Reese Witherspoon is an American actress, producer, and entrepreneur. She is the recipient of several awards, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.
Her breakthrough role was playing Elle Woods in the 2001 comedy film Legally Blonde. For her performance as Elle Woods, Witherspoon received her second Golden Globe nomination. In 2002, Witherspoon starred in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama, which became her biggest live-action commercial success. In 2005, she portrayed June Carter in Walk the Line, which earned her the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics Choice Award for Best Actress.
She has also starred in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), Water for Elephants (2011), and Sing (2016). Witherspoon earned a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Cheryl Strayed in Wild. 2017, she co-produced and starred in the HBO drama series Big Little Lies, for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie and Outstanding Limited Series, winning the latter as a producer.
In addition to her acting career, Witherspoon owns a production company Hello Sunshine, a clothing company Draper James, and she is actively involved in children’s and women’s advocacy organizations. She also 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.
Witherspoon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.