Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon’s curvy body and bubbly blond demeanor have made many critics overlook this talented actress, assuming she was attempting to coast on her looks. But a careful look back at her career reveals an actress unafraid to try unusual roles in movies aimed at a higher-brow crowd than the typical Hollywood fare. Reese Witherspoon was born March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, making her a relative youngster when in 1993 she began her breakout, appearing in the challenging role of Nonni in A Far Off Place, which had her trekking over sand dunes as a survivor of a massacre.

The same year Reese Witherspoon worked with big-personality actors Danny DeVito and Gary Sinise—as well as the immensely talented Julia Louis-Dreyfuss—in the complicated family comedy Jack the Bear. Over the next few years Reese Witherspoon was involved in critically noted, but not popularly successful films such as S.F.W. and Fear until she hit her stride in 1998 with the blockbuster Pleasantville. She continued with the controversial, highly sexualized, set-in-high-school black comedies Cruel Intentions and Election. In Election she is a foil for the failed high school teacher Matthew Broderick.

In the years to follow, Reese Witherspoon secured her place among the most celebrated current Hollywood actors. She starred in William Thackeray and Oscar Wilde adaptations. She took a role in an Adam Sandler film. She also starred in the very successful Legally Blonde franchise. On top of this she has made guest appearances on “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.” The icing on the cake came when she scored an Oscarâ for her portrayal of June Carter-Cash in 2005’s I Walk the Line. Eager to avoid the post- Oscarâ slump that has plagued so many actresses lately, she is holding to a busy shooting schedule.

Reese Witherspoon briefly studied literature at Stanford and has two children with husband Ryan Phillipe.