/|title=Golden Globes Nominations: 'Marriage Story', Netflix, 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Lead Way In Film – Full List Of Nominations|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=December 9, 2019|access-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211174953/https://deadline.com/2019/12/golden-globes-nominations-announced-updating-live-1202804135/|archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Season two of The Morning Show was set to premiere in 2020 before a production shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite instagram|user=reesewitherspoon|last=Witherspoon|first=Reese|postid=B6TX22WAPYn|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TX22WAPYn/|title=This was our very last day of shooting @themorningshow. There are not enough hugs, heart emojis or words to express how much I cherish…|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2020}} The first two episodes were in the final stages of being shot before the production shutdown. During the shutdown, scripts were rewritten to reflect the pandemic. Production on season two of The Morning Show restarted on October 19, 2020, and premiered on Apple TV in September 2021.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Here's When the Next Episode of "The Morning Show" Will Air |url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a37679305/the-morning-show-episode-schedule/ |access-date=March 29, 2022 |website=Oprah Daily |language=en-us |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329145654/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a37679305/the-morning-show-episode-schedule/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=October 5, 2020|title='The Morning Show' To Resume Production On Season 2 With Steve Carell Returning To Apple Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-morning-show-resume-production-season-2-steve-carell-returning-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-apple-1234590639/|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005183649/https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-morning-show-resume-production-season-2-steve-carell-returning-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-apple-1234590639/|url-status=dead}} Witherspoon also serves as an executive producer for the Apple TV+ series Truth Be Told starring Octavia Spencer which premiered in December 2019; it was renewed for a second season in March 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/are-you-sleeping-drama-octavia-spencer-star-apple-series-order-reese-witherspoon-peter-chernin-1202381254/|title='Are You Sleeping' Drama Starring Octavia Spencer Gets Apple Series Order; Reese Witherspoon & Peter Chernin Producing|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=May 2, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710161959/https://deadline.com/2018/05/are-you-sleeping-drama-octavia-spencer-star-apple-series-order-reese-witherspoon-peter-chernin-1202381254/|archive-date=July 10, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/11/apple-premieres-truth-be-told-coming-to-apple-tv-plus-december-6/|title=Apple premieres "Truth Be Told," coming to Apple TV+ December 6|website=Apple Inc|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204132118/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/11/apple-premieres-truth-be-told-coming-to-apple-tv-plus-december-6/|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/truth-be-told-drama-renewed-season-2-apple-octavcia-spencer-1202875541/|title='Truth Be Told' Drama Renewed For Season 2 By Apple|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=March 5, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408030329/https://deadline.com/2020/03/truth-be-told-drama-renewed-season-2-apple-octavcia-spencer-1202875541/|archive-date=April 8, 2020|url-status=live}}
In 2020, Witherspoon produced and starred in the Hulu drama miniseries Little Fires Everywhere opposite Kerry Washington, the televised adaptation of Celeste Ng's 2017 novel of the same name.{{Cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/reese-witherspoon-kerry-washington-star-produce-little-fires-everywhere-limited-tv-series-liz-tigelaar-abc-signature-1202308265/|title=Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington To Star In & Produce Limited TV Series Based On 'Little Fires Everywhere' Book|date=March 2, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140447/https://deadline.com/2018/03/reese-witherspoon-kerry-washington-star-produce-little-fires-everywhere-limited-tv-series-liz-tigelaar-abc-signature-1202308265/|archive-date=June 19, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/hulu-little-fires-everywhere-reese-witherspoon-kerry-washington-teaser-premiere-date-video/|title=Hulu's 'Little Fires Everywhere' Gets Fiery Teaser, March Premiere Date (Video)|last=Nakamura|first=Reid|date=December 13, 2019|website=The Wrap|access-date=December 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214033249/https://www.thewrap.com/hulu-little-fires-everywhere-reese-witherspoon-kerry-washington-teaser-premiere-date-video/|archive-date=December 14, 2019|url-status=live}} In that same year, Witherspoon narrated the Quibi nature documentary series Fierce Queens which focuses on female animals in the animal kingdom.{{Cite web|title=Quibi, BBC Studios and Reese Witherspoon Release Feisty Trailer for 'Fierce Queens' on International Women's Day|url=https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/quibi-bbc-studios-and-reese-witherspoon-release-feisty-trailer-for-fierce-queens-on-international-womens-day/|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=www.bbcstudios.com|archive-date=March 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309155628/https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/quibi-bbc-studios-and-reese-witherspoon-release-feisty-trailer-for-fierce-queens-on-international-womens-day/|url-status=dead}}
In 2023, Witherspoon executive produced, with Kacey Musgraves, the country music competition show, My Kind of Country.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/reese-witherspoon-kacey-musgraves-my-kind-of-country-1234661051/ | title=Reese Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves Recruit Nashville Stars for 'My Kind of Country' Competition Series | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=January 13, 2023 }} She starred opposite Ashton Kutcher in the romantic comedy Your Place or Mine, which released on Netflix.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 24, 2022 |title='Your Place Or Mine': Reese Witherspoon & Ashton Kutcher Unveil Release Date For Netflix Rom-Com – Watch The Promo |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/reese-witherspoon-ashton-kutcher-your-place-or-mine-release-date-1235126347/ |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=Deadline}} In 2025, she starred in and produced the romantic comedy You're Cordially Invited for Amazon Prime Video.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/amazon-will-ferrell-reese-witherspoon-youre-cordially-invited-geraldine-viswanathan-meredith-hagner-1235328467|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 17, 2023|access-date=April 19, 2023|title=Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon Amazon Studios Wedding Comedy 'You're Cordially Invited' Adds Geraldine Viswanathan & Meredith Hagner|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418224435/https://deadline.com/2023/04/amazon-will-ferrell-reese-witherspoon-youre-cordially-invited-geraldine-viswanathan-meredith-hagner-1235328467/|url-status=dead}}
Other ventures
=Business and philanthropy=
File:Reese Witherspoon 2009.jpg in 2009]]
Witherspoon owned a production company called Type A Films, which the media believed was named after a nickname from her childhood, "Little Miss Type A".{{cite news|date=February 13, 2006 |author=Hancock, Tiffany |title=Fashion victim: Reese Witherspoon |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2006/02/13/efvictim11.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203034324/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Ffashion%2F2006%2F02%2F13%2Fefvictim11.xml |archive-date=December 3, 2007 |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead }} However, when asked about the company by Interview magazine, she clarified the name's origin: "... people think I named it after myself... It was actually an in-joke with my family because at [age] 7 I understood complicated medical terms, such as the difference between type A and type B personalities. But I just wished I'd named the company Dogfood Films or Fork or something. You carry that baggage all your life." In March 2012, Witherspoon merged Type A Films with Bruna Papandrea's "Make Movies" banner to form a new production company called Pacific Standard.{{cite news|date=March 18, 2012 |author=Borys Kit |title=Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Panadrea Merge Production Companies to Create Pacific Standard |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-papandrea-pacific-standard-297776 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430153822/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-papandrea-pacific-standard-297776 |archive-date=April 30, 2012}} In 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea parted ways, and Witherspoon gained full control of the company.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/reese-witherspoon-bruna-papandrea-split-pacific-standard-gone-girl-1201812345/ |title='Gone Girl' Producers Reese Witherspoon & Bruna Papandrea Parting |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |date=September 1, 2016 |access-date=December 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125170027/http://deadline.com/2016/09/reese-witherspoon-bruna-papandrea-split-pacific-standard-gone-girl-1201812345/ |archive-date=November 25, 2016 }} Pacific Standard has since become a subsidiary of Hello Sunshine, a firm co-owned by Witherspoon and Otter Media, focused on telling female-oriented stories through film, television and digital channels.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/|title=Reese Witherspoon, Otter Media Pact For New Company Hello Sunshine|last=Busch|first=Anita|date=November 21, 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221175102/http://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/|archive-date=December 21, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=January 15, 2017}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116170515/https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/ |date=January 16, 2017 }} Witherspoon also runs the Hello Sunshine book club, where she makes book recommendations.{{Cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon Really Wants You To Be Her Librarian|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-book-club-librarian/|last=Marine|first=Brooke|date=January 30, 2020|website=W Magazine |language=en-US|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806181105/https://www.wmagazine.com/story/reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-book-club-librarian/|url-status=dead}}
In May 2015, Witherspoon launched Draper James, a retail brand focusing on fashion and home décor inspired by the American South. It is named after her grandparents, Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon, who are said to be her greatest influences. Some of the products are being manufactured and designed in-house, and the brand was launched online before opening its first retail outlet in 2015 in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-launches-draper-james-lifestyle-brand/ |title=Reese Witherspoon launches Draper James lifestyle brand |work=CBS News |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507064020/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-launches-draper-james-lifestyle-brand/ |archive-date=May 7, 2015}} In March 2017, Witherspoon became the chief storyteller for Elizabeth Arden, Inc., helping the company to shape the brand's narrative through advertising campaigns and marketing programs. Witherspoon stated that she was "excited to work as a creative partner alongside the Elizabeth Arden team, producing content that celebrates the spirit of the brand, highlighting female-centric stories that illustrate women's true life experiences which unite us all".{{cite web |author=Elizabeth Arden Inc. |title=Elizabeth Arden Signs Reese Witherspoon As Storyteller-in-Chief |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elizabeth-arden-signs-reese-witherspoon-as-storyteller-in-chief-300431900.html |website=PR Newswire |date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330174459/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elizabeth-arden-signs-reese-witherspoon-as-storyteller-in-chief-300431900.html |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}
Witherspoon is involved in children and women's rights advocacy. She is a longtime supporter of Save the Children, an organization that helps provide children around the world with education, healthcare and emergency aid. She also serves on the board of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), a child advocacy and research group. In 2006, she was among a group of actresses who went to New Orleans, Louisiana in a CDF project to publicize the needs of Hurricane Katrina victims.{{cite news|title=Witherspoon, Garner Tour New Orleans|author=Plaisance, Stacey|date=May 8, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/08/AR2006050801206.html|access-date=December 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110192530/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/08/AR2006050801206.html|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}} During this trip, she helped open the city's first Freedom School, as she met and talked with the children. Witherspoon later called this an experience that she would never forget.{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon Speaks About Children of Katrina |work=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/MothersDay/story?id=1960165 |date=May 14, 2006 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809012818/http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/MothersDay/story?id=1960165 |archive-date=August 9, 2007 }}
In 2007, Witherspoon made her first move into endorsements, and she signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the first Global Ambassador for cosmetics firm Avon Products.{{cite web| title=Reese Witherspoon, Avon Lady| publisher=Eonline.com| author=Finn, Natalie| date=August 2, 2007| url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=322d0efb-3e13-4c0b-8c9c-1ebca11f45d2| archive-url=https://archive.today/20121228173710/http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=322d0efb-3e13-4c0b-8c9c-1ebca11f45d2| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 28, 2012| access-date=February 1, 2012}}{{cite news|author=Guest, Katy |date=August 5, 2007 |title=Reese Witherspoon: From Hollywood star to Avon lady |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-from-hollywood-star-to-avon-lady-460275.html |access-date=February 1, 2012 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729102632/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-from-hollywood-star-to-avon-lady-460275.html |archive-date=July 29, 2013 }} She acts as a spokeswoman for Avon and serves as the honorary chair of the Avon Foundation, a charitable organization that supports women and focuses on breast cancer research and the prevention of domestic violence.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon heeds Avon call to be spokeswoman |work=Reuters |date=August 2, 2007 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0141828920070802 |access-date=November 11, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228082140/https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0141828920070802 |archive-date=December 28, 2007}}{{cite news|title=Witherspoon to become 'Avon lady' |work=BBC News |date=August 1, 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6927011.stm |access-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429133947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6927011.stm |archive-date=April 29, 2008 }} She is also committed to the development of cosmetic products and making appearances in commercials. Explaining her motives for joining the foundation, she said, "As a woman and a mother I care deeply about the well being of other women and children throughout the world and through the years, I have always looked for opportunities to make a difference."
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Witherspoon announced the "Draper James Loves Teachers" initiative, offering free dresses from the clothing collection to teachers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parents.com/news/reese-witherspoon-is-giving-teachers-free-draper-james-dresses-to-thank-them-for-their-hard-work/|title=Reese Witherspoon Is Giving Teachers Free Draper James Dresses to Thank Them For Their Hard Work|website=Parents|language=EN|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417024948/https://www.parents.com/news/reese-witherspoon-is-giving-teachers-free-draper-james-dresses-to-thank-them-for-their-hard-work/|archive-date=April 17, 2020|url-status=live}}
= Other work =
In 2013, Witherspoon recorded a cover of the classic Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra duet, "Somethin' Stupid" with Michael Bublé for his 2013 album, To Be Loved.{{cite news|date=April 23, 2013 |author=Apple Inc |title=To Be Loved by Michael Bublé |work=iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/to-be-loved/605526405 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513074327/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-be-loved/id605526405 |archive-date=May 13, 2013}} In September 2018, she published her first book, Whiskey in a Teacup, which is a lifestyle publication inspired by her southern upbringing.{{Cite tweet|user=ReeseW|number=991019100162805766|title=Y'all, I'm so excited...My new book, #WhiskeyInATeaCup, is out Sept 18th! 💕 It's all about my secrets to southern living- how I entertain, cook, decorate & even how do my hair. (Yup, it's got my special hot roller technique in it!) Pre-order it here! http://whiskeyinateacupbook.com |access-date=February 29, 2020|first=Reese|last=Witherspoon|date=April 30, 2018}} In 2018, she joined approximately 300 other actors, agents, writers and entertainment employees in creating the Time's Up initiative, which seeks to counteract sexual harassment in the workplace.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/movies/times-up-hollywood-women-sexual-harassment.html|title=Powerful Hollywood Women Unveil Anti-Harassment Action Plan|last=Buckley|first=Cara|date=January 1, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 15, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101112920/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/movies/times-up-hollywood-women-sexual-harassment.html|archive-date=January 1, 2018|url-status=live}}
In 2017, Witherspoon started Reese's Book Club.{{Cite web |title=Reese's Book Club |url=https://reesesbookclub.com/ |access-date=March 5, 2022 |website=Reese’s Book Club |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301192059/https://reesesbookclub.com/ |url-status=dead }} The club was born out of her Instagram account, where she posted photos of books she read. Each month she picks books she loves with a woman at the center of the story, with variety of genres, from women's fiction to thrillers to romance. Since 2017, the club's most influential pick has been Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Chosen for the club in September 2018, it was adapted into a 2022 feature film by Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, and was a box office hit that summer.{{Cite news |last=Alter |first=Alexandra |date=December 21, 2019 |title=The Long Tail of 'Where the Crawdads Sing' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/books/where-the-crawdads-sing-delia-owens.html |access-date=March 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}
Public image
File:Reese Witherspoon (29144489784).jpg]]
Witherspoon hosted Saturday Night Live on September 29, 2001, the first episode to air after the September 11 attacks.{{cite web |title=Saturday Night Live Preps 'Emotional' Premiere |publisher=ABC News |date=September 27, 2001 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102195&page=1 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423155106/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102195&page=1 |archive-date=April 23, 2009 }} In 2005, she was ranked No. 5 in Teen People magazine's list of most powerful young Hollywood actors.{{cite news|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 6, 2005 |title=Kutcher tops list of young, powerful |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050806/news_1c06stars.html |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119043414/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050806/news_1c06stars.html |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }} In 2006, she was listed among the Time 100.{{cite magazine |title=The people who shape our world |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/ |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502231929/http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/ |archive-date=May 2, 2006 }} Her featured article was written by Luke Wilson.{{cite magazine |title=Reese Witherspoon |author=Wilson, Luke |date=April 30, 2006 |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187328,00.html |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022043835/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1187328%2C00.html |archive-date=October 22, 2007 }} That year, she was selected one of the "100 Sexiest Women In The World" by the readers of FHM.{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Sexiest Women In The World 2006 |magazine=FHM |url=http://www.fhm.com/site/content/article.aspx?ID=15886 |access-date=November 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022070934/http://www.fhm.com/site/content/article.aspx?ID=15886 |archive-date=October 22, 2007 }} Witherspoon has been featured four times in the annual "100 Most Beautiful" issues of People magazine.{{cite news|title=Facts about People's most beautiful list |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf |work=CBS News |access-date=December 28, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227002153/http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2008}} She has appeared on the annual Celebrity 100 list by Forbes magazine in 2006 and 2007, at No. 75 and No. 80, respectively.{{cite news|title=2006:The Celebrity 100 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/home/celebrities/2006/06/12/06celebrities_money-power-celebrities-list_land.html |access-date=November 21, 2007 |date=June 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211081422/http://www.forbes.com/home/celebrities/2006/06/12/06celebrities_money-power-celebrities-list_land.html |archive-date=December 11, 2007}}{{cite news|title=2007:The Celebrity 100 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100_Rank_4.html |access-date=November 21, 2007 |date=June 14, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115180511/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100_Rank_4.html |archive-date=November 15, 2007}} Forbes also put her on the top ten Trustworthy Celebrities list.{{cite news|author=Rose, Lacey|title=The Ten Most Trustworthy Celebrities|url=https://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/09/25/trust-celebrity-politicians-tech_cx_lr_06trust_0925celeb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201040724/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/09/25/trust-celebrity-politicians-tech_cx_lr_06trust_0925celeb.html|archive-date=December 1, 2007|work=Forbes|date=September 25, 2006|access-date=November 21, 2007}}
In 2007, she was selected by People and the entertainment news program Access Hollywood as one of the year's best-dressed female stars.{{cite news |date=September 12, 2007 |title=People: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon Among Best-Dressed |work=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/people-beyonce-jennifer-lopez-reese-witherspoon-among-best-dressed |access-date=November 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223163534/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C296596%2C00.html |archive-date=December 23, 2007 }}{{cite web |title=Access Hollywood's Best Dressed Stars Of 2007 |publisher=Access Hollywood |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/access-hollywoods-best-dressed-stars-of-2007_article_7853 |date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729111506/http://www.accesshollywood.com/access-hollywoods-best-dressed-stars-of-2007_article_7853 |archive-date=July 29, 2013 }} The yellow dress she wore to that year's Golden Globe Awards was widely acclaimed.{{cite book|last=Rubenstein|first=Hal|title=100 Unforgettable Dresses|publisher=Harper Design |location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-219888-4|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KvzSrWl5QP0C&q=%22Reese+Witherspoon%22+Theyskens&pg=PT243|chapter=The "Ryan Who?" Dress|date=March 6, 2012}} A study conducted by E-Poll Market Research showed that Witherspoon was the most likable female celebrity of 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0432014220080104?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews |title=Reese Witherspoon tops list of most-liked celebs |work=Reuters |access-date=January 5, 2008 |date=January 4, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112114558/https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0432014220080104?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews |archive-date=January 12, 2008}} That same year, she established herself as the highest-paid actress in the American film industry, earning $15 to $20 million per film.{{cite news|title=A testing time for Reese Witherspoon |date=October 7, 2007 |author=Goodwin, Christopher |work=The Times |location=UK |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2582742.ece |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908053142/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2582742.ece |archive-date=September 8, 2008}}{{cite news|title=Witherspoon is Hollywood's highest-paid actress |author=Grabicki, Michelle |date=November 30, 2007 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN3030609020071130 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202073307/https://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN3030609020071130 |archive-date=December 2, 2007}} The following years, her appearance in many commercially unsuccessful films caused her to lose this status, and she was noted as one of the most overpaid actors in Hollywood in 2011, 2012 and 2013.{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-04/news/30361703_1_box-office-adam-sandler-vince-vaughn |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130110354/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-04/news/30361703_1_box-office-adam-sandler-vince-vaughn |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title=Drew Barrymore, Eddie Murphy named Hollywood's most overpaid actors by Forbes – NY Daily News |publisher=Articles.nydailynews.com |date=November 4, 2011 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |location=New York}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2012/12/04/eddie-murphy-is-the-most-overpaid-actor-in-hollywood/ |title=Eddie Murphy Tops Our List Of The Most Overpaid Actors In Hollywood |magazine=Forbes |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |first=Dorothy |last=Pomerantz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420220804/http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2012/12/04/eddie-murphy-is-the-most-overpaid-actor-in-hollywood/ |archive-date=April 20, 2013 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/12/09/adam-sandler-tops-our-list-of-the-most-overpaid-actors/ |title=Adam Sandler Tops Forbes' 2013 List Of The Most Overpaid Actors |magazine=Forbes |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |first=Dorothy |last=Pomerantz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210095448/http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/12/09/adam-sandler-tops-our-list-of-the-most-overpaid-actors/ |archive-date=December 10, 2013 }} In April 2011, she ranked No. 3 on the 22nd annual People's Most Beautiful issue.{{cite magazine |title=People's Most Beautiful 2011 – Reese Witherspoon |url=https://people.com/celebrity/peoples-most-beautiful-2011-jennifer-lopez/ |magazine=People |date=April 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808170942/http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0%2C%2C20360857_20481337%2C00.html |archive-date=August 8, 2011 }} {{Cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20360857_20481337,00.html |title=PEOPLE's Most Beautiful 2011: Jennifer Lopez |access-date=August 11, 2011 |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827035401/http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20360857_20481337,00.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}
In June 2013, Witherspoon filed a lawsuit against Marketing Advantages International Inc., claiming they extensively used her name and image in jewelry advertising without permission in the U.S. and internationally. In December 2015, Witherspoon's trademark claims to her name were rejected on the grounds that she had not established secondary meaning to her full name, did not claim "emotional distress", and that the "photos and facts were generally known by the public and the photos were taken in public with Plaintiff's consent". However, the court ruled that she could proceed with her right of publicity claims against many defendants.{{cite news|title=Judge Leans Against "Reese Witherspoon" as a Protectable Slogan |author=Gardner, Eriq |date=November 24, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-leans-reese-witherspoon-as-843541 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201231009/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-leans-reese-witherspoon-as-843541 |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Wins Round In Publicity Rights Battle |author=Eslinger, Bonnie |date=December 1, 2015 |work=Law360 |url=http://www.law360.com/articles/732731/reese-witherspoon-wins-round-in-publicity-rights-battle |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201005729/http://www.law360.com/articles/732731/reese-witherspoon-wins-round-in-publicity-rights-battle |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}{{cite news|title=L.A. Court Allows Reese Witherspoon to Proceed with Right of Publicity Claim Against Jeweler|author1-link=Jennifer E. Rothman |author=Rothman, Jennifer E. |date=December 2, 2015 |work=Rothman's RoadMap To The Right Of Publicity |url=http://www.rightofpublicityroadmap.com/news-commentary/revised-la-court-allows-reese-witherspoon-proceed-right-publicity-claim-against |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131230042/http://www.rightofpublicityroadmap.com/news-commentary/revised-la-court-allows-reese-witherspoon-proceed-right-publicity-claim-against |archive-date=January 31, 2016}} Two months later, she withdrew her lawsuit, having "come to private agreements with the various defendants, including Centerbrook Sales, Fragrance Hut, Gemvara, and others".{{cite news|title=Hollywood Docket: Reese Witherspoon Settles Imitation Jewelry Lawsuit |author=Eriq, Gardner |date=February 16, 2016 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-reese-witherspoon-settles-866160 |access-date=March 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221105529/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-reese-witherspoon-settles-866160 |archive-date=February 21, 2016}} In October 2017, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, Witherspoon revealed that she had been sexually assaulted at age 16 by a director and had had "multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault" throughout her career.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Reveals She Was Assaulted by a Director at 16|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a13032565/reese-witherspoon-assaulted-by-director/|access-date=October 18, 2017|work=Elle|date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018000329/http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a13032565/reese-witherspoon-assaulted-by-director/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}
In 2015, Witherspoon made her second appearance on the Time 100 list, with her featured article written by Mindy Kaling.{{cite magazine |title=Reese Witherspoon |author=Kaling, Mindy |date=April 16, 2015 |magazine=Time |url=http://time.com/3822959/reese-witherspoon-2015-time-100/ |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125064435/http://time.com/3822959/reese-witherspoon-2015-time-100/ |archive-date=January 25, 2016 }} That year, she was awarded, by the committee's unanimous vote, the American Cinematheque for being "a perfect example of an actress flourishing in today's world" and "an active and successful movie producer who is moving her career forward both behind and in front of the camera".{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon To Get 2015 American Cinematheque Award |author=Lincoln, Ross A. |date=July 23, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/american-cinematheque-gives-lifetime-achievement-to-reese-witherspoon-1201483980/ |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228223149/http://deadline.com/2015/07/american-cinematheque-gives-lifetime-achievement-to-reese-witherspoon-1201483980/ |archive-date=December 28, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon to be Honored by American Cinematheque |author=Kilday, Gregg |date=July 23, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-american-cinematheque-honoree-810744 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202031553/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-american-cinematheque-honoree-810744 |archive-date=February 2, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Carries Torch For Women At American Cinematheque Tribute; Katzenberg Receives Sid Grauman Award |author=D'Alessandro, Anthony |date=October 30, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/reese-witherspoon-jeffrey-katzenberg-american-cinematheque-2015-awards-show-1201599982/ |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107161921/http://deadline.com/2015/10/reese-witherspoon-jeffrey-katzenberg-american-cinematheque-2015-awards-show-1201599982/ |archive-date=January 7, 2016}} In 2017, Forbes reported her career earnings were in excess of $198 million, making her the highest-paid primetime Emmy nominee in 2017.{{cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon's $198 Million-Plus Career Earnings Make Her The Top-Paid Primetime Emmy Nominee|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/09/15/reese-witherspoons-198-million-plus-career-earnings-make-her-the-top-paid-primetime-emmy-nominee/#928ebd27d7e6|last1=Berg|first1=Madeline|date=September 15, 2017|work=Forbes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181546/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/09/15/reese-witherspoons-198-million-plus-career-earnings-make-her-the-top-paid-primetime-emmy-nominee/#928ebd27d7e6|archive-date=June 20, 2018|access-date=June 20, 2018}} In 2019, Forbes listed her among the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.{{cite web|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women 2019|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|work=Forbes|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920073036/https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}
Personal life
= Relationships and family =
Witherspoon met actor Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday party in March 1997.{{cite news|author=de Kretser, Leela |date=October 31, 2006 |title=Split end for a 'Legal blonde' |work=New York Post |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/split_end_for_legal_blonde_reese_K11HV63Mz7ztl6xhfix2hL |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801150410/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/split_end_for_legal_blonde_reese_K11HV63Mz7ztl6xhfix2hL |archive-date=August 1, 2013}} They became engaged in December 1998{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe separate|work=USA Today|author=Thomas, Karen|date=November 8, 2006|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-30-witherspoon_x.htm|access-date=November 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209225924/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-30-witherspoon_x.htm|archive-date=February 9, 2008|url-status=live}} and married on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation in Hollywood, South Carolina.{{cite news|url=http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/witherspoon.htm |title=Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Marriage Profile |author=Sheri & Bob Stritof |publisher=About.com |access-date=July 2, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719101712/http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/witherspoon.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2008}}{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Frankel |title=Witherspoon. Phillippe. Married |url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=ab83c281-64be-477e-b585-ad632ddde656&entry=index |publisher=E! News |date=June 8, 1999 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616055414/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=ab83c281-64be-477e-b585-ad632ddde656&entry=index |archive-date=June 16, 2012 }} They have two children together, daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born on September 9, 1999;{{Cite web |url= https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippes-birthday-messages-to-daughter-ava-w502126/ |title= Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's Sweet 18th Birthday Messages to Daughter Ava |date= September 9, 2017 |access-date= April 11, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145935/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippes-birthday-messages-to-daughter-ava-w502126/amp/ |archive-date= April 12, 2018 |url-status= live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Colacello |first1=Bob |title=Inside Paris's 25th Annual le Bal des Débutantes |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/le-bal-des-debutantes-paris |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006182315/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/le-bal-des-debutantes-paris |url-status=dead }} and son Deacon Reese Phillippe, born on October 23, 2003.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon gives birth |work=CNN|date=October 29, 2003 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/29/ple.witherspoon.reut/ |access-date=November 10, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206121706/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/29/ple.witherspoon.reut/ |archive-date=December 6, 2007}} On October 30, 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced their separation.{{cite news|url= https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippe-split/|title=Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe Split |work=People |date=October 30, 2006 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222221758/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C1552282%2C00.html |archive-date=December 22, 2014}} She filed for divorce on November 8, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.{{cite web | title=Reese Files Divorce Petition | work=Court Documents TMZ | date=November 9, 2006 | url=https://www.tmz.com/2006/11/08/reese-files-divorce-petition/ | access-date=August 22, 2007 | archive-date=October 11, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011130459/http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/08/reese-files-divorce-petition/ | url-status=live }} Phillippe also reportedly had an affair with actress Abbie Cornish.{{Cite web |last=Proudfoot |first=Jenny |date=2023-08-07 |title=Why did Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe break up? |url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/culture/people/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippe-break-up |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Marie Claire UK |language=en}} They released a joint statement through People saying that they were "saddened" by the divorce but "remained[ed] committed to their family."{{Cite web |date=2006-10-30 |title=Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe Split |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippe-split/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=People |language=en}} In light of their lack of a prenuptial agreement, she requested that the court refuse to grant spousal support to Phillippe and asked for joint legal custody and sole physical custody of their two children. Phillippe filed for joint physical custody on May 15, 2007, and did not seek any spousal support.{{cite web | title=Ryan Phillippe Seeks Joint Custody of Kids | work=People | url=https://people.com/celebrity/ryan-phillippe-seeks-joint-custody-of-kids/ | access-date=August 22, 2007 | archive-date=August 29, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829113825/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20039433,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines | url-status=live }} The marriage officially ended on October 5, 2007, with final divorce arrangements settled on June 13, 2008, according to court documents. Phillippe and Witherspoon shared joint custody of their children.{{cite news| url = http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20151566,00.html| title = Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Legally Free to Wed Others| access-date = October 11, 2007| archive-date = October 11, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011192135/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20151566,00.html| url-status = dead}}
In March 2007, Witherspoon began dating her Rendition co-star Jake Gyllenhaal. They split in 2009 because, according to multiple sources, their relationship did not leave Witherspoon enough time to care for her children.{{Cite web |last=Huus |first=Kari |date=2010-03-30 |title=Witherspoon and Gyllenhaal reportedly split |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36107516 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon & Jake Gyllenhaal Get Close|work=People|date=April 5, 2007|url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoon-jake-gyllenhaal-get-close/|access-date=July 29, 2017|last1=Thomson|first1=Katherine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607150815/https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoon-jake-gyllenhaal-get-close/|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Ulrica|last1=Wihlborg|first2=Stephen M.|last2=Silverman|title=Reps Claim Jake and Reese Are Still Together|url=https://people.com/celebrity/reps-claim-jake-and-reese-are-still-together/|date=November 29, 2009|access-date=February 29, 2020|work=People|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301025944/https://people.com/celebrity/reps-claim-jake-and-reese-are-still-together/|archive-date=March 1, 2020|url-status=live}} In February 2010, she was reported to be dating Jim Toth,{{cite news|title=Is Reese Witherspoon Dating Again? |url= https://people.com/celebrity/is-reese-witherspoon-dating-again/|work=People |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=February 29, 2020|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083449/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20341347%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Date Night |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoons-date-night/|work=People |date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=February 29, 2020|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083413/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20346918%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Birthday Getaway with Jim Toth |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoons-birthday-getaway-with-jim-toth/ |work=People |date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083625/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20353537%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2010}} a talent agent and co-head of motion picture talent at Creative Artists Agency, where she is a client.{{cite magazine |first=Nikki |last=Finke |url=https://deadline.com/2010/09/new-heads-of-caas-mp-talent-department-68866/ |title=New Heads Of CAA's MP Talent Department |magazine=People |date=September 21, 2010 |access-date=December 8, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125055235/http://www.deadline.com/2010/09/new-heads-of-caas-mp-talent-department/ |archive-date=November 25, 2010 }} They announced their engagement that December,{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth Engaged! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-engaged-20102812 |work=Us Weekly |date=December 28, 2010 |access-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230215752/http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-engaged-20102812 |archive-date=December 30, 2010}} and married on March 26, 2011, in Ojai, California, at Libbey Ranch,{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Wedding on Saturday |url=https://extratv.com/2011/03/25/reese-witherspoon-wedding-on-saturday/|work=Extra |date=March 25, 2011 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428235038/http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/03/reese_witherspoon_wedding_on_saturday.php |archive-date=April 28, 2011 }} Witherspoon's country estate, which she later sold.{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Weds Jim Toth! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-weds-jim-toth-2011263 |work=Us Weekly |date=March 26, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430015006/http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-weds-jim-toth-2011263 |archive-date=April 30, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Jennifer |last=Chan |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/480296/reese-witherspoon-sells-ojai-home-for-5-9-million-see-rob-pattinson-s-post-breakup-hideout |title=Reese Witherspoon Sells Ojai Home for $5.9 Million: See Robert Pattinson's Post-Breakup Hideout |publisher=E! News |date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906015822/http://ca.eonline.com/news/480296/reese-witherspoon-sells-ojai-home-for-5-9-million-see-rob-pattinson-s-post-breakup-hideout |archive-date=September 6, 2014 }} They have a son together, Tennessee James Toth, born on September 27, 2012.{{cite magazine |first=Julie |last=Jordan |url=https://people.com/parents/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-welcome-son-tennessee-james/ |title=Reese Witherspoon Welcomes Son Tennessee James |magazine=People |date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928183748/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/09/27/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-welcome-son-tennessee-james/ |archive-date=September 28, 2012 }} Toth also helped co-parent Ava and Deacon.{{Cite web |title=The Possible Reason Behind Reese Witherspoon's Marriage Breakdown |url=https://graziamagazine.com/articles/reese-witherspoon-divorce/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Grazia |language=en-US}} On April 19, 2013, Witherspoon was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after Toth was stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence. She pleaded no-contest to obstruction of an officer and was required to pay court costs.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/414232/reese-witherspoon-arrest-actress-will-pay-fine-for-obstruction-hubby-jim-toth-pleads-guilty-for-dui|title=Reese Will Pay Fine, Toth Pleads Guilty to DUI|date=May 2, 2013|publisher=E! News|access-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504193943/http://www.eonline.com/news/414232/reese-witherspoon-arrest-actress-will-pay-fine-for-obstruction-hubby-jim-toth-pleads-guilty-for-dui|archive-date=May 4, 2013|url-status=live}} In March 2023, Witherspoon and Toth announced their divorce after 11 years of marriage.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/reese-witherspoon-husband-jim-toth-announce-divorce/|title=Reese Witherspoon and Husband Jim Toth Announce 'Difficult Decision' to Divorce After 11 Years of Marriage|work=People|date=March 24, 2023|last=VanHoose|first=Benjamin}} The couple released a joint statement on Witherspoon's Instagram account.{{cite instagram|user=reesewitherspoon|last=Witherspoon|first=Reese|date=March 25, 2023|postid=CqLzAB_vgc-|publisher=Instagram|title=We have some personal news to share...}} The announcement was made a few days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-divorce-1de6311704fe017baef1175d5ff41419|title=Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth announce plans to divorce|date=March 25, 2023|publisher=AP News|access-date=March 26, 2023}} Witherspoon filed for divorce in April 2023, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason and asking for joint custody of Tennessee.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth settle their divorce 4 months after announcing split |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-divorce-rcna98004 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} They reportedly divorced due to the failure of the streaming platform Quibi (for which Toth worked){{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Kathleen |date=2023-03-31 |title=Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth Divorce Details Have Started to Emerge |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-divorce-details |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}} and Toth having a midlife crisis. Their divorce was finalized on August 3, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth settle their divorce 4 months after announcing split |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-divorce-rcna98004#:~:text=Pop%20Culture-,Reese%20Witherspoon%20and%20Jim%20Toth%20settle%20their%20divorce%204%20months,now%20ex-husband%20Jim%20Toth. |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} During their marriage, Witherspoon and Toth lived together in Los Angeles, California; following the divorce, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Burtt |first=Kristyn |date=2024-07-18 |title=Reese Witherspoon Made a Big Lifestyle Change After Her Divorce From Jim Toth |url=https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/3069321/reese-witherspoon-relocated-nashville-divorce/#:~:text=While%20Clarkson%20and%20Jolie%20moved,Los%20Angeles%20for%20a%20while. |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=SheKnows |language=en-US}}
= Religion =
Witherspoon is a practicing Episcopalian and attends church services twice weekly. Describing her faith, she has stated "I believe deeply that there’s a higher power" and that "I don’t fear death, because I know there’s heaven. I know it."{{cite web | last=Bitsky | first=Leah | title=Why Reese Witherspoon isn't afraid of dying | website=Page Six | date=2020-06-11 | url=https://pagesix.com/2020/06/11/why-reese-witherspoon-isnt-afraid-of-dying/ | access-date=2024-08-05}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=March 2025}}
= Influences =
Witherspoon has cited Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, Holly Hunter, Susan Sarandon, Frances McDormand, Debra Winger, Diane Ladd, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, Sigourney Weaver, Lucille Ball, Carole Lombard, Judy Holliday, Gena Rowlands, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, and Michael Keaton as influences on her acting career and work.{{cite tweet|user=ReeseW|number=545301099612090368|first=Reese|last=Witherspoon|title=@CherylStrayed A LOT of actresses... Holly Hunter. Frances McDormand. Meryl Streep. Jodie Foster. Gena Rowlands.|date=December 17, 2014|access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite news|date=November 10, 2015|title=Video: Who Influences Reese Witherspoon?|work=NewYou|url=http://www.newyou.com/celebrity/video-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-women/|url-status=live|access-date=March 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314073653/http://www.newyou.com/celebrity/video-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-women/|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Women in Entertainment Power 100: The Stars|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 9, 2015|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-power-100-stars-846755|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011190329/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-power-100-stars-846755|archive-date=October 11, 2016|access-date=December 25, 2016}}{{cite instagram|user=reesewitherspoon|last=Witherspoon|first=Reese|postid=xKJhrfChdb|date=December 28, 2014|title=If you've got time tonight....at 7PM on PBS #ActorsOnActors...watch me chat with one of my idols #MichaelKeaton.|url=https://instagram.com/p/xKJhrfChdb/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921142805/https://www.instagram.com/p/xKJhrfChdb/|archive-date=September 21, 2016|access-date=February 29, 2020|publisher=Instagram}} Her favorite films include Splendor in the Grass, Waiting for Guffman, Broadcast News, Raising Arizona, and Overboard.{{cite news|date=February 17, 2015|title=The Movie That Had the Biggest Influence on Reese Witherspoon|work=ABC|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/movie-biggest-influence-reese-witherspoon/story?id=28895665|url-status=live|access-date=March 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314103633/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/movie-biggest-influence-reese-witherspoon/story?id=28895665|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Witherspoon|first1=Reese|title=Reese Witherspoon on Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/ReeseWitherspoon/videos/1064604926992476/|access-date=March 30, 2017|website=Facebook|quote=at 21:37 mark|archive-date=October 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005191155/https://www.facebook.com/ReeseWitherspoon/videos/1064604926992476/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|date=February 15, 2012|title=Reese Witherspoon Loves Pinterest & Jennifer Aniston – CONAN on TBS|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezcs_QORcFE|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813134044/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezcs_QORcFE|archive-date=August 13, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2018|via=YouTube}}
Filmography and accolades
{{Main|Reese Witherspoon filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Reese Witherspoon}}
Witherspoon's most acclaimed and highest-grossing films, according to the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, include Election (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), Walk the Line (2005), Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), Mud (2013), Wild (2014), and Sing (2016).{{Cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/reese_witherspoon|website=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429014722/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/reese_witherspoon|archive-date=April 29, 2020|url-status=live}} Witherspoon has been nominated for two Academy Awards, nine Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG Awards), and two British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as June Carter in the film Walk the Line (2005). In 2010, Witherspoon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/reese-witherspoon/|title=Reese Witherspoon|work=Hollywood Walk of Fame|date=December 1, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609061752/https://walkoffame.com/reese-witherspoon/|url-status=dead}}
Written works
- {{Cite book|title=Whiskey in a Teacup|last=Witherspoon|first=Reese|publisher=Touchstone|year=2018|isbn=978-1501166273}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project links|d=Q44063|q=Reese Witherspoon|c=Reese Witherspoon|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
- [https://www.draperjames.com/ Draper James]
- {{IMDb name|702}}
{{Reese Witherspoon}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Reese Witherspoon
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActress 2001-2020}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Actress 2000-2019}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureMusicalComedy 2001–2020}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actress Motion Picture}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleLeadMotionPicture 2001–2020}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress}}
}}
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