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Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born
March 22, 1976), better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an
American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her
first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in
the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television
acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower. In 1996,
Witherspoon appeared in Freeway and followed that appearance
with roles in three major 1998 films: Overnight Delivery,
Pleasantville, and Twilight. The following year, Witherspoon
appeared in the critically acclaimed Election, which earned
her a Golden Globe nomination.
2001 marked her career's turning point with the breakout role
as "Elle Woods" in the box office hit Legally Blonde, and in
2002 she starred in Sweet Home Alabama, which became her
biggest commercial film success to date. 2003 saw her return
as lead actress and executive producer of Legally Blonde 2:
Red, White & Blonde. In 2005, Witherspoon received worldwide
attention and praise for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in
Walk the Line, which earned her an Academy Award, Golden
Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress
in a Leading Role.
Witherspoon married actor and Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan
Phillippe in 1999; they have two children, Ava and Deacon. The
couple separated at the end of 2006 and divorced in October
2007. Witherspoon married her second husband, talent agent Jim
Toth, in 2011. Witherspoon owns a production company, Type A
Films, and she is actively 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.
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