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{{short description|American actress (born 1976)}}
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{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Redirect|Laura Witherspoon||Witherspoon (surname)}}
{{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 = ], Louisiana, U.S.
| works = ]
| awards = ]
| signature = Reese Witherspoon Signature.png
| organization = {{unbulleted list
|]
|]
|]
}}
| education = ]
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|producer|entrepreneur}}
| years_active = 1991–present
| spouse = {{unbulleted list
|{{marriage|]|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 ], including an ], a ], and two ]. '']'' magazine named her one of the ] in 2006 and 2015, and '']'' listed her among the ] in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, ''Forbes'' named her the ], and in 2023, she was named one of the richest women in America with an estimated net worth of $440 million.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
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Witherspoon began her career as a teenager, making her screen debut in '']'' (1991). After starring in the 1996 films '']'' and '']'', her breakthrough came in 1999 with a supporting role in '']'', and for her portrayal of ] in the black comedy '']''. She gained wider recognition for playing ] in the comedy '']'' (2001) and its ], and for starring in the romantic comedy '']'' (2002). She won the ] for portraying ] in the musical biopic '']'' (2005). Following a career downturn, during which her sole box-office success was the romantic drama '']'' (2011), Witherspoon made a comeback by producing and starring as ] in the drama '']'' (2014), which earned her a second Academy Award nomination.
== Acting career ==


She has since worked primarily in television, producing and starring in several female-led literary adaptations under her company ]. These include the ] drama series '']'' (2017–2019), the ] drama series '']'' (2019–present), and the ] miniseries '']'' (2020). For the first of these, she won the ]. She has also produced the film adaptations '']'' (2014) and '']'' (2022), and the miniseries adaptation '']'' (2023).
=== 1991–1998: Career beginnings ===
In 1991, Witherspoon attended an open casting call for '']'', intending to audition as a bit player;<ref name="talent" /> she was instead 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. According to The Guardian, her performance made an early impression. <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://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|last=Pulver|first=Andrew|date=2015-01-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-11-07|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> On her performance, ] commented, "Her first kiss is one of the most perfect little scenes I've ever seen in a movie."<ref name="tiscali2" /> For this role, Witherspoon was nominated for the ] Best Young Actress. <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g3391/reese-witherspoon-young-style-evolution/|title=Reese Witherspoon Through the Years|date=2016-03-22|work=Good Housekeeping|access-date=2017-11-07|language=en}}</ref> Later that year, she made her television debut role in '']'' with ].<ref name="movieyahoo" /><ref name="newsindependent" /> In 1992, Witherspoon appeared in the TV movie ''Desperate Choices: To Save My Child'', portraying a critically ill young girl.<ref name="movieyahoo" />


Witherspoon also owns ] and a clothing company, ]. She is involved in children's and women's advocacy organizations. She serves on the board of the ] (CDF) and was named Global Ambassador of ] in 2007, serving as honorary chair of the charitable Avon Foundation dedicated to women's causes.
In 1993, she played a young wife in the ] miniseries '']'', Nonnie Parker in the ] film '']'' and had a minor role in '']'', which garnered her the Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actress Co-star.<ref name="movieyahoo" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000702/awards|title=Reese Witherspoon|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-11-07}}</ref> The next year, Witherspoon had another leading role as Wendy Pfister in the 1994 film '']'', directed by ]. <ref>{{Citation|last=Levy|first=Jefery|title=S.F.W.|date=1995-01-20|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111048/|others=Stephen Dorff, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Busey|accessdate=2017-11-07}}</ref> In 1996, Witherspoon starred in two major films: the thriller '']'' alongside ],<ref name=mtv>{{cite web|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 |author=Vena, Jocelyn |date=December 29, 2010 |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |publisher=MTV |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927185108/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655037/reese-witherspoons-love-life-from-ryan-phillippe-jim-toth.jhtml |archivedate=September 27, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|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|last=Zupkus|first=Lauren|date=2015-01-29|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-11-07|language=en-US}}</ref> as Nicole Walker, a teenage girl who starts dating a man with obsessive tendencies, and the black-comedy thriller '']'', alongside ] and ], where she held the lead role. <ref>{{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=2017-11-07|language=en-US}}</ref> Her character in Freeway, Vanessa Lutz, is a poor girl living in Los Angeles, who encounters a ] on the way to her grandmother's home in ].<ref name="talent" /> The film received positive reviews from the press. Among them was the '']'', with ] commenting, "Witherspoon, who does a Texas accent, is dazzling, utterly believable in one extreme situation after the other."<ref>{{cite news|author=LaSalle, Mick |title=`Freeway's' Wild, Funny Ride |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1996/08/23/DD13791.DTL |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |date=August 23, 1996 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225135130/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1996%2F08%2F23%2FDD13791.DTL |archivedate=December 25, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon's performance won her the Best Actress Award at the ] and helped establish her as a rising star.<ref name="talent" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/reese-witherspoon.html |title=Reese Witherspoon |publisher=] |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108144226/http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/reese-witherspoon.html |archivedate=November 8, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> The making of the film also gave Witherspoon significant acting experience; as she said, "Once I overcame the hurdle of that movie&nbsp;– which scared me to death&nbsp;– I felt like I could try anything."<ref name="commitment" />


==Early life and education ==
In 1998, Witherspoon had major roles in three movies: '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref name="newsindependent" /><ref name="spoonful" /> In ''Pleasantville'', she starred with ] 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 Maquire's character who is mainly concerned about appearances, relationships and popularity. Her performance received good reviews and garnered her the Young Hollywood Award for Best Female Breakthrough Performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/artists/w/Reese-Witherspoon/awards-135363.html |title=Reese Witherspoon Awards |publisher=uk.movies.yahoo.com |accessdate=July 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109022843/http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/artists/w/Reese-Witherspoon/awards-135363.html |archivedate=January 9, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Director ] applauded her efforts saying, "she commits to a character so completely and she understands comedy".<ref name="commitment" />
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Monitor|magazine=]|date=March 22, 2013|issue=1251|page=25}}</ref> at ], in ], ], while her father, John Draper Witherspoon, was a student at ] medical school.<ref name="tulane">{{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}}</ref><ref name="dork" /> Her father was born in ] and served as a lieutenant in the ].<ref name="movieyahoo">{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon biography |publisher=] |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 }}</ref><ref name="That's Reese">{{Cite journal|title = That's Reese: stepping into the ring of fire|last = Slschy|first = Ingrid |date = December 1, 2005|journal = ]|issn = 0149-8932}}</ref> He was in private practice as an ] until 2012.<ref>{{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}}</ref><!---Dr. Witherspoon received her bachelor's in nursing in 1971 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's predecessor the University of Tennessee at Memphis; a master's in nursing from the University of Alabama; and a doctor of education from California Coastal College. ---> Her mother, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (] Reese) Witherspoon, is from ]. She was a professor of nursing at ] and had a PhD in ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref name="tiscali1">{{cite web |author=Wills, Dominic |title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 1) |publisher=] |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 }}</ref>


Reese Witherspoon has claimed descent from Scottish-born ], who signed the ].<ref name="newsindependent">{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> However, this claim has not been verified by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Her parents are still legally married, although they separated in 1996.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/10/showbiz/witherspoon-bigamy-suit/ |title=Reese Witherspoon's parents in bigamy dispute |work=] |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}}</ref>
=== 1999–2000: Rise to prominence ===
In 1999, Witherspoon starred alongside ] in the drama thriller '']''; she played Lissa, a woman who schemes with her lover Nick to escape a small dead-end town.<ref name="movieyahoo" /> Also that year co-starred with ] and Ryan Phillippe in the drama film '']'', a modern take on the 18th-century French novel '']''. '']'' 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."<ref>{{cite news|title=``Dangerous Liaisons' Junior |date=March 5, 1999 |author=Graham, Bob |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/03/05/DD31451.DTL |accessdate=December 6, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121020409/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1999%2F03%2F05%2FDD31451.DTL |archivedate=November 21, 2007 |df= }}</ref> She also appeared in a music video by ] for the film's soundtrack and starred with ] in '']'' which is based on ]'s '']''.<ref name="movieyahoo" /> For her portrayal of ], she received vast critical acclaim and won the Best Actress Award from the ] and the ], a first ] nomination and an ] nomination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon Award |publisher=] |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/awards |accessdate=November 10, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630043657/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018812/awards |archivedate=June 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiritawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SA_Nomswinners.pdf |title=Film Independent Spirit Awards |publisher=] |accessdate=April 10, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422005611/http://www.spiritawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SA_Nomswinners.pdf |archivedate=April 22, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon also received a rank on the list of ''100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time'' by '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |title=100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time |publisher=] |accessdate=July 4, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090604/http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |archivedate=September 29, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Director ] said of her, "She's 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."<ref name="sweethome" />


Witherspoon was raised an ], and has said she is proud of the "definitive ] 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".<ref name="talent" /><ref name="sweethome" /><ref>{{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}}</ref> At age seven, she was selected as a model for a florist's television advertisements, which motivated her to take acting lessons.<ref name="tiscali2">{{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=]|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}}</ref> At age 11, she took first place in the Ten-State Talent Fair.<ref name="tiscali2" /> She received high grades in school,<ref name="tiscali2" /> loved reading, and considered herself "a big dork who read loads of books".<ref name="dork">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="reader's digest">{{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}}</ref> She has been described as a "multi-achiever" and was nicknamed "Little Type A" by her parents.<ref name="ambition">{{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=]|location=London}}</ref><ref name="fashion">{{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=]|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}}</ref> She attended middle school at ] and graduated from the all-girls' ] in Nashville, during which time she was a ].<ref name="page1">{{cite news |title=Playing It Straight (page 1) |author=Booth, William |date=November 13, 2005 |newspaper=] |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 }}</ref><ref name="talent" /> She later attended ] as an English literature major,<ref name="commitment">{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon; Commitment, Success and the Age of Ambivalence |author=Gardner, Elysa |date=September 13, 1998 |work=] |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}}</ref> but left prior to completing her studies to pursue an acting career.<ref name="talent">{{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 }}</ref>
In spite of her success with ''Election'', Witherspoon noted in an interview that she struggled to find work after completing the film, due to ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Playing It Straight (page 3)|author=Booth, William | date =November 13, 2005|work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111100442_3.html|accessdate=November 10, 2007}}</ref> Analyzing the reasons behind her difficulty to find work, Witherspoon commented, "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."<ref name="That's Reese" /> In 2000, Witherspoon played a supporting role in '']'' and made a cameo appearance in '']''.<ref name="spoonful">{{cite web|title=Spoonfuls of video treats |author=Booth, Philip |date=February 6, 2003 |publisher=] |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/06/Weekend/Spoonfuls_of_video_tr.shtml |accessdate=November 10, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228031118/http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/06/Weekend/Spoonfuls_of_video_tr.shtml |archivedate=December 28, 2007 |df= }}</ref> She also guest starred in season six of '']'' as ]'s sister Jill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guest stars: The good, the bad, the twin sister |publisher=] |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/04/Floridian/Guest_stars__The_good.shtml |author=Deggans, Eric |date=May 4, 2004 |accessdate=November 10, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213124437/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/04/Floridian/Guest_stars__The_good.shtml |archivedate=December 13, 2007 |df= }}</ref>


==Career==
=== 2001–2006: Worldwide recognition===
===1991–2000: Early work and breakthrough===
The 2001 film '']'' marked a turning point in Witherspoon's career; she starred as Elle Woods, a fashion-merchandising major who decides to become a law student in order to follow her ex-boyfriend to ]. 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."<ref name="sweethome" /> ''Legally Blonde'' was a box-office hit, grossing US$96 million domestically.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon |publisher=] |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=reesewitherspoon.htm |accessdate=December 2, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020183153/http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=reesewitherspoon.htm |archivedate=October 20, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon's performance earned her praise from critics, as the press began referring to her as "the new ]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Crawford |author=Harkness, John |date=February 6, 2003 |publisher=] |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=135400&archive=22,23,2003 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120911065807/http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=135400&archive=22,23,2003 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |accessdate=February 1, 2012 }}</ref> ] commented, "Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit",<ref>{{cite news|title=Reviews: Legally Blonde |author=Ebert, Roger |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010713/REVIEWS/107130303/1023 |date=July 13, 2001 |accessdate=February 23, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522085254/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010713%2FREVIEWS%2F107130303%2F1023 |archivedate=May 22, 2007 |df= }}</ref> and ] noted that "she delineates Elle's character beautifully".<ref>{{cite web|title=Legally blone |author=Zacharek, Stephanie |date=July 13, 2001 |publisher=] |url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/07/13/legally_blonde/index.html |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205183719/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2001/07/13/legally_blonde/index.html |archivedate=December 5, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Meanwhile, the '']'' 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."<ref>{{cite news|title=Enough energy in this 'Blonde' to perk up limp comedy |publisher=]|author=Axmaker, Sean|date=July 13, 2001 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/31039_blonde13q.shtml|accessdate=December 12, 2007}}</ref> For her work, Witherspoon garnered her second ] Best Actress nomination and an ] for Best Comedic Performance.
Witherspoon attended an open ] call in 1991 for '']'', intending to audition for a ];<ref name="talent" /> 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 '']'', her performance made an early impression.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> Film critic ] commented, "Her first kiss is one of the most perfect little scenes I've ever seen in a movie."<ref name="tiscali2" /> For her role, Witherspoon was nominated for a ], in the category of Best Young Actress.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> Later that year, she made her television debut role in '']'' with ].<ref name="movieyahoo" /><ref name="newsindependent" /> In 1992, Witherspoon appeared in the ] ''Desperate Choices: To Save My Child'', portraying a critically ill young girl.<ref name="movieyahoo" />


In 1993, Witherspoon played a young wife, Nonnie Parker, in the ] ] '']'', appeared in the ] film ''],'' and had a minor role in '']'', which garnered her the Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actress Co-star.<ref name="movieyahoo" /><ref>{{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}}</ref> The next year, she had another leading role as Wendy Pfister in the 1994 film '']'', directed by ].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1996, Witherspoon starred in two major films: the thriller '']'' alongside ],<ref name=mtv>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> as Nicole Walker, a teenager who starts dating a man with obsessive tendencies, and the black-comedy thriller '']'', alongside ] and ], in which she played Vanessa Lutz;<ref>{{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}}</ref> a poor girl living in Los Angeles who encounters a ] on the way to her grandmother's home in ].<ref name="talent" /> The film received positive reviews from critics; '']'s'' ] wrote, "Witherspoon, who does a Texas accent, is dazzling, utterly believable in one extreme situation after the other."<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> Witherspoon's performance won her the Best Actress Award at the ] and helped establish her as a rising star.<ref name="talent" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/reese-witherspoon.html |title=Reese Witherspoon |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> The production of the film also gave her significant acting experience; she said "Once I overcame the hurdle of that movie&nbsp;– which scared me to death&nbsp;– I felt like I could try anything."<ref name="commitment" />
In 2002, after the success of ''Legally Blonde'', Witherspoon starred in several roles, such as Greta Wolfcastle in '']'' episode "]", and as Cecily in the comedy '']'', a film adaptation of ]'s play in which she received a ] nomination.<ref>{{cite news|author=Clark, John |date=May 12, 2002 |title=Young and talented, headstrong and 'Earnest' Reese Witherspoon gets what she wants |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/05/12/PK236774.DTL&type=movies |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204002716/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2002%2F05%2F12%2FPK236774.DTL&type=movies |archivedate=December 4, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Announces the 4th Annual 2002 Teen Choice Awards Nominees |publisher=] |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-03-2002/0001739538&EDATE= |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030829132136/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F06-03-2002%2F0001739538&EDATE= |archivedate=August 29, 2003 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Later that year, she starred with ] and ] in ]'s film '']'', where she played Melanie Carmichael, a young fashion designer who intends to marry a New York politician but must return to ] to divorce her childhood sweetheart, from whom she has been separated for seven years. Witherspoon regarded this as a "personal role", in that it reminded her of experiences she had when she moved from her hometown Nashville to Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=IGN |url=http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/371/371856p1.html |title=Interview with Reese Witherspoon |accessdate=June 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005004/http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/371/371856p1.html |archivedate=July 13, 2011 |df= }}</ref> The movie 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.<ref name="mojo" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 6) |author=Wills, Dominic |publisher=] |url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/6 |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507041829/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/reese_witherspoon_biog/6 |archivedate=May 7, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> Despite the commercial success, critics gave ''Sweet Home Alabama'' negative reviews. It was called "a romantic comedy so rote, dull and predictable" by '']'',<ref>{{cite web|title= Linin' up good ol' cliches, in a fashion|author=Ogle, Connie| date=September 27, 2002| url=http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=72299&reviewId=9832| archive-url=https://archive.is/20070623044747/http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=72299&reviewId=9832| dead-url=yes| archive-date=June 23, 2007 |accessdate=December 1, 2007}}</ref> and the press widely agreed that Witherspoon was the only reason the movie attracted such a large audience.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020927/REVIEWS/209270304/1023 |title=Sweet Home Alabama |first=Roger |last=Ebert |date=September 27, 2002 |accessdate=December 1, 2007 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212113353/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020927%2FREVIEWS%2F209270304%2F1023 |archivedate=December 12, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=] |url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/sweet_home_alabama.html |title=Sweet Home Alabama |accessdate=December 1, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507042101/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/sweet_home_alabama.html |archivedate=May 7, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> When describing Witherspoon's role in the movie, '']'' concluded, "She is not the movie's main attraction, she is its only attraction."<ref>{{cite web|title=A down-home dilemma |publisher=] |author=Sterritt, David |date=September 27, 2002 |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0927/p15s01-almo.html |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312064543/http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0927/p15s01-almo.html |archivedate=March 12, 2008 |df= }}</ref>


In 1998, Witherspoon had major roles in three films: '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref name="newsindependent" /><ref name="spoonful" /> In ''Pleasantville'', she starred with ] 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 ] for Best Female Breakthrough Performance.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Director ] applauded her efforts saying, "she commits to a character so completely and she understands comedy".<ref name="commitment" />
In 2003, Witherspoon followed up the success of ''Legally Blonde'' by starring in the sequel '']''. 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. '']'' considered the movie "plodding, unfunny and almost cringe-worthy", but also noted that "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."<ref>{{cite news|title=Legally Blonde 2 Review|author=Puig, Claudia | date=July 2, 2003|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-07-01-blonde_x.htm|accessdate=December 12, 2007}}</ref> Meanwhile, Salon.com concluded that the sequel "calcifies everything that was enjoyable about the first movie".<ref>{{cite web|title=Legally Blonde 2 |publisher=] |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2003/07/02/blonde/ |author=Taylor, Charles |date=July 2, 2003 |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607001319/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2003/07/02/blonde/ |archivedate=June 7, 2011 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 23, 2003 |title=Witherspoon leads UK première |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3089425.stm |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217193451/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3089425.stm |archivedate=December 17, 2003 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon received a $15 million paycheck for the role—a starting point to make her consistently one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses from 2002 until 2010.<ref name="sweethome">{{cite news|title=Witherspoon's 'Sweet Home'|work=USA Today|author=Puig, Claudia |date=September 18, 2002|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-09-18-reese-witherspoon_x.htm|accessdate=November 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Julia Roberts Tops Actress Power List |publisher=] |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,625295,00.html |accessdate=June 13, 2008 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416074936/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C625295%2C00.html |archivedate=April 16, 2008 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Roberts and Kidman head list of top-earning actresses |date=December 2, 2005 |publisher=] |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C02%5Cstory_2-12-2005_pg9_1 |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203080846/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C02%5Cstory_2-12-2005_pg9_1 |archivedate=February 3, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Angelina Jolie Surpasses Reese Witherspoon as Highest-Paid Actress |date=December 5, 2008|publisher=] |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/news/angelina-jolie-surpasses-reese-witherspoon-as-highest-paid-actress|accessdate=December 8, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208074755/http://www.usmagazine.com/news/angelina-jolie-surpasses-reese-witherspoon-as-highest-paid-actress|archivedate=December 8, 2008}}</ref>


A year later, Witherspoon co-starred with ] in the drama thriller '']''; she played Lissa, a woman who schemes with her lover Nick to escape a small dead-end town.<ref name="movieyahoo" /> Also in 1999, she co-starred with ] and Ryan Phillippe in the drama '']'', a modern version of the 18th-century French novel '']''. 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."<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> She also appeared in a music video by ] for the film's soundtrack. Next, she appeared in '']'' (1999) opposite ], based on ]'s ].<ref name="movieyahoo" /> For her portrayal of ], she earned acclaim and her first nominations in the Golden Globes and in the ]s. She also won the Best Actress Award from the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon Award |publisher=] |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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiritawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SA_Nomswinners.pdf |title=Film Independent Spirit Awards |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> Witherspoon received a rank on the list of ''100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time'' by '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |title=100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> Director ] said "She's 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."<ref name="sweethome" />
In 2004, Witherspoon starred in '']'', adapted from the 19th-century classic novel '']'' and directed by ]. 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 that during the filming she was pregnant with her second child.<ref>{{cite news|title=Witherspoon Walks The Line |date=November 13, 2005 |author=Edelstein, David |publisher=] |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/12/sunday/main1041397.shtml |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224160212/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/12/sunday/main1041397.shtml |archivedate=December 24, 2007 |df= }}</ref> This pregnancy was not a hindrance to her work as Witherspoon believed the gestation had in fact 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.<ref name="telegraphindia">{{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 |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203221405/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040906/asp/atleisure/story_3722983.asp |archivedate=December 3, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Director Nair's Vanity project|publisher=BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4056147.stm|accessdate=November 4, 2007 | date=December 1, 2004}}</ref> The film and Witherspoon's portrayal of Sharp received mixed reviews, as '']'' wrote, "Nair's cast is splendid. Witherspoon does justice to the juicy role by giving the part more buoyancy than naughtiness."<ref>{{cite news|date=August 27, 2004 |author=Honeycutt, Kirk |title=Vanity Fair |publisher=] |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000619958 |accessdate=December 2, 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> At the same time, '']'' called her work "an excellent performance that's soft around the edges" and the '']'' concluded that Becky is "a role Reese Witherspoon was born to play".<ref>{{cite web|author=Toppman Lawrence |date=September 1, 2004
|title=A 'Vanity Fair' with flair |publisher=] |url=http://ae.charlotte.com/entertainment/ui/charlotte/movie.html?id=164734&reviewId=15989&startDate=NEXT7 |accessdate=December 2, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=Musdan77 |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Vanity Fair'Review |author=Chocano, Carina |date=September 1, 2004 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/chocano/cl-et-chocano1sep01,2,3554055.story |accessdate=December 2, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310235538/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/chocano/cl-et-chocano1sep01%2C2%2C3554055.story |archivedate=March 10, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, '']'' wrote " ends up conveying so little of what’s at once appalling and perversely attractive about the would-be mistress of Vanity Fair" and states 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.".<ref>{{cite news|date=2004-09-02 |author=Connor, Frank |title=Becky, We Hardly Knew Ye |publisher=] |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-02/film-tv/becky-we-hardly-knew-ye/ |accessdate=2013-02-12 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124010456/http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-02/film-tv/becky-we-hardly-knew-ye/ |archivedate=January 24, 2013 |df= }}</ref> Others have stated she was miscast.<ref>{{cite news|author=Levy, Emanuel |title=Vanity Fair |publisher=''Cinema 24/7'' |url=http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/vanity-fair-9/ |accessdate=2013-02-12 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407143424/http://emanuellevy.com/review/vanity-fair-9/ |archivedate=April 7, 2017 |df= }}</ref>


Following the success of ''Election'', Witherspoon struggled to find work due to ].<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> "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.<ref name="That's Reese" /> In 2000, Witherspoon had a supporting role in '']'' as ]'s trophy girlfriend, and made a ] appearance in '']'' as the mother of the ].<ref name="spoonful">{{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=] |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 }}</ref> She also made a guest appearance in the ] of '']'' as ]'s sister Jill.<ref>{{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=]|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 }}</ref>
In late 2004, Witherspoon began working alongside ] on the romantic comedy '']''. Her character, Elizabeth Masterson, is an ambitious young doctor who gets into 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Just Like Heaven (PG) |date=December 29, 2005 |author=Moten, Katie |publisher=] |url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1229/justlikeheaven.html |accessdate=November 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023101757/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1229/justlikeheaven.html |archivedate=October 23, 2007 |df= }}</ref>
] premiere of ''Walk the Line'' in 2005]]


===2001–2006: Worldwide recognition===
Earlier that year Witherspoon was chosen to portray ], the second wife of country music singer-songwriter ] (]), in '']''. She never had the chance to meet Carter Cash, as Witherspoon was filming ''Vanity Fair'' at the time Carter Cash died.<ref name="That's Reese" /> 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 live that she asked her lawyer to terminate the film contract.<ref name="faces" /> "That was the most challenging part of the role," she later recalled in an interview, "I'd never sung professionally."<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, live on Breakfast |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4666180.stm |accessdate=November 7, 2007 |date=February 1, 2006 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106220629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4666180.stm |archivedate=January 6, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Subsequently, she had to spend six months learning how to sing for the role.<ref name="faces">{{cite news|title=Faces of the week |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6113620.stm |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |date=November 3, 2006 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213153356/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6113620.stm |archivedate=February 13, 2009 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Stars Learn to Sing for Roles ... or Do They? |date=February 8, 2006 |author=Donaldson-Evans, Catherine |publisher=Fox News Channel |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184170,00.html |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203032648/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C184170%2C00.html |archivedate=December 3, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon's portrayal of Carter Cash was well received by critics, and Roger Ebert wrote that her performance added "boundless energy" to the movie.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/REVIEWS/51107006/1023 |title=Walk the Line |first=Roger |last=Ebert |date=September 27, 2002 |accessdate=December 1, 2007 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212120132/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20051117%2FREVIEWS%2F51107006%2F1023 |archivedate=December 12, 2007 |df= }}</ref> She won several awards for her performance, including the ], the ], the ] and the ] in a Lead Role. Besides critical success in the movie industry, Witherspoon and Phoenix received a nomination for "collaborative video of the year" from the ].<ref name="academy-award-bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4824306.stm |title=Movie stars up for country award |publisher=BBC |accessdate=July 17, 2008 |date=March 20, 2006 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521194812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4824306.stm |archivedate=May 21, 2006 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/microsites/cmt-music-awards/2006/nominees.jhtml |title=2006 Nominees |publisher=] |accessdate=July 17, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719195902/http://www.cmt.com/microsites/cmt-music-awards/2006/nominees.jhtml |archivedate=July 19, 2008 }}</ref> Witherspoon expressed her passion for the movie: "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."<ref name="about.interview">{{cite web|author=Murray, Rebecca |title=Reese Witherspoon Interview |url=http://movies.about.com/od/walktheline/a/walklinrw111405_2.htm |publisher=] |accessdate=December 15, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820081417/http://movies.about.com/od/walktheline/a/walklinrw111405_2.htm |archivedate=August 20, 2007 |df= }}</ref> 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."<ref name="about.interview" />
The 2001 film '']'' marked a turning point in Witherspoon's career; she starred as ], a ] major who decides to become a law student to follow her ex-boyfriend to ]. 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."<ref name="sweethome" /> ''Legally Blonde'' was a box-office hit, grossing US$96 million domestically.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon |website=] |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 }}</ref> Witherspoon's performance earned her praise from critics, and the press began to refer her as "the new ]".<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Harkness|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=135400&archive=22,23,2003|title=Classic Crawford |newspaper=] |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 }}</ref> Roger Ebert commented, "Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit",<ref>{{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=] |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}}</ref> and the critic from ] magazine wrote "she delineates Elle's character beautifully".<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> Meanwhile, the '']'' 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."<ref>{{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=]|date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=December 12, 2007}}</ref> The film earned her a second nomination for ] at the Golden Globes, and an ] for Best Comedic Performance.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref>


In 2002, Witherspoon featured in several projects, such as the role of Greta Wolfcastle in '']'' episode "]", and as Cecily in the comedy '']'', a film adaptation of ]'s play for which she received a ] nomination.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Announces the 4th Annual 2002 Teen Choice Awards Nominees |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> Later that year, she starred with ] and ] in ]'s romantic comedy '']'', in which she played Melanie Carmichael, a young fashion designer who intends to marry a New York politician but must return to ] 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="mojo" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon biography (page 6) |author=Wills, Dominic |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> Despite the commercial success, critics gave ''Sweet Home Alabama'' negative reviews. '']'' called it "a romantic comedy so rote, dull and predictable",<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> and the press opined that Witherspoon was the only reason the film attracted such a large audience.<ref>{{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=] |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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> '']'' wrote of her, "She is not the movie's main attraction, she is its only attraction."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Witherspoon's first post-Oscar role came in the modern-day fairy tale '']'', as Annie, the best friend of Penelope (]), a girl who has a curse in her family. The film was produced by her company ], with filming commencing in March 2006, immediately following Witherspoon's Oscar win for ''Walk the Line''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Exclusive: Penelope Set Pics |date=March 15, 2006 |publisher=Empire |url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=18285 |accessdate=December 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231234128/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=18285 |archivedate=December 31, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Although the movie premiered at the ],<ref name="faces" /><ref>{{cite news|author=Macdonald, Moira |title=From Toronto: Let the film festival begin! |date=September 6, 2006 |publisher=The Seattle Times |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622034054/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003244619_toronto06.html |archivedate=June 22, 2011 |df= }}</ref> the final release date of ''Penelope'' was delayed twice before an eventual February 2008 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/biz/2007/08/at_ifc_films_pe.html|title=At IFC Films, "Penelope" Shift Points To A Change in Focus; Company Emphasizing First Take Slate|publisher=indiewire.com |author=Hernandez, Eugene |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120600/http://www.indiewire.com/biz/2007/08/at_ifc_films_pe.html |archivedate = September 29, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Penelope' slides to Summit |author=Goldstein, Gregg |date=September 6, 2007 |publisher=] |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/penelope-slides-summit-149560 |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110052325/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/penelope-slides-summit-149560 |archivedate=November 10, 2012 |df= }}</ref>


The next year, Witherspoon followed up the success of ''Legally Blonde'' by starring in the sequel '']''. Elle Woods has become a Harvard-educated lawyer who is determined to protect animals from ] science tests. The sequel was not as financially successful as the first film and it generated mostly negative reviews. '']'' 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."<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''Salon'' magazine concluded that the sequel "calcifies everything that was enjoyable about the first movie".<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles|last=Taylor|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/review/2003/07/02/blonde/|title=Legally Blonde 2 |work=] |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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="sweethome">{{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=]|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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== 2007–2012: Career downturn ===
Following her critical success with ''Walk the Line'', 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 her separation 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."<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon: Ready for a Change |first=Charlie |last=Rose |date=December 21, 2014 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-ready-for-a-change/ |accessdate=December 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229042618/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-ready-for-a-change/ |archivedate=December 29, 2014 |df= }}</ref>


In 2004, Witherspoon starred in '']'', adapted from the 19th-century classic novel '']'' and directed by ]. Her character, ], 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.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Edelstein|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/witherspoon-walks-the-line/|title=Witherspoon Walks The Line |work=] |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}}</ref> This pregnancy was not a hindrance to her work as Witherspoon believed the ] 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.<ref name="telegraphindia">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> The film, and Witherspoon's performance received mixed reviews; '']'' wrote "Nair's cast is splendid. Witherspoon does justice to the juicy role by giving the part more buoyancy than naughtiness."<ref>{{cite news|date=August 27, 2004 |author=Honeycutt, Kirk |title=Vanity Fair |work=] |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}}</ref> '']'' called her work "an excellent performance that's soft around the edges", and the '']'' concluded that Becky is "a role Reese Witherspoon was born to play".<ref>{{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=]| date=September 1, 2004 |access-date=December 2, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=Musdan77 |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Carina|last=Chocano |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/chocano/cl-et-chocano1sep01,2,3554055.story |title='Vanity Fair'Review |newspaper=]|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 }}</ref> However, '']'' wrote " 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."<ref>{{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=]|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 }}</ref> Some critics thought she was miscast.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
This period of Witherspoon's career began with the filming of the abduction thriller '']'' in November 2006. In the film, she plays Isabella El-Ibrahim, the pregnant wife of a bombing suspect. The film was released in October 2007 and marked Witherspoon's first appearance in theaters since the 2005 release of ''Walk the Line''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Witherspoon Gives a Dramatic `Rendition'|author=Germain, David|date=October 16, 2007 |work=The Washington Post| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601378.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews| accessdate=November 5, 2007}}</ref> The movie received mostly mixed reviews and was generally considered a disappointment at the ].<ref>{{cite news|title='Rendition' is story of torture |author=Mathews, Jack |date=October 19, 2007 |work=New York Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2007/10/19/2007-10-19_rendition_is_story_of_torture.html |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222114101/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2007/10/19/2007-10-19_rendition_is_story_of_torture.html |archivedate=December 22, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon's performance was also criticized: "Reese Witherspoon is surprisingly lifeless", '']'' wrote, "She customarily injects energy and spirit into her parts, but here, her performance feels tamped down."<ref>{{cite news|title='Rendition' fails to turn over interest |author=Puig, Claudia | date=October 18, 2007|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2007-10-18-rendition_N.htm|accessdate=December 12, 2007}}</ref>


] ]'' at the ]]]
In December 2007, Witherspoon began working with ], filming the holiday comedy '']'', a story about a couple who must spend their Christmas Day trying to visit all four of their divorced parents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969202.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |title=Vaughn, Witherspoon set for comedy |author=Mcnary, Dave |date=July 26, 2007 |work=Variety |accessdate=August 22, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012004547/http://variety.com/article/VR1117969202.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archivedate=October 12, 2007 |df= }}</ref> The film was released in November 2008. Despite panned by critics, the movie became a box-office success, earning more than $120 million domestically and $157 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fourchristmases |title=Four Christmases (2008):Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=November 30, 2008 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205082540/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fourchristmases |archivedate=December 5, 2008 |df= }}</ref> In 2009, Witherspoon voiced Susan Murphy, lead character in ]' ] film '']'', released in March 2009, becoming her biggest hit at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-10-monsters-aliens_N.htm|work=USA Today|title=First look: 'Monsters vs. Aliens' is the ultimate; a 3-D 'first'|accessdate=April 6, 2008 | first=Susan | last=Wloszczyna | date=March 11, 2008}}</ref> She also co-produced the ''Legally Blonde'' spin-off '']'', starring ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/457937/Legally-Blondes/details |title=Legally Blondes (2008) |publisher=All Movie Guide |accessdate=February 14, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214203637/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/457937/Legally-Blondes/details |archivedate=February 14, 2015 |df= }}</ref>


In late 2004, Witherspoon starred alongside ] in the romantic comedy '']''. Her character, Elizabeth Masterson, is an ambitious young doctor who is involved in a car accident on her way to a ] and is left in a ]; her spirit returns to her old apartment where she later finds true love.<ref>{{cite news|first=Katie|last=Moten|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1229/justlikeheaven.html |title=Just Like Heaven (PG) |website=]|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}}</ref> Next, she was cast as ], the second wife of singer-songwriter ] (]), in ]'s '']'' (2005). She never had the chance to meet Carter Cash, as Witherspoon was filming ''Vanity Fair'' at the time the singer died.<ref name="That's Reese" /> 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.<ref name="faces" /> "That was the most challenging part of the role," she later recalled. "I'd never sung professionally."<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Subsequently, she had to spend six months learning how to sing for the role, including from the help of vocal coach ].<ref name="faces">{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Stars Learn to Sing for Roles ... or Do They? |date=February 8, 2006 |author=Donaldson-Evans, Catherine |publisher=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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Witherspoon's portrayal of Carter Cash was acclaimed by critics, with Roger Ebert stating that her performance added "boundless energy" to the film.<ref>{{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=]|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 }}</ref> She won Best Actress at the ], ], ], and a ] award for her performance.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref><ref name="academy-award-bbc" /><ref name=":1" />
However, Witherspoon did not appear in a live-action film for two years after the 2008 release of ''Four Christmases''. She told '']'' 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/12/09/this-weeks-cover-reese-witherspoon/ |title=This Week's Cover: The return of Reese Witherspoon |work=Entertainment Weekly |accessdate=December 29, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101233929/http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/12/09/this-weeks-cover-reese-witherspoon/ |archivedate=January 1, 2011 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon returned with three films released in 2010, 2011 and 2012, all centered on her as a woman caught in a love triangle between two men. In a 2012 interview with ], Witherspoon jokingly referred to this trio of films as her "love triangle period".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/02/01/reese-witherspoon-love-triangles-this-means-war/ |title='This Means War' Star Reese Witherspoon is in her 'Love Triangle Period' |work=MTV |accessdate=February 20, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510095149/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/02/01/reese-witherspoon-love-triangles-this-means-war/ |archivedate=May 10, 2012 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon and Phoenix received a nomination for "collaborative video of the year" from the ].<ref name="academy-award-bbc">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/microsites/cmt-music-awards/2006/nominees.jhtml |title=2006 Nominees |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> 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."<ref name="about.interview">{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Murray |url=http://movies.about.com/od/walktheline/a/walklinrw111405_2.htm |title=Reese Witherspoon Interview |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> 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."<ref name="about.interview" /> After the success of ''Walk the Line'', Witherspoon starred in the fantasy '']'', as Annie, the best friend of Penelope (]), a girl who has a curse in her family. The film was produced by her company ], and filming began in March 2006.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The film premiered at the ],<ref name="faces" /><ref>{{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=]|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 }}</ref> but went unreleased until February 2008.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Gregg|last=Goldstein|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/penelope-slides-summit-149560|title=Penelope' slides to Summit| work=] |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}}</ref>
The first film was ]' romantic comedy '']'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Star-Heavy Big-Budget Love Story Bucks Trend |work=The New York Times |date=March 22, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/movies/23brooks.html |accessdate=April 27, 2010 |first=Michael |last=Cieply |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330102910/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/movies/23brooks.html |archivedate=March 30, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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/ |accessdate=June 21, 2010 |first=Joshua |last=Brunsting |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613160856/http://gordonandthewhale.com/james-l-brooks-comedy-now-titled-everything-youve-got/ |archivedate=June 13, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=November 8, 2012 |df= }}</ref> which starred Witherspoon as a former national softball player who struggles to choose between a baseball star boyfriend (]) and a business executive being investigated for ] (]). The movie was filmed in ] and ] during the summer and fall of 2009<ref>{{cite news | title = Rudd, Wilson in talks for Brooks film | publisher = Variety | date = February 17, 2009 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000256.html?categoryid=13&cs=1= | accessdate = March 14, 2010 | first = Tatiana | last = Siegel }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate=April 2, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023718/http://celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/reese-witherspoon-filming-in-philly-219333 |archivedate=July 23, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson Movie Coming to D.C. |publisher=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/ |accessdate=March 14, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618060638/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/06/04/reese-witherspoon-owen-wilson-movie-coming-to-dc/ |archivedate=June 18, 2009 |df= }}</ref> and released on December 17, 2010. The movie was both a critical and box office failure. Despite a budget of more than $100 million, the film earned only $7.6 million in its opening weekend, leading the '']'' to call it "one of the year's biggest flops".<ref>{{cite news|title=Box office: 'How Do You Know' flops; 'Tron' doesn't; and like the bear himself, 'Yogi' is soft |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 |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=December 22, 2010 |df= }}</ref> The movie earned mainly negative reviews from critics, scoring 35% on ] with 111 reviews as of late December 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rotten Tomatoes: How Do You Know |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/everything_youve_got/ |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223051030/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/everything_youve_got/ |archivedate=December 23, 2010 |df= }}</ref>


===2007–2012: Career setbacks and romantic comedy films===
Witherspoon's second love-triangle movie was the film adaptation of the 1930s circus drama '']''. She began circus training in March 2010 for her role as Marlena, a glamorous performer stuck in a marriage to a volatile husband (]) but intrigued by the circus's new veterinarian (]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Goes to Washington |publisher=Entertainment Tonight |date=March 10, 2010 |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/84864_Reese_Witherspoon_Goes_to_Washington/ |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403192149/http://www.etonline.com/news/84864_Reese_Witherspoon_Goes_to_Washington/ |archivedate=April 3, 2012 }}</ref> The movie was filmed between late May and early August 2010<ref>{{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/ |accessdate=May 22, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130104111216/http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/20/robert-pattinson-begins-shooting-for-%E2%80%9Cwater-for-elephants%E2%80%9D/ |archivedate=January 4, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lawrence |first=Francis |title=Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/Hibbits/status/20362637500 |accessdate=September 19, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809032505/http://twitter.com/Hibbits/status/20362637500 |archivedate=August 9, 2010 |df= }}</ref> in various locations in ], ], and ]. It was released on April 22, 2011<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox Pushes Rio, Water for Elephants Releases |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |date=December 23, 2010 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-pushes-rio-water-elephants-65332 |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227041725/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-pushes-rio-water-elephants-65332 |archivedate=December 27, 2010 |df= }}</ref> and received mixed critical reviews.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rotten Tomatoes: Water for Elephants |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water_for_elephants/ |accessdate=June 28, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627145827/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water_for_elephants/ |archivedate=June 27, 2011 |df= }}</ref>
]'' 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In September 2010, Witherspoon began ] in ] for the third and final love-triangle film, '']'', a ] spy comedy directed by ] in which Witherspoon's character is at the center of a battle between best friends (played by ] and ]) who are both in love with her. The film had a "sneak-peek" release on ], before fully opening on February 17, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sperling |first=Nicole |title=Chris Pine in early negotiations for spy comedy 'This Means War' at Fox |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 6, 2010 |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2010/05/06/chris-pine-in-early-negotiations-for-spy-comedy-this-means-war-at-fox |accessdate=January 2, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222143020/http://ew.com/article/2010/05/06/chris-pine-in-early-negotiations-for-spy-comedy-this-means-war-at-fox/ |archivedate=December 22, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Chris Pine preps for "War" |publisher=Hollywood News |date=May 8, 2010 |url=http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/08/chris-pine-preps-for-war/ |accessdate=May 8, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510120636/http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/05/08/chris-pine-preps-for-war/ |archivedate=May 10, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=This Means War to start filming |work=Vancouver Sun |date=September 3, 2010 |url=http://www.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 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 7, 2010 |accessdate=September 19, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate=June 28, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415094826/http://www.movieline.com/2011/04/this-means-war-gets-romantic-release-date.php |archivedate=April 15, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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/2012/01/18/idUS332453756520120118 |accessdate=January 22, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726091508/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/idUS332453756520120118 |archivedate=July 26, 2012 |df= }}</ref> The film was panned by critics (with a 25% ] rating),<ref>{{cite news|title=This Means War – Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/this_means_war/ |accessdate=February 20, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221112952/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/this_means_war/ |archivedate=February 21, 2012 |df= }}</ref> and fared poorly at the box office, taking fifth place on its opening weekend with sales of $17.6 million. '']'' remarked that this "extended the box office cold streak for the Oscar-winning Ms. Witherspoon."<ref>{{cite news|author=Brooks Barnes |title=This Means Box Office Dud |work=New York Times |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/this-means-box-office-dud/ |date=February 19, 2012 |accessdate=February 20, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221012047/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/this-means-box-office-dud/ |archivedate=February 21, 2012 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon appeared in the thriller ''],'' 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''.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> The film received mostly mixed reviews and was deemed a major disappointment at the ].<ref>{{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=] |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}}</ref> Witherspoon's performance was also criticized; writing for '']'', Claudia Puig wrote "Reese Witherspoon is surprisingly lifeless She customarily injects energy and spirit into her parts, but here, her performance feels tamped down."<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> In 2008, Witherspoon starred with ] in the comedy '']'', a story about a couple who must spend their Christmas Day trying to visit all four of their divorced parents.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success, earning more than $120 million domestically and $157 million worldwide.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In 2009, Witherspoon voiced Susan Murphy, the lead character in the ] '']'', released in March, which grossed $381 million worldwide.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> She also co-produced the ''Legally Blonde'' spin-off '']'', starring ].<ref>{{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=] |date=2015 |archive-date=February 14, 2015}}</ref> However, Witherspoon did not appear in a live-action film for two years after ''Four Christmases''. She told '']'' 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."<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref>
=== 2013–present: Career comeback and production work===
] premiere of ''Mud'']]
Witherspoon's subsequent films signaled a departure from the love-triangle theme. In September 2011, a year after beginning work on ''This Means War'', she filmed a small role in ]'s ] drama '']'' in ], playing Juniper, the former girlfriend of a fugitive (]), who enlists two local boys to help him evade capture and rekindle his romance with her.<ref>{{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 |accessdate=October 3, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930142018/http://www.inarkansas.com/26908/everything-we-know-about-reese-witherspoons-film-mud-filming-in-arkansas |archivedate=September 30, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Mud' banks trio of thesps |work=Variety |date=September 26, 2011 |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118043478 |accessdate=October 3, 2011 |first=Dave |last=McNary |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516213017/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118043478 |archivedate=May 16, 2012 |df= }}</ref> ''Mud'' premiered in May 2012 in competition for the ] at the ], but did not win.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cannes sets 2012 fest lineup |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 19, 2012 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-cannes-2012-movies20120419,0,6459352.column |accessdate=May 5, 2012 |first=Michael |last=Phillips |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420062513/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-cannes-2012-movies20120419%2C0%2C6459352.column |archivedate=April 20, 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cannes 2012: Jeff Nichols' 'Mud' Slides Into Competition with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=May 26, 2012 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-matthew-mcconaughey-reese-witherspoon-jeff-nichols-mud-329891 |accessdate=May 27, 2012 |first=Rebecca |last=Leffler |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528093457/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-matthew-mcconaughey-reese-witherspoon-jeff-nichols-mud-329891 |archivedate=May 28, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Following its American debut at the ] on January 19, 2013,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sundance 2013: The Rebirth of Matthew McConaughey |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 21, 2013 |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/21/sundance-matthew-mcconaughey-mud/ |accessdate=January 23, 2013 |first=Jeff |last=Labrecque |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123205844/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/21/sundance-matthew-mcconaughey-mud/ |archivedate=January 23, 2013 |df= }}</ref> the film had a ] in select North American theaters on April 26, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mud Trailer: Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon Have a Southern-Accent-Off |work=Vulture |date=January 16, 2013 |url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/watch-matthew-mcconaughey-in-the-mud-trailer.html |accessdate=January 16, 2013 |first=Jesse David |last=Fox |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120051437/http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/watch-matthew-mcconaughey-in-the-mud-trailer.html |archivedate=January 20, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Mud' trailer with Matthew McConaughey reignites the fuse in advance of Sundance bow |work=Hitflix |date=January 16, 2013 |url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/mud-trailer-with-matthew-mcconaughey-reignites-the-fuse-in-advance-of-sundance-bow |accessdate=January 16, 2013 |first=Kristopher |last=Tapley |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=January 18, 2013 |df= }}</ref>


]'' in 2011]]
Witherspoon next starred in '']'', which is based on ]'s ] book of the ] and examines the controversial case of the ]. Like ''Mud'', the film is set in ]. Witherspoon 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".<ref>{{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/ |accessdate=December 30, 2011 |first=Gayle |last=Macdonald |location=Toronto |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218060113/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/egoyan-signs-reese-witherspoon-for-new-film/article2274510/ |archivedate=December 18, 2011 |df= }}</ref> The movie was shot in ] in June and July 2012.<ref name=devil>{{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=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/colin-firth-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-325588 |accessdate=May 27, 2012 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520053843/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/colin-firth-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-325588 |archivedate=May 20, 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref name=knot>{{cite news | title =Pregnant Reese Witherspoon Spotted Shooting New Movie|work=eOnline| date = June 26, 2012| url =http://ca.eonline.com/news/pregnant_reese_witherspoon_spotted/326144| archive-url =https://archive.is/20130122060649/http://ca.eonline.com/news/pregnant_reese_witherspoon_spotted/326144| dead-url =yes| archive-date =January 22, 2013| accessdate = June 30, 2012| first=Peter| last=Gicas}}</ref><ref name=devilsknot2>{{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/ |accessdate=January 23, 2013 |first=Jennifer |last=Brett |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017122733/http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2012/07/05/reese-witherspoon-movie-filming-in-cartersville/ |archivedate=October 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Witherspoon was pregnant with her third child during filming.<ref name=devilsknot3>{{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 |accessdate=January 23, 2013 |first=Zach |last=Johnson |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128051943/http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/pic-pregnant-reese-witherspoon-begins-shooting-devils-knot-in-atlanta-2012266 |archivedate=January 28, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref name=devilsknot4>{{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 |accessdate=January 23, 2013 |first=Bill |last=Zwecker |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=September 19, 2012 }}</ref> The film's world premiere was held on September 8, 2013 at the ].<ref>{{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 |accessdate=July 24, 2013 |first=Linda |last=Barnard |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=July 26, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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/ |accessdate=September 8, 2013 |first=Nathalie |last=Atkinson |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130909150243/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/09/09/tiff-2013-all-the-night-moves-with-jesse-eisenberg-sandra-bullock-and-reese-witherspoon/ |archivedate=September 9, 2013 |df= }}</ref> It was then released in selected American theaters on May 9, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=West Memphis Three drama 'Devil's Knot' with Reese Witherspoon sets release date – EXCLUSIVE |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 10, 2014 |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |accessdate=May 19, 2014 |first=Jeff |last=Labrecque |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502015909/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |archivedate=May 2, 2014 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon returned with three romances released in 2010, 2011 and 2012, all starring her as a woman caught in a ] between two men. In the first, she was cast in ]' ''],''<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> in which she played a former national softball player who struggles to choose between a baseball-star boyfriend (]) and a business executive being investigated for ] (]). Filming took place in ] and ] during the summer and fall of 2009<ref>{{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 = ] | 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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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 '']'' to call it "one of the year's biggest flops".<ref>{{cite news|title=Box office: 'How Do You Know' flops; 'Tron' doesn't; and like the bear himself, 'Yogi' is soft |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}}</ref> The film received mainly unfavorable reviews, with an approval rating of 35% on ], based on 111 reviews as of December 2010.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
In April 2013, Witherspoon began production in Atlanta on Canadian director ]'s film '']''. It is based on real-life events, about a brash American woman assigned to help four young ] (known as ]) who win a lottery for relocation to the U.S.<ref name=thegoodlie1>{{cite news|title=Corey Stoll, Sarah Baker, Sudanese Lost Boys Cast In ‘The Good Lie’ |work=Deadline |date=April 3, 2013 |url=http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-corey-stoll-cast/ |accessdate=April 7, 2013 |first=Jen |last=Yamato |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407040700/http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-corey-stoll-cast/ |archivedate=April 7, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref name=thegoodlie2>{{cite news|title=ATLwood: Reese Witherspoon back in town for "The Good Lie" |work=Creative Loafing Atlanta |date=April 5, 2013 |url=http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/04/05/atlwood-reese-witherspoon-back-in-town-for-the-good-lie |accessdate=April 7, 2013 |first=Allison |last=Keene |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520204248/http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/04/05/atlwood-reese-witherspoon-back-in-town-for-the-good-lie |archivedate=May 20, 2013 |df= }}</ref> It was released on October 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Drama ‘The Good Lie’ Shifts to October Release |work=Variety |date=May 27, 2014 |url=http://variety.com/2014/film/news/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-release-date-1201193861/ |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |first=Brent |last=Lang |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112053802/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/reese-witherspoon-the-good-lie-release-date-1201193861/ |archivedate=January 12, 2015 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon's second love-triangle film was the drama ''],'' an adaptation of ]'s ]. She began ] training in March 2010 for her role as Marlena, a glamorous performer stuck in a marriage to a volatile husband (]) but intrigued by the circus' new veterinarian (]).<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Frazier|title=Reese Witherspoon Goes to Washington |work=] |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 }}</ref> ] began between May and early August 2010<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> in various locations in ], ], and California. It was released on April 22, 2011, and received mixed critical reviews.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> Her last love-triangle film began production in ] in September 2010. Directed by ] and released by ], '']'', saw Witherspoon's character at the center of a battle between best friends (played by ] and ]), who are both in love with her. The film had a "sneak-peek" release on ], before fully opening on February 17, 2012.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> The film was panned by critics, with a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> and fared poorly at the box office, taking fifth place on its opening weekend with sales of $17.6 million. '']'' remarked that this "extended the box office cold streak for the Oscar-winning Ms. Witherspoon".<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> In a 2012 interview with ], Witherspoon jokingly referred that 2010–12 was her "love triangle period".<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref>
Witherspoon shot a small role in '']'' (2014), an adaptation of ]'s ], in ] in summer 2013.<ref>{{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 |accessdate=June 26, 2013 |newspaper=indiewire.com |date=June 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=June 8, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Eyes Reteam With Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Inherent Vice’ |url=http://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoon-eyes-reteam-with-joaquin-phoenix-in-vice-1200480816/ |accessdate=July 22, 2013 |newspaper=Variety |date=May 15, 2013 |first=Justin |last=Kroll |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713084558/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoon-eyes-reteam-with-joaquin-phoenix-in-vice-1200480816/ |archivedate=July 13, 2013 |df= }}</ref> Through her company Pacific Standard, Witherspoon served as a producer in the ] of ]'s novel '']'',<ref>{{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 |accessdate=October 16, 2013 |first=Dustin |last=Duncan |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=September 20, 2013 |df= }}</ref> though she did not star.<ref>{{cite news|title=David Fincher in Talks to Direct 'Gone Girl' |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |date=January 22, 2013 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-talks-direct-gone-414316 |accessdate=January 23, 2013 |first=Borys |last=Kit |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124002728/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-talks-direct-gone-414316 |archivedate=January 24, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/15/gone-girl-gets-release-date/ |title='Gone Girl' gets release date |work=Entertainment Weekly |first=Erin |last=Strecker |date=October 15, 2013 |accessdate=May 19, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906020111/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/15/gone-girl-gets-release-date/ |archivedate=September 6, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Indeed, Witherspoon and her producing partner "had little to do with the production of ''Gone Girl''",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/features/reese-witherspoon-production-company-female-driven-material-1201323117/ |title=Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Push for Female-Driven Material With Pacific Standard |work=Variety |first=Jenelle |last=Riley |date=October 7, 2014 |accessdate=December 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112053645/http://variety.com/2014/film/features/reese-witherspoon-production-company-female-driven-material-1201323117/ |archivedate=January 12, 2015 |df= }}</ref> leaving it to director ] while focusing their efforts on another adaptation produced via Pacific Standard, that of ]'s memoir '']'', which began production in fall 2013 on the same day as ''Gone Girl''.<ref>{{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 |accessdate=July 29, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426232320/http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2012/03/reese_witherspoon_buys_movie_r.html |archivedate=April 26, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon starred in the project, portraying Strayed herself on her {{convert|1000|mi|adj=on}} hike along the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://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 |accessdate=October 16, 2013 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013061107/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/reese-witherspoons-wild-adds-michiel-huisman-w-earl-brown-1200715187/ |archivedate=October 13, 2013 |df= }}</ref> '']'' was released in December 2014 to critical acclaim;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_2014/ |title=Wild (2014) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=December 7, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126091852/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_2014/ |archivedate=November 26, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Michael Phillips of '']'' 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://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 |accessdate=December 7, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207035842/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-wild-review-20141204-column.html |archivedate=December 7, 2014 |df= }}</ref> ''Wild'' was promoted as Witherspoon's primary "comeback" vehicle following her previous career slump,<ref>{{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 |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909150810/http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/09/can-reese-witherspoon-have-her-own-mcconaissance/ |archivedate=September 9, 2014 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://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 |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |location=London |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101201256/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/wild/review/ |archivedate=January 1, 2015 |df= }}</ref> and she earned her second Academy Award nomination for the role.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://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' |work=Entertainment Weekly |first=Tim |last=Stack |date=January 15, 2015 |accessdate=February 1, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219020230/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/15/reese-witherspoon-oscar-nomination |archivedate=February 19, 2015 |df= }}</ref>


===2012–2015: Resurgence and career expansion===
In May 2014, Witherspoon began production in Louisiana on '']'', a comedy in which she plays a police officer trying to protect a drug lord's widow (]).<ref>{{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 |accessdate=March 8, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228224002/http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/05/dont_mess_with_texas_starring.html |archivedate=December 28, 2014 |df= }}</ref> The movie was released on May 8, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://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 |accessdate=March 8, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226194704/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/hot-pursuit-trailer-reese-witherspoon-sofia-vergara-watch-1201432880/ |archivedate=February 26, 2015 |df= }}</ref> In 2016, she had a voice role in the animated film '']'', as well as serving as a major performer on the film's soundtrack. The movie became Witherspoon's biggest hit, being the first to make over $200 million domestically and $500 million worldwide.<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2016.htm |title=Sing (2016) |website=Box Office Mojo |accessdate=January 21, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114182912/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2016.htm |archivedate=January 14, 2017 |df= }}</ref>
In September 2011, a year after beginning work on ''This Means War'', she filmed a small role in ]'s ] drama '']'' in ], playing Juniper, the former girlfriend of a fugitive (]), who enlists two local boys to help him evade capture and rekindle his romance with her.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Mud'' premiered in May 2012 in competition for the ] at the ], but did not win.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Following its American debut at the ] on January 19, 2013,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> the film had a ] in selected North American theaters on April 26, 2013.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Mud' trailer with Matthew McConaughey reignites the fuse in advance of Sundance bow |work=] |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}}</ref>


]'' at the ]|alt=Witherspoon at the premiere of Mud at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival]]
In January 2016, Witherspoon began filming her first television project since ''Return To Lonesome Dove'', ] of the ] bestseller, '']''. She produced the miniseries, along with her co-star, ], and the show's director, Jean-Marc Vallée, her second project under his direction. The series premiered on February 19, 2017 on ] and finished on April 2.<ref>{{cite news|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=‘Big Little Lies’ Limited Series Starring Nicole Kidman & Reese Witherspoon Picked Up By HBO |url=http://deadline.com/2015/05/big-little-lies-nicole-kidman-reese-witherspoon-hbo-limited-series-1201423026/ |accessdate=May 8, 2015 |work=] |date=March 30, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509233414/http://deadline.com/2015/05/big-little-lies-nicole-kidman-reese-witherspoon-hbo-limited-series-1201423026/ |archivedate=May 9, 2015 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate=January 26, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126084721/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2016/01/25/64259/ |archivedate=January 26, 2016 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon has garnered critical acclaim for her performance, with ] proclaiming her as "Performer of the Week" of February 26 to March 4. '']'' compared her performance to her previous work in ''Election'' and ''Legally Blonde''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Performer of the Week: Reese Witherspoon |url=https://twww.tvline.com/2017/03/04/reese-witherspoon-big-little-lies-performance/ |accessdate=March 30, 2017 |work=] |date=March 30, 2017 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{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/ |accessdate=March 30, 2017 |work=] |date=March 30, 2017 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon next starred in '']'', which was directed by ], and based on the ] book of the ], examining the controversial case of the ]. 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> Filming took place in ] in June and July 2012,<ref name=devil>{{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}}</ref><ref name=knot>{{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}}</ref><ref name=devilsknot2>{{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 }}</ref> and Witherspoon was pregnant with her third child during filming.<ref name=devilsknot3>{{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}}</ref><ref name=devilsknot4>{{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 }}</ref> The film premiered at the 2013 ],<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> followed by a release in selected American theaters on May 9, 2014.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Although the film received mainly negative reviews; London's '']'' thought Witherspoon was "the strongest, most involving character".<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In November 2016, Witherspoon began production on the romantic comedy '']'', the directorial debut of filmmaker ]' daughter, ], which was released on September 8, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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=] |first=Justin |last=Kroll |date=August 4, 2016 |accessdate=March 30, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110105618/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/reese-witherspoon-home-again-rose-byrne-nancy-meyers-1201816375/ |archivedate=November 10, 2016 |df= }}</ref>> A few months later, she began filming the ] '']'', the film adaptation of ]'s ], where she plays Mrs. Whatsit. She co-stars alongside ] and ] and is directed by ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wrinkle in Time Cast Announced as Filming Begins |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/782179-a-wrinkle-in-time-cast-announced-as-filming-begins |accessdate=March 30, 2017 |work=ComingSoon.net |date=November 1, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129231914/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/782179-a-wrinkle-in-time-cast-announced-as-filming-begins |archivedate=November 29, 2016 |df= }}</ref>


In 2012, Witherspoon founded production company Pacific Standard (now part of ]). 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 '']'' (2014), an adaptation of ]'s novel ].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> She also produced and starred in the biographical adventure '']'' (2014), based on ]'s memoir ]<ref>{{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}}</ref> She portrayed Strayed on her {{convert|1000|mi|adj=on}} hike along the ].<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Wild'' was released in December 2014 to critical acclaim;<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Michael Phillips of '']'' 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Wild'' was considered as Witherspoon's "comeback" role following her previous career slump,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> and she earned a second Academy Award nomination for her performance.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
== Other ventures ==
] in January 2012]]
Witherspoon owned a production company called Type A Films, which the media believed was a moniker honoring her childhood nickname "Little Miss Type A."<ref name="ambition" /><ref>{{cite news|date=February 13, 2006 |author=Hancock, Tiffany |title=Fashion victim: Reese Witherspoon |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2006/02/13/efvictim11.xml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203034324/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Ffashion%2F2006%2F02%2F13%2Fefvictim11.xml |archivedate=December 3, 2007 |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, when asked about the company by '']'' magazine, she clarified the name's origin: "...&nbsp;people think I named it after myself... It was actually an ] with my family because at 7 I understood complicated medical terms, such as the difference between ]. But I just wished I'd named the company Dogfood Films or Fork or something. You carry that baggage all your life."<ref name="That's Reese" /> In March 2012, Witherspoon merged Type A Films with producer ]'s Make Movies banner to create a new production company entitled Pacific Standard.<ref>{{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=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-papandrea-pacific-standard-297776 |accessdate=July 28, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430153822/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-papandrea-pacific-standard-297776 |archivedate=April 30, 2012 |df= }}</ref> In 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea split up, with Witherspoon gaining full control over the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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 Fleming |last=Jr |date=September 1, 2016 |publisher= |accessdate=December 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125170027/http://deadline.com/2016/09/reese-witherspoon-bruna-papandrea-split-pacific-standard-gone-girl-1201812345/ |archivedate=November 25, 2016 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon appeared in ]'s drama ''],'' based on a true story about an employment counselor assigned to help four young ], known as ], who win a lottery for relocation to the U.S.<ref name="thegoodlie1">{{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}}</ref><ref name="thegoodlie2">{{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}}</ref> It was released on October 3, 2014.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Next, she appeared in '']'' (2014), an adaptation of ]'s ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In May 2014, Witherspoon began production in Louisiana on '']'', a comedy in which she plays a police officer trying to protect a drug lord's widow (]).<ref>{{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}}</ref> The feature was released on May 8, 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In 2013, Witherspoon recorded a cover of the classic ] and ] duet, "]" with ] for his 2013 album, '']''.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 23, 2013 |author=Apple Inc |title=To Be Loved by Michael Bublé |work=iTunes |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-be-loved/id605526405 |accessdate=April 23, 2013 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513074327/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-be-loved/id605526405 |archivedate=May 13, 2013 |df= }}</ref>


===2016–present: Television success===
In May 2015, Witherspoon launched ], a retail brand with a focus on fashion, accessories and home décor inspired by the American South. The brand is named after Witherspoon's 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 launched direct to consumers online before opening its first brick and mortar store in fall 2015 in Witherspoon's hometown of ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-launches-draper-james-lifestyle-brand/ |title=Reese Witherspoon launches Draper James lifestyle brand |publisher=CBS News |date=May 6, 2015 |accessdate=May 6, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507064020/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reese-witherspoon-launches-draper-james-lifestyle-brand/ |archivedate=May 7, 2015 |df= }}</ref>
]'' at the ]]]


In 2016, Witherspoon had a voice role in the animated musical comedy film '']'', and served as a performer to the film's ]. ''Sing'' became Witherspoon's biggest commercial success, being the first of her films to make over $200 million domestically and $600 million worldwide.<ref name="BOM">{{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 }}</ref> That same year, Witherspoon began filming her first television project since 1993's ''Return To Lonesome Dove'', ] of the ] bestseller, '']''. She co-produced the miniseries along with co-star ] and director ], her second project under his direction. The series premiered on February 19, 2017, on ] and finished on April 2.<ref>{{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=] |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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> Witherspoon garnered critical acclaim for her performance, with '']'' proclaiming her as "Performer of the Week" in the weeks of February 26 – March 4 in 2017 and June 23&ndash;29 in 2019.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref><ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> '']'' compared her performance to her roles in ''Election'' and ''Legally Blonde''.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> In December 2017, HBO renewed ''Big Little Lies'' for a second season, which premiered in June 2019.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Witherspoon also starred in the romantic comedy '']'', the ] of filmmaker ]' daughter, ], which was released on September 8, 2017.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref>
In October 2016, Witherspoon announced that she would be writing her first book.<ref>ew.com/article/2016/10/13/reese-witherspoon-southern-lifestyle-book/</ref>


In 2018, she starred in ] '']'', a film adaptation of ]'s ], in which she plays Mrs. Whatsit. Directed by ], the feature co-stars ] and ], and was released in March 2018.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Four months later, Witherspoon began hosting the talk show '']'' on ], in which she interviews female guests, focusing on how they achieved their ambitions. The show marks Witherspoon's first unscripted role in television.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>
In November 2016, Witherspoon and ] formed ], a joint venture focused on telling female-driven stories on film, TV and digital platforms.<ref>{{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=]|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6nWs3QER4?url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/|archivedate=January 15, 2017|deadurl=no|accessdate=January 15, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Pacific Standard will become a subsidiary for the company.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}


Witherspoon currently produces and stars in the ] drama series '']'' alongside ] and ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> ''The Morning Show'' received a two-season order from Apple with the first season premiering in November 2019.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> Witherspoon was nominated for a ] and a ] for her work in the series.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> Season two of ''The Morning Show'' was set to premiere in 2020 before a production shutdown caused by the ].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Witherspoon also serves as an executive producer for the Apple TV+ series '']'' starring ] which premiered in December 2019; it was renewed for a second season in March 2020.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
In March 2017, Witherspoon became the storyteller-in-chief for ]. There, she will be helping the company to shape the brand's narrative through advertising campaigns and marketing programs. Of her involvement, Witherspoon states that she is "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."<ref>{{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=] |date=March 30, 2017 |accessdate=March 30, 2017 |df= }}</ref>


In 2020, Witherspoon produced and starred in the ] drama miniseries '']'' opposite ], the televised adaptation of ]'s ].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> In that same year, Witherspoon narrated the ] nature documentary series ''Fierce Queens'' which focuses on female animals in the animal kingdom.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== Philanthropy ===
Witherspoon is actively involved in children's and women's advocacy organizations. She is a longtime supporter of ], an organization that helps provide children around the world with education, health care and emergency aid.<ref name="chldrn" /> She also serves on the board of the ], a child advocacy and research group.<ref name="chldrn" /> In 2006, she was among a group of actresses who went to New Orleans, Louisiana in a CDF project to publicize the needs of ] victims.<ref>{{cite news|title=Witherspoon, Garner Tour New Orleans|author=Plaisance, Stacey|date=May 8, 2006|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/08/AR2006050801206.html|accessdate=December 1, 2007}}</ref> During this trip, she helped open the city's first Freedom School, as she met and talked with the children.<ref name="trip" /> Witherspoon later called this an experience that she would never forget.<ref name="trip">{{cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon Speaks About Children of Katrina |publisher=] |url=http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/MothersDay/story?id=1960165 |date=May 14, 2006 |accessdate=December 1, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809012818/http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/MothersDay/story?id=1960165 |archivedate=August 9, 2007 |df= }}</ref>


In 2023, Witherspoon executive produced, with ], the country music competition show, '']''.<ref>{{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=] | date=January 13, 2023 }}</ref> She starred opposite ] in the romantic comedy '']'', which released on Netflix.<ref>{{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}}</ref> She will next produce and star in the romantic comedy '']'' for Amazon Prime Video.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In 2007, Witherspoon made her first move into the world of endorsements, as she signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the first Global Ambassador of cosmetic company ].<ref name="chldrn">{{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|accessdate=February 1, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2017}}</ref><ref name="avon">{{cite news|author=Guest, Katy |date=August 5, 2007 |title=Reese Witherspoon: From Hollywood star to Avon lady |publisher=] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-from-hollywood-star-to-avon-lady-460275.html |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |location=London |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729102632/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/reese-witherspoon-from-hollywood-star-to-avon-lady-460275.html |archivedate=July 29, 2013 |df= }}</ref> She acts as a spokeswoman for Avon's cosmetic products 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.<ref name="avon products">{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon heeds Avon call to be spokeswoman |agency=Reuters |date=August 2, 2007 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0141828920070802 |accessdate=November 11, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228082140/https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0141828920070802 |archivedate=December 28, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Witherspoon to become 'Avon lady' |publisher=BBC News |date=August 1, 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6927011.stm |accessdate=December 1, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429133947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6927011.stm |archivedate=April 29, 2008 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon is also committed to participating in cosmetics product development and appearing in commercial advertisements.<ref name="avon products" /> 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."<ref name="avon products" />
<!--In addition to starring and producing television shows of her own, Witherspoon will serve as an ] for six television series, for different streaming services and networks including Apple TV+,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/kristen-wiig-exits-apple-comedy-series-recasting-scheduling-conflict-wonder-woman-1202413891/|title=Kristen Wiig Exits Apple Comedy Series Because Of 'Wonder Woman' Conflict, Project Eyes Recasting|date=June 20, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=July 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620042157/https://deadline.com/2018/06/kristen-wiig-exits-apple-comedy-series-recasting-scheduling-conflict-wonder-woman-1202413891/|archive-date=June 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ], ],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Otterson|first=Joe|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sara-saedi-americanized-reese-witherspoon-abc-1202978698/|title=Sara Saedi Memoir 'Americanized' in Development as ABC Comedy With Reese Witherspoon Producing|date=October 12, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013114000/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sara-saedi-americanized-reese-witherspoon-abc-1202978698/|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/daisy-jones-the-six-amazon-limited-series-reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-the-disaster-artist-writers-1202433021/|title=Amazon Orders 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Limited Series From Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine & 'Disaster Artist' Writers|date=July 25, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728074420/https://deadline.com/2018/07/daisy-jones-the-six-amazon-limited-series-reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-the-disaster-artist-writers-1202433021/|archive-date=July 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/starz-developing-kin-drama-davita-scarlett-reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-1202562019/|title=Starz Developing 'Kin' Drama With Davita Scarlett & Reese Witherspoon|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=February 21, 2019|website=Deadline|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108115838/https://deadline.com/2019/02/starz-developing-kin-drama-davita-scarlett-reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-1202562019/|archive-date=November 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zoe Saldana to Star in Netflix Limited Series 'From Scratch' With Reese Witherspoon Producing (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/zoe-saldana-reese-witherspoon-from-scratch-netflix-tembi-locke-1203395696/|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=November 7, 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214044130/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/zoe-saldana-reese-witherspoon-from-scratch-netflix-tembi-locke-1203395696/|archive-date=December 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|date=August 17, 2020|title=Reese Witherspoon and Masked Singer Boss Team for My Kind of Country Music Competition on Apple TV+|url=https://tvline.com/2020/08/17/reese-witherspoon-my-kind-of-country-apple-tv-music-competition/|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=TVLine|language=en-US|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127182215/https://tvline.com/2020/08/17/reese-witherspoon-my-kind-of-country-apple-tv-music-competition/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Witherspoon will produce and star in three Netflix films; first, ''Pyros'', a science fiction drama directed by ], secondly, two romantic comedies on Netflix.<ref>{{cite web|title=Netflix Wins 'Pyros;' Reese Witherspoon To Star, Produce Thomas Pierce Sci-Fi Film With Simon Kinberg|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/reese-witherspoon-pyros-netflix-simon-kinberg-thomas-pierce-science-fiction-film-with-simon-kinberg-1202667061/|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=August 13, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213052956/https://deadline.com/2019/08/reese-witherspoon-pyros-netflix-simon-kinberg-thomas-pierce-science-fiction-film-with-simon-kinberg-1202667061/|archive-date=December 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon To Star In Two Netflix Romcoms From Hello Sunshine: Aggregate-Produced, Aline Brosh McKenna-Helmed 'Your Place Or Mine' & 'The Cactus'|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/reese-witherspoon-two-netflix-romantic-comedies-hello-sunshine-the-cactus-aggregate-films-aline-brosh-mckenna-the-cactus-1202932978/|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=May 12, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522200224/https://deadline.com/2020/05/reese-witherspoon-two-netflix-romantic-comedies-hello-sunshine-the-cactus-aggregate-films-aline-brosh-mckenna-the-cactus-1202932978/|archive-date=May 22, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Witherspoon will produce two films including ''A White Lie'' set to star ], and a documentary about ].<ref>{{Cite news|last= Fleming| first=Mike Jr. |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/zendaya-a-white-lie-reese-witherspoons-karin-tanabe-hello-sunshine-anita-hemmings-monica-beletsky-1202207512/|title=Zendaya To Star In 'A White Lie,' Pitch Package From Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine|date=November 14, 2017|work=Deadline|access-date=July 23, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724125022/https://deadline.com/2017/11/zendaya-a-white-lie-reese-witherspoons-karin-tanabe-hello-sunshine-anita-hemmings-monica-beletsky-1202207512/|archive-date=July 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/reese-witherspoon-documentary-martina-navratilova-1202391557/|title=Reese Witherspoon Producing Documentary On Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova|date=May 15, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=July 23, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225148/https://deadline.com/2018/05/reese-witherspoon-documentary-martina-navratilova-1202391557/|archive-date=July 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Witherspoon will also reprise the role of Elle Woods by starring in and producing '']''; the script will be written by ] and ]. The film will be the fourth collaboration between Kaling and Witherspoon after ''A Wrinkle in Time, The Mindy Project'' and ''The Morning Show.''<ref>{{Cite web|title='Legally Blonde 3': Mindy Kaling & Dan Goor Giving Fresh Take To MGM-Hello Sunshine Sequel|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/legally-blonde-3-mindy-kaling-dan-goor-giving-fresh-take-to-mgm-hello-sunshine-sequel-1202937634/|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=May 19, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522035201/https://deadline.com/2020/05/legally-blonde-3-mindy-kaling-dan-goor-giving-fresh-take-to-mgm-hello-sunshine-sequel-1202937634/|archive-date=May 22, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, it was reported that Witherspoon had signed on to star in and produce a live-action film about ] for Disney.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/21/reese-witherspoon-tinker-bell-disney-developing-peter-pan-spinoff-tink|title=Reese Witherspoon as Tinker Bell: Disney developing 'Peter Pan' spinoff 'Tink'|author=Darren French|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308205832/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/21/reese-witherspoon-tinker-bell-disney-developing-peter-pan-spinoff-tink/|url-status=live}}</ref> Six years later, the project re-entered development as a part of ]'s overall deal with Disney and Witherspoon still attached as a producer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Gary Marsh Exiting As Head Of Disney Branded TV To Launch Disney-Backed Company With 'Peter Pan' & 'Witch Mountain' Offshoots, More 'Descendants'&thinsp; |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/gary-marsh-exit-disney-branded-tv-launch-disney-backed-company-peter-pan-witch-mountain-offshoots-more-descendants-1234840832/ |work=] |access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://insidethemagic.net/2021/09/disney-tink-movie-reese-witherspoon-kc1/|date=September 28, 2021|title=Details Revealed For Disney's New 'Tink' Movie Involving Reese Witherspoon|work=Inside the Magic|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref>-->


== In the media == ==Other ventures==
===Business and philanthropy===
]'' in 2005]]
] in 2009]]
Witherspoon hosted '']'' on September 29, 2001, the first episode to air after the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Saturday Night Live Preps 'Emotional' Premiere |publisher=] |date=September 27, 2001 |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102195&page=1 |accessdate=December 12, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423155106/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102195&page=1 |archivedate=April 23, 2009 |df= }}</ref> In 2005, she was ranked No.&nbsp;5 in '']'' magazine's list of most powerful young Hollywood actors.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=] |date=August 6, 2005 |title=Kutcher tops list of young, powerful |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050806/news_1c06stars.html |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119043414/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050806/news_1c06stars.html |archivedate=January 19, 2012 |df= }}</ref> In 2006, Witherspoon was listed among the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=The people who shape our world |work=TIME |url=http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/ |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502231929/http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/ |archivedate=May 2, 2006 |df= }}</ref> Her featured article was written by ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon |author=Wilson, Luke |date=April 30, 2006 |work=TIME |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187328,00.html |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022043835/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1187328%2C00.html |archivedate=October 22, 2007 |df= }}</ref> In the same year, she was selected as one of the "]" by the readers of '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Sexiest Women In The World 2006|publisher=]|url=http://www.fhm.com/site/content/article.aspx?ID=15886|accessdate=November 5, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071022070934/http://www.fhm.com/site/content/article.aspx?ID=15886 |archivedate = October 22, 2007}}</ref> Witherspoon has been featured four times in the annual "100 Most Beautiful" issues of '']'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Facts about People's most beautiful list |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=] |accessdate=December 28, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227002153/http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf |archivedate=February 27, 2008 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon has appeared on the annual ] list by '']'' magazine in 2006 and 2007, at No.&nbsp;75 and No.&nbsp;80, respectively.<ref>{{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 |accessdate=November 21, 2007 |date=June 15, 2006 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211081422/http://www.forbes.com/home/celebrities/2006/06/12/06celebrities_money-power-celebrities-list_land.html |archivedate=December 11, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2007:The Celebrity 100 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100_Rank_4.html |accessdate=November 21, 2007 |date=June 14, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115180511/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100_Rank_4.html |archivedate=November 15, 2007 |df= }}</ref> '']'' also put her on the top ten Trustworthy Celebrities list.<ref>{{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 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201040724/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/09/25/trust-celebrity-politicians-tech_cx_lr_06trust_0925celeb.html|archivedate=December 1, 2007|work=Forbes|date=September 25, 2006|accessdate=November 21, 2007}}</ref> She was listed among ''CEOWorld Magazine'''s Top Accomplished Women Entertainers.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Accomplished Women Entertainers |url=http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2011/05/18/ceoworld-richest-women-in-entertainment-world-list-accomplished-women-entertainers |newspaper=CEOWORLD magazine |date=May 18, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115070954/http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2011/05/18/ceoworld-richest-women-in-entertainment-world-list-accomplished-women-entertainers |archivedate=January 15, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


Witherspoon owned a production company called ], which the media believed was a nickname from her childhood, "Little Miss Type A".<ref name="ambition" /><ref>{{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 }}</ref> However, when asked about the company by '']'' magazine, she clarified the name's origin: "...&nbsp;people think I named it after myself... It was actually an ] with my family because at 7 I understood complicated medical terms, such as the difference between ]. But I just wished I'd named the company Dogfood Films or Fork or something. You carry that baggage all your life."<ref name="That's Reese" /> In March 2012, Witherspoon merged Type A Films with ]'s "Make Movies" banner to form a new production company called Pacific Standard.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea parted ways, and Witherspoon gained full control of the company.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Pacific Standard has since become a subsidiary of ], a firm co-owned by Witherspoon and ], focused on telling female-oriented stories through film, television and ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Witherspoon also runs the Hello Sunshine book club, where she makes book recommendations.<ref>{{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 {{!}} Women's Fashion & Celebrity News|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}}</ref>
In 2007, she was selected by ''People'' and the entertainment news program '']'' as one of the year's best-dressed female stars.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 12, 2007 |title=People: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon Among Best-Dressed |publisher=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296596,00.html |accessdate=November 21, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223163534/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C296596%2C00.html |archivedate=December 23, 2007 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Access Hollywood's Best Dressed Stars Of 2007 |publisher=] |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/access-hollywoods-best-dressed-stars-of-2007_article_7853 |date=January 5, 2009 |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729111506/http://www.accesshollywood.com/access-hollywoods-best-dressed-stars-of-2007_article_7853 |archivedate=July 29, 2013 |df= }}</ref> The yellow dress she wore to that year's Golden Globe Awards was widely acclaimed.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rubenstein|first=Hal|title=100 Unforgettable Dresses|publisher=Harper Design|location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-219888-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KvzSrWl5QP0C&pg=PT243&lpg=PT243&dq=%22Reese+Witherspoon%22+Theyskens&source=bl&ots=qYdHj8dA_5&sig=JKXdVRx0RyF5XJ6eEAn6ZtFDv6U&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uXdsUNCWEpOu0AGx4YCwAw&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false|chapter=The "Ryan Who?" Dress}}</ref> A study conducted by E-Poll Market Research showed that Witherspoon was the most likable female celebrity of 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0432014220080104?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews |title=Reese Witherspoon tops list of most-liked celebs |agency=Reuters |accessdate=January 5, 2008 |date=January 4, 2008 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112114558/https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0432014220080104?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews |archivedate=January 12, 2008 |df= }}</ref> That same year, Witherspoon established herself as the highest-paid actress in the American film industry, earning $15 to $20 million per film.<ref>{{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 |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908053142/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2582742.ece |archivedate=September 8, 2008 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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 |agency=Reuters |accessdate=November 5, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202073307/https://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN3030609020071130 |archivedate=December 2, 2007 |df= }}</ref> In recent years, however, her appearance in a number of movies that fared badly at the box office caused a turnabout in her status, and she has been noted as one of the most overpaid actors in Hollywood in 2011, 2012 and 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-04/news/30361703_1_box-office-adam-sandler-vince-vaughn |title=Drew Barrymore, Eddie Murphy named Hollywood’s most overpaid actors by Forbes – NY Daily News |publisher=Articles.nydailynews.com |date=November 4, 2011 |accessdate=April 21, 2013 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|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 |publisher=Forbes |date=April 18, 2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2013 |first=Dorothy |last=Pomerantz |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420220804/http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2012/12/04/eddie-murphy-is-the-most-overpaid-actor-in-hollywood/ |archivedate=April 20, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|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 |publisher=Forbes |date=December 9, 2013 |accessdate=January 26, 2014 |first=Dorothy |last=Pomerantz |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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/ |archivedate=December 10, 2013 |df= }}</ref> In April 2011, Witherspoon ranked 3rd on the 22nd annual ''People's Most Beautiful'' issue.<ref>{{cite web|title=People's Most Beautiful 2011 – Reese Witherspoon |url=http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20360857_20481337,00.html#20936763 |publisher=''People'' |date=April 13, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808170942/http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0%2C%2C20360857_20481337%2C00.html |archivedate=August 8, 2011 |df= }}</ref>


In May 2015, Witherspoon launched ], a retail brand focusing on fashion and ] inspired by the ]. 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 ], and the brand was launched online before opening its first retail outlet in 2015 in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In March 2017, Witherspoon became the chief storyteller for ], 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".<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref>
On December 1, 2010, Witherspoon received a star on the ] at 6262 Hollywood Blvd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/index.php?module=blogs&blog_id=29 |title=Welcome – Hollywood Chamber of Commerce |publisher=Hollywoodchamber.net |accessdate=February 4, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210030517/http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/index.php?module=blogs&blog_id=29 |archivedate=February 10, 2011 |df= }}</ref>


Witherspoon is involved in children and ] advocacy. She is a longtime supporter of ], an organization that helps provide children around the world with education, healthcare and emergency aid.<ref name="chldrn" /> She also serves on the board of the ] (CDF), a child advocacy and research group.<ref name="chldrn" /> In 2006, she was among a group of actresses who went to New Orleans, Louisiana in a CDF project to publicize the needs of ] victims.<ref>{{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}}</ref> During this trip, she helped open the city's first Freedom School, as she met and talked with the children.<ref name="trip" /> Witherspoon later called this an experience that she would never forget.<ref name="trip">{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon Speaks About Children of Katrina |work=] |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 }}</ref>
In June 2013, Witherspoon filed suit against Marketing Advantages International Inc., claiming it used her name and image extensively in jewelry advertising without her permission, both throughout the United States and internationally. In December 2015, while Witherspoon's trademark claims to her name were rejected, for she had not established secondary meaning to her full name, that she did not claim "emotional distress" and the "photos and facts were generally known by the public and the photos were taken in public with Plaintiff's consent", the court ruled that she could proceed with her right of publicity claims against a number of defendants.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge Leans Against "Reese Witherspoon" as a Protectable Slogan |author=Gardner, Eriq |date=November 24, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-leans-reese-witherspoon-as-843541 |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201231009/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-leans-reese-witherspoon-as-843541 |archivedate=February 1, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201005729/http://www.law360.com/articles/732731/reese-witherspoon-wins-round-in-publicity-rights-battle |archivedate=February 1, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=L.A. Court Allows Reese Witherspoon to Proceed with Right of Publicity Claim Against Jeweler |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 |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131230042/http://www.rightofpublicityroadmap.com/news-commentary/revised-la-court-allows-reese-witherspoon-proceed-right-publicity-claim-against |archivedate=January 31, 2016 |df= }}</ref> Two months later, Witherspoon withdrew her lawsuit, having "come to private agreements with the various defendants, including Centerbrook Sales, Fragrance Hut, Gemvara, and others".<ref>{{cite news|title=Hollywood Docket: Reese Witherspoon Settles Imitation Jewelry Lawsuit |author=Eriq, Gardner |date=February 16, 2016 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-reese-witherspoon-settles-866160 |accessdate=March 1, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221105529/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-reese-witherspoon-settles-866160 |archivedate=February 21, 2016 |df= }}</ref>


In 2007, Witherspoon made her first move into ], and she signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the first Global Ambassador for cosmetics firm ].<ref name="chldrn">{{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}}</ref><ref name="avon">{{cite news|author=Guest, Katy |date=August 5, 2007 |title=Reese Witherspoon: From Hollywood star to Avon lady |newspaper=] |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 }}</ref> 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 ] research and the prevention of ].<ref name="avon products">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> She is also committed to the development of cosmetic products and making appearances in commercials.<ref name="avon products" /> 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."<ref name="avon products" />
In 2015, Witherspoon made her second appearance among the Time 100, with her featured article being written by ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon |author=Kaling, Mindy |date=April 16, 2015 |work=TIME |url=http://time.com/3822959/reese-witherspoon-2015-time-100/ |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125064435/http://time.com/3822959/reese-witherspoon-2015-time-100/ |archivedate=January 25, 2016 |df= }}</ref> The same year, she was awarded, by a unanimous vote from the committee, the ] 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".<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon To Get 2015 American Cinematheque Award |author=Lincoln, Ross A. |date=July 23, 2015 |work=Deadline |url=http://deadline.com/2015/07/american-cinematheque-gives-lifetime-achievement-to-reese-witherspoon-1201483980/ |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228223149/http://deadline.com/2015/07/american-cinematheque-gives-lifetime-achievement-to-reese-witherspoon-1201483980/ |archivedate=December 28, 2015 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon to be Honored by American Cinematheque |author=Kilday, Gregg |date=July 23, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-american-cinematheque-honoree-810744 |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202031553/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reese-witherspoon-american-cinematheque-honoree-810744 |archivedate=February 2, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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 |work=Deadline |url=http://deadline.com/2015/10/reese-witherspoon-jeffrey-katzenberg-american-cinematheque-2015-awards-show-1201599982/ |accessdate=January 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107161921/http://deadline.com/2015/10/reese-witherspoon-jeffrey-katzenberg-american-cinematheque-2015-awards-show-1201599982/ |archivedate=January 7, 2016 |df= }}</ref>


In 2020, during the ], Witherspoon announced the "Draper James Loves Teachers" initiative, offering free dresses from the clothing collection to teachers.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== Personal life ==


===Influences=== === Other work ===
In 2013, Witherspoon recorded a cover of the classic ] and ] duet, "]" with ] for his 2013 album, '']''.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 23, 2013 |author=Apple Inc |title=To Be Loved by Michael Bublé |work=iTunes |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-be-loved/id605526405 |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}}</ref> In September 2018, she published her first book, ''Whiskey in a Teacup'', which is a lifestyle publication inspired by her southern upbringing.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2018, she joined approximately 300 other actors, agents, writers and entertainment employees in creating the ] initiative, which seeks to counteract sexual harassment in the workplace.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


In 2017, Witherspoon started Reese's Book Club.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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 '']'' by ]. Chosen for the club in September 2018, it was adapted into a 2022 ] by Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, and was a box office hit that summer.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Witherspoon has cited actresses like ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and actors like ], ], and ] as influences in her acting.<ref name="tiscali2"/><ref name="reader's digest" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/rwitherspoon/status/545301099612090368|title=Reese Witherspoon on Twitter|publisher=|accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="new you">{{cite news|title=Video: Who Influences Reese Witherspoon? |url=http://www.newyou.com/celebrity/video-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-women/ |work=NewYou |date=November 10, 2015 |accessdate=March 1, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314073653/http://www.newyou.com/celebrity/video-reese-witherspoon-talks-about-women/ |archivedate=March 14, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-power-100-stars-846755 |title=Women in Entertainment Power 100: The Stars |publisher= |accessdate=December 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011190329/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-power-100-stars-846755 |archivedate=October 11, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://instagram.com/p/xKJhrfChdb/ |title=Instagram photo by Reese Witherspoon • Dec 28, 2014 at 5:20pm UTC |publisher= |accessdate=December 25, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921142805/https://www.instagram.com/p/xKJhrfChdb/ |archivedate=September 21, 2016 |df= }}</ref> Her favorite films are '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="new you" /><ref>{{cite news|title=The Movie That Had the Biggest Influence on Reese Witherspoon |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/movie-biggest-influence-reese-witherspoon/story?id=28895665 |work=ABC |date=February 17, 2015 |accessdate=March 1, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314103633/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/movie-biggest-influence-reese-witherspoon/story?id=28895665 |archivedate=March 14, 2016 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Witherspoon|first1=Reese|title=Reese Witherspoon on Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/ReeseWitherspoon/videos/1064604926992476/|website=Facebook |accessdate=30 March 2017|quote=at 21:37 mark}}</ref>


==Public image==
=== Relationships ===
]]]
Witherspoon met actor ] at her 21st birthday party in March 1997.<ref name="split end">{{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 |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801150410/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/split_end_for_legal_blonde_reese_K11HV63Mz7ztl6xhfix2hL |archivedate=August 1, 2013 |df= }}</ref> They became engaged in December 1998<ref>{{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|accessdate=November 10, 2007}}</ref> and married near ], on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation.<ref name="cnn" /><ref>{{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 |accessdate=July 2, 2008 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719101712/http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/witherspoon.htm |archivedate=July 19, 2008 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Witherspoon. Phillippe. Married |publisher=Eonline.com |author=Frankel, Daniel |date=June 8, 1999 |url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=ab83c281-64be-477e-b585-ad632ddde656&entry=index |accessdate=February 1, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616055414/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/archive.jsp?uuid=ab83c281-64be-477e-b585-ad632ddde656&entry=index |archivedate=June 16, 2012 |df= }}</ref> The couple has two children together, a daughter, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born on September 9, 1999,<ref>{{cite news|title=Entertainment: News In Brief|publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/449118.stm|accessdate=November 10, 2007 | date=September 16, 1999}}</ref> and a son, Deacon Reese Phillippe born on October 23, 2003.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon gives birth |publisher=CNN |date=October 29, 2003 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/29/ple.witherspoon.reut/ |accessdate=November 10, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206121706/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/29/ple.witherspoon.reut/ |archivedate=December 6, 2007 |df= }}</ref> In October 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced that they were separating.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1552282,00.html |title=Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe Split |work=] |date=October 30, 2006 |accessdate=December 22, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222221758/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C1552282%2C00.html |archivedate=December 22, 2014 |df= }}</ref>


In early February 2010, it was reported that Witherspoon had begun dating Jim Toth,<ref>{{cite news|title=Is Reese Witherspoon Dating Again? |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20341347,00.html |work=] |date=February 4, 2010 |accessdate=April 24, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083449/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20341347%2C00.html |archivedate=April 20, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Date Night |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20346918,00.html |work=] |date=February 25, 2010 |accessdate=April 24, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083413/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20346918%2C00.html |archivedate=April 20, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Birthday Getaway with Jim Toth |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20353537,00.html |work=] |date=March 22, 2010 |accessdate=April 24, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420083625/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20353537%2C00.html |archivedate=April 20, 2010 |df= }}</ref> a ] and co-head of motion picture talent at the ], where Witherspoon is a client.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Heads Of CAA's MP Talent Department |url=http://www.deadline.com/2010/09/new-heads-of-caas-mp-talent-department/ |work=] |date=September 21, 2010 |accessdate=December 8, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125055235/http://www.deadline.com/2010/09/new-heads-of-caas-mp-talent-department/ |archivedate=November 25, 2010 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon and Toth announced their engagement in December 2010,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth Engaged! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-engaged-20102812 |work=] |date=December 28, 2010 |accessdate=December 28, 2010 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230215752/http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-engaged-20102812 |archivedate=December 30, 2010 |df= }}</ref> and married on March 26, 2011 in ], at Libbey Ranch,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Wedding on Saturday |url=http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/03/reese_witherspoon_wedding_on_saturday.php |work=] |date=March 25, 2011 |accessdate=March 27, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428235038/http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/03/reese_witherspoon_wedding_on_saturday.php |archivedate=April 28, 2011 }}</ref> Witherspoon's country estate (which she since has sold).<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Weds Jim Toth! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-weds-jim-toth-2011263 |work=] |date=March 26, 2011 |accessdate=March 26, 2011 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430015006/http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-weds-jim-toth-2011263 |archivedate=April 30, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ca.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 |date=November 12, 2013 |accessdate=November 15, 2013 |first=Jennifer |last=Chan |work=E! |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=September 6, 2014 |df= }}</ref> The couple has a son, Tennessee James Toth, born on September 27, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Welcomes Son Tennessee James |url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/09/27/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-welcome-son-tennessee-james/ |work=] |date=September 27, 2012 |accessdate=September 27, 2012 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928183748/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/09/27/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-welcome-son-tennessee-james/ |archivedate=September 28, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon hosted '']'' on September 29, 2001, the first episode to air after the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Saturday Night Live Preps 'Emotional' Premiere |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> In 2005, she was ranked No.&nbsp;5 in '']'' magazine's list of most powerful young Hollywood actors.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=] |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 }}</ref> In 2006, she was listed among the ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Her featured article was written by ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> That year, she was selected one of the "]" by the readers of '']''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Sexiest Women In The World 2006 |magazine=] |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 }}</ref> Witherspoon has been featured four times in the annual "100 Most Beautiful" issues of '']'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Facts about People's most beautiful list |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf |work=] |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}}</ref> She has appeared on the annual ] list by '']'' magazine in 2006 and 2007, at No.&nbsp;75 and No.&nbsp;80, respectively.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> '']'' also put her on the top ten Trustworthy Celebrities list.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


In 2007, she was selected by ''People'' and the entertainment news program '']'' as one of the year's best-dressed female stars.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 12, 2007 |title=People: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon Among Best-Dressed |publisher=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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Access Hollywood's Best Dressed Stars Of 2007 |publisher=] |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 }}</ref> The yellow dress she wore to that year's Golden Globe Awards was widely acclaimed.<ref>{{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}}</ref> A study conducted by E-Poll Market Research showed that Witherspoon was the most likable female celebrity of 2007.<ref>{{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}}</ref> That same year, she established herself as the highest-paid actress in the American film industry, earning $15 to $20 million per film.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> In April 2011, she ranked No. 3 on the 22nd annual ''People's Most Beautiful'' issue.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
===Faith===


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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Two months later, she withdrew her lawsuit, having "come to private agreements with the various defendants, including Centerbrook Sales, Fragrance Hut, Gemvara, and others".<ref>{{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}}</ref> In October 2017, in the wake of the ] ], 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.<ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref>
Witherspoon is an ].<ref>https://www.facebook.com/ReeseWitherspoon/photos/pb.344945368958439.-2207520000.1459535224./961100344009602/?type=3</ref>


In 2015, Witherspoon made her second appearance on the ''Time'' 100 list, with her featured article written by ].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> That year, she was awarded, by the committee's unanimous vote, the ] 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2017, ''Forbes'' reported her career earnings were in excess of $198 million, making her the highest-paid primetime Emmy nominee in 2017.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2019, ''Forbes'' listed her among the ].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Legal troubles===


==Personal life==
Early in the morning of April 19, 2013, while in ], ] filming '']'', Witherspoon and Toth were pulled over after the car in which they were traveling was seen weaving across a double line on ].<ref name="arrest1">{{cite news|url=http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/reese-witherspoon-arrested-dui-husband-jim-toth-atlanta-1200401299/ |title=Reese Witherspoon and Agent Husband Arrested in DUI Incident (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |date=April 21, 2013 |accessdate=April 21, 2013 |first=Ted |last=Johnson |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422071632/http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/reese-witherspoon-arrested-dui-husband-jim-toth-atlanta-1200401299/ |archivedate=April 22, 2013 |df= }}</ref> Toth, who was driving, was found to have a ] of 0.139 and was arrested and charged with ] and failing to maintain a lane.<ref name="arrest1"/> Witherspoon was arrested and charged with ] for disobeying the arresting officer's instructions to remain in the vehicle and arguing with him, asking if he knew who she was.<ref name="arrest1"/><ref name="arrest6">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20696998,00.html |title=Reese Witherspoon Arrest Videos Hit the Internet |publisher=] |date=May 2, 2013 |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |first=Mike |last=Fleeman |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503085607/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20696998%2C00.html |archivedate=May 3, 2013 |df= }}</ref> Witherspoon pleaded ] and was fined $313, including court costs.<ref name="arrest7">{{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 Witherspoon Arrest: Actress Will Pay Fine for Obstruction, Hubby Jim Toth Pleads Guilty for DUI |date=May 2, 2013 |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |first=Bruna |last=Nessif |deadurl=no |archiveurl=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 |archivedate=May 4, 2013 |df= }}</ref>
Witherspoon met actor ] at her 21st birthday party in March 1997.<ref name="split end">{{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}}</ref> They became engaged in December 1998<ref>{{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}}</ref> and married on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation in ].<ref name="cnn" /><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> They have two children together, daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born on September 9, 1999;<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippes-birthday-messages-to-daughter-ava-w502126/amp/ |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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> and son Deacon Reese Phillippe, born on October 23, 2003.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon gives birth |publisher=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}}</ref> On October 30, 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced their separation.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoon-ryan-phillippe-split/|title=Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe Split |work=] |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}}</ref> She filed for divorce on November 8, 2006, citing ].<ref name="file">{{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 }}</ref> In light of their lack of a ], she requested that the court refuse to grant ] 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.<ref name="ryan">{{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 }}</ref> The marriage officially ended on October 5, 2007, with final divorce arrangements settled on June 13, 2008, according to court documents. Phillippe and Witherspoon share joint custody of their children.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


Witherspoon dated her ''Rendition'' co-star ] from 2007 until 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon & Jake Gyllenhaal Get Close|work=]|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}}</ref><ref>{{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=]|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}}</ref> In February 2010, she was reported to be dating Jim Toth,<ref>{{cite news|title=Is Reese Witherspoon Dating Again? |url= https://people.com/celebrity/is-reese-witherspoon-dating-again/|work=] |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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Date Night |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoons-date-night/|work=] |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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon's Birthday Getaway with Jim Toth |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoons-birthday-getaway-with-jim-toth/ |work=] |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}}</ref> a ] and co-head of motion picture talent at ], where she is a client.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> They announced their engagement that December,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth Engaged! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-jim-toth-engaged-20102812 |work=] |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}}</ref> and married on March 26, 2011, in ], at Libbey Ranch,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Wedding on Saturday |url=https://extratv.com/2011/03/25/reese-witherspoon-wedding-on-saturday/|work=] |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 }}</ref> Witherspoon's country estate, which she later sold.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reese Witherspoon Weds Jim Toth! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/reese-witherspoon-weds-jim-toth-2011263 |work=] |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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> They have a son together, Tennessee James Toth, born on September 27, 2012.<ref>{{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=] |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 }}</ref> On April 19, 2013, Witherspoon was arrested and charged with ] after Toth was stopped for suspicion of ]. She pleaded ] to ] of an officer and was required to pay court costs.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In March 2023, Witherspoon and Toth announced their divorce after 11 years of marriage.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The couple released a joint statement on Witherspoon's Instagram account.<ref>{{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...}}</ref> The announcement was made a few days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Sexual assaults===
After the ], Witherspoon revealed that she had been sexually assaulted by a director at the age of 16 and has had "multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault" throughout her career.<ref>{{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/|accessdate=18 October 2017|work=]|date=17 October 2017}}</ref>


Witherspoon is a practicing ] 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== Filmography ==


=== Film === === Influences ===
Witherspoon has cited ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] as influences on her acting career and work.<ref name="tiscali2" /><ref name="reader's digest" /><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="new you">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Women in Entertainment Power 100: The Stars|website=]|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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Her favorite films include '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="new you" /><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1991
| '']''
| Dani Trant
|
|-
| 1993
| '']''
| Nonnie Parker
|
|-
| 1993
| '']''
| Karen Morris
|
|-
| 1994
| '']''
| Wendy Pfister
|
|-
| 1996
| '']''
| Vanessa Lutz
|
|-
| 1996
| '']''
| Nicole Walker
|
|-
| 1998
| '']''
| Mel Ames
|
|-
| 1998
| '']''
| Ivy Miller
|
|-
| 1998
| '']''
| Jennifer / Mary Sue Parker
|
|-
| 1999
| '']''
| Annette Hargrove
|
|-
| 1999
| '']''
| ]
|
|-
| 1999
| '']''
| Lissa
|
|-
| 2000
| '']''
| Holly
| ]
|-
| 2000
| '']''
| Evelyn Williams
|
|-
| 2001
| '']''
| Serena (voice)
|
|-
| 2001
| '']''
| ]
|
|-
| 2002
| '']''
| Cecily Cardew
|
|-
| 2002
| '']''
| Melanie Smooter
|
|-
| 2003
| '']''
| Elle Woods
| Also executive producer
|-
| 2004
| '']''
| Becky Sharp
|
|-
| 2005
| '']''
| ]
|
|-
| 2005
| '']''
| Elizabeth Masterson
|
|-
| 2006
| '']''
| Annie
| Also producer
|-
| 2007
| '']''
| Isabella Fields El-Ibrahimi
|
|-
| 2008
| '']''
| Kate
|
|-
| 2009
| '']''
| Susan Murphy / Ginormica (voice)
| Also in the ]
|-
| 2010
| '']''
| Lisa Jorgenson
|
|-
| 2011
| '']''
| Marlena Rosenbluth
|
|-
| 2012
| '']''
| Lauren Scott
|
|-
| 2012
| '']''
| Juniper
|
|-
| 2014
| '']''
| Pamela Hobbs
|
|-
| 2014
| '']''
|
| Producer
|-
| 2014
| '']''
| ]
| Also producer
|-
| 2014
| '']''
| Carrie Davis
|
|-
| 2014
| '']''
| Penny Kimball
|
|-
| 2015
| '']''
| Rose Cooper
| Also producer
|-
| 2016
| '']''
| Rosita (voice)
|
|-
| 2017
| '']''
| Alice Kinney
|
|-
| 2018
| '']''
| Mrs. Whatsit
| In post-production
|}


==Filmography and accolades==
=== Television ===
{{Main|Reese Witherspoon filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Reese Witherspoon}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1991
| '']''
| Ellie Perkins
| ]
|-
| 1992
| '']''
| Cassie Robbins
| Movie
|-
| 1993
| '']''
| Ferris Dunnigan
| ]
|-
| 2000
| '']''
| Debbie (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2000
| '']''
| Jill Green
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2001
| '']''
| Host / Various
| Episode: "Reese Witherspoon/]"
|-
| 2002
| ''{{sortname|The|Simpsons}}''
| Greta Wolfcastle (voice)
| Episode: "]"
|-
| 2003
| '']''
| Various roles
| 3 episodes; documentary
|-
| 2009
|'']''
| Susan Murphy / Ginormica (voice)
| Special
|-
|2012
|'']''
| Herself
| Episode: Reese Witherspoon
|-
| 2015
| ''Saturday Night Live''
| Host / Various
| Episode: "Reese Witherspoon/]"
|-
| 2015
| '']''
| Guest announcer
| Episode: "Reese Witherspoon"
|-
| 2015
| '']''
| Herself
| Episode: "Walk the Swine"
|-
| 2017
| '']''
| Madeline Martha Mackenzie
| Miniseries (7 episodes); also executive producer
|-
| 2017
| '']''
| Herself
| Episode: "Girl Gone Wild"
|}


Witherspoon's most acclaimed and highest-grossing films, according to the review aggregate website ], include ''Election'' (1999), ''Legally Blonde'' (2001), ''Walk the Line'' (2005), ''Monsters vs. Aliens'' (2009), ''Mud'' (2013), ''Wild'' (2014), and ''Sing'' (2016).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reese Witherspoon - Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/reese_witherspoon|website=www.rottentomatoes.com|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}}</ref> Witherspoon has been nominated for two ], nine ],<ref name=":1" /> four ] (SAG Awards), and two ] (BAFTAs). She won the ], the ], the ], and the ] for her performance as ] in the film '']'' (2005).<ref name="academy-award-bbc" /><ref name=":2" /> In 2010, Witherspoon received a star on the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/reese-witherspoon/|title=Reese Witherspoon|publisher=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}}</ref>
==Accolades==
{{Main article|List of awards and nominations received by Reese Witherspoon}}
Witherspoon has won numerous awards, including the BAFTA Award and the ] for ] for her performance in '']'' in 2005.<ref name="academy-award-bbc" /> In 2015, Witherspoon was nominated for another Academy Award in the same category, this time for her performance in '']''.<ref name="academy-award-2015">{{cite web|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees/actress-in-a-leading-role/reese-witherspoon |title=Reese Witherspoon |accessdate=July 14, 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710025550/http://oscar.go.com/nominees/actress-in-a-leading-role/reese-witherspoon |archivedate=July 10, 2015 |df= }}</ref>


== References == ==Written works==
*{{Cite book|title=Whiskey in a Teacup|last=Witherspoon|first=Reese|publisher=Touchstone|year=2018|isbn=978-1501166273}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==References==
== External links ==
{{wikiquote}} {{Reflist}}

{{commons|Reese Witherspoon}}
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.draperjames.com/}}
{{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}}
*
* {{IMDb name|702}} * {{IMDb name|702}}
* {{Amg name|77086}}


{{Reese Witherspoon}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before = ]|title = '']'' ]|years = September 29, 2001|after = ]}}
{{succession box|before = ]|title = ''Saturday Night Live'' host|years = May 9, 2015|after = ]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Navboxes {{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Reese Witherspoon |title = ]
| list = |list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActress 2001-2020}} {{AcademyAwardBestActress 2001-2020}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Actress 2000-2019}} {{BAFTA Award for Best Actress 2000-2019}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}} {{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association 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}} {{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureMusicalComedy 2001–2020}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance}} {{MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}} {{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle 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}} {{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}} {{Satellite Award Best Actress Motion Picture}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleLeadMotionPicture 2001–2020}} {{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleLeadMotionPicture 2001–2020}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress}}
}} }}

{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}
{{featured article}} {{featured article}}


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Latest revision as of 16:14, 30 December 2024

American actress (born 1976)

"Laura Witherspoon" redirects here. For other uses, see Witherspoon (surname).

Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon in 2014
BornLaura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
(1976-03-22) March 22, 1976 (age 48)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationStanford University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • entrepreneur
Years active1991–present
Organizations
WorksFilmography
Spouses
  • Ryan Phillippe ​ ​(m. 1999; div. 2007)
  • Jim Toth ​ ​(m. 2011; div. 2023)
Children3
AwardsFull list
Signature

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 women in America with an estimated net worth of $440 million.

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, at Southern Baptist Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana, while her father, John Draper Witherspoon, was a student at Tulane University medical school. Her father was born in Georgia and served as a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. He was in private practice as an otolaryngologist until 2012. 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.

Reese Witherspoon has claimed descent from Scottish-born John Witherspoon, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. However, this claim has not been verified by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists. Her parents are still legally married, although they separated in 1996.

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". At age seven, she was selected as a model for a florist's television advertisements, which motivated her to take acting lessons. 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". 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." She has been described as a "multi-achiever" and was nicknamed "Little Type A" by her parents. 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. She later attended Stanford University as an English literature major, but left prior to completing her studies to pursue an acting career.

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. 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. 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. The next year, she had another leading role as Wendy Pfister in the 1994 film S.F.W., directed by Jefery Levy. In 1996, Witherspoon starred in two major films: the thriller Fear alongside Mark Wahlberg, 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; 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." Witherspoon's performance won her the Best Actress Award at the Cognac Police Film Festival and helped establish her as a rising star. 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. 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." 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. Witherspoon received a rank on the list of 100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time by Premiere. Director Alexander Payne said "She's 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. "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. She also made a guest appearance in the sixth season of Friends as Rachel Green's sister Jill.

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. Witherspoon's performance earned her praise from critics, and the press began to refer her as "the new Meg Ryan". Roger Ebert commented, "Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit", and the critic from Salon magazine wrote "she delineates Elle's character beautifully". 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." The film earned her a second nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, and an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

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. 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. 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. Despite the commercial success, critics gave Sweet Home Alabama negative reviews. The Miami Herald called it "a romantic comedy so rote, dull and predictable", and the press opined that Witherspoon was the only reason the film attracted such a large audience. The Christian Science Monitor wrote of her, "She is not the movie's main attraction, she is its only attraction."

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." Meanwhile, Salon magazine concluded that the sequel "calcifies everything that was enjoyable about the first movie". 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. 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.

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. 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. 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." 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". However, LA Weekly wrote " 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." Some critics thought she was miscast.

Witherspoon attending the premiere of Walk the Line 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. 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." Subsequently, she had to spend six months learning how to sing for the role, including from the help of vocal coach Roger Love. Witherspoon's portrayal of Carter Cash was acclaimed by critics, with Roger Ebert stating that her performance added "boundless energy" to the film. She won Best Actress at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance.

Witherspoon and Phoenix received a nomination for "collaborative video of the year" from the CMT Music Awards. 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." 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. The film premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, but went unreleased until February 2008.

2007–2012: Career setbacks and romantic comedy films

Witherspoon at the premiere of Monsters vs. Aliens 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."

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. The film received mostly mixed reviews and was deemed a major disappointment at the Toronto International Film Festival. 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." 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. Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success, earning more than $120 million domestically and $157 million worldwide. In 2009, Witherspoon voiced Susan Murphy, the lead character in the DreamWorks Animation Monsters vs. Aliens, released in March, which grossed $381 million worldwide. She also co-produced the Legally Blonde spin-off Legally Blondes, starring Milly and Becky Rosso. 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."

Witherspoon at the premiere of Water for Elephants 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, 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 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". The film received mainly unfavorable reviews, with an approval rating of 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 111 reviews as of December 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). Principal photography began between May and early August 2010 in various locations in Tennessee, Georgia, and California. It was released on April 22, 2011, and received mixed critical reviews. 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. The film was panned by critics, with a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 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". In a 2012 interview with MTV, Witherspoon jokingly referred that 2010–12 was her "love triangle period".

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. Mud premiered in May 2012 in competition for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, but did not win. Following its American debut at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, the film had a limited release in selected North American theaters on April 26, 2013.

Witherspoon at the premiere of Mud at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
Witherspoon attending 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." Filming took place in Georgia in June and July 2012, and Witherspoon was pregnant with her third child during filming. The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a release in selected American theaters on May 9, 2014. Although the film received mainly negative reviews; London's Evening Standard thought Witherspoon was "the strongest, most involving character".

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. She also produced and starred in the biographical adventure Wild (2014), based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir of the same name. She portrayed Strayed on her 1,000-mile (1,600 km) hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Wild was released in December 2014 to critical acclaim; 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." Wild was considered as Witherspoon's "comeback" role following her previous career slump, and she earned a second Academy Award nomination for her performance.

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. It was released on October 3, 2014. 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. Next, she appeared in Inherent Vice (2014), an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel of the same name. 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). The feature was released on May 8, 2015.

2016–present: Television success

Witherspoon attending the premiere of Sing 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. 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. 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. The Washington Post compared her performance to her roles in Election and Legally Blonde. In December 2017, HBO renewed Big Little Lies for a second season, which premiered in June 2019. 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.

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. 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.

Witherspoon currently produces and stars in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show alongside Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell. The Morning Show received a two-season order from Apple with the first season premiering in November 2019. 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. Season two of The Morning Show was set to premiere in 2020 before a production shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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.

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. In that same year, Witherspoon narrated the Quibi nature documentary series Fierce Queens which focuses on female animals in the animal kingdom.

In 2023, Witherspoon executive produced, with Kacey Musgraves, the country music competition show, My Kind of Country. She starred opposite Ashton Kutcher in the romantic comedy Your Place or Mine, which released on Netflix. She will next produce and star in the romantic comedy You're Cordially Invited for Amazon Prime Video.

Other ventures

Business and philanthropy

Witherspoon at the Oval Office in 2009

Witherspoon owned a production company called Type A Films, which the media believed was a nickname from her childhood, "Little Miss Type A". 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 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. In 2016, Witherspoon and Papandrea parted ways, and Witherspoon gained full control of the company. 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. Witherspoon also runs the Hello Sunshine book club, where she makes book recommendations.

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. 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".

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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. In September 2018, she published her first book, Whiskey in a Teacup, which is a lifestyle publication inspired by her southern upbringing. 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.

In 2017, Witherspoon started Reese's Book Club. 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.

Public image

Witherspoon signing autographs for fans at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

Witherspoon hosted Saturday Night Live on September 29, 2001, the first episode to air after the September 11 attacks. In 2005, she was ranked No. 5 in Teen People magazine's list of most powerful young Hollywood actors. In 2006, she was listed among the Time 100. Her featured article was written by Luke Wilson. That year, she was selected one of the "100 Sexiest Women In The World" by the readers of FHM. Witherspoon has been featured four times in the annual "100 Most Beautiful" issues of People magazine. She has appeared on the annual Celebrity 100 list by Forbes magazine in 2006 and 2007, at No. 75 and No. 80, respectively. Forbes also put her on the top ten Trustworthy Celebrities list.

In 2007, she was selected by People and the entertainment news program Access Hollywood as one of the year's best-dressed female stars. The yellow dress she wore to that year's Golden Globe Awards was widely acclaimed. A study conducted by E-Poll Market Research showed that Witherspoon was the most likable female celebrity of 2007. That same year, she established herself as the highest-paid actress in the American film industry, earning $15 to $20 million per film. 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. In April 2011, she ranked No. 3 on the 22nd annual People's Most Beautiful issue.

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. Two months later, she withdrew her lawsuit, having "come to private agreements with the various defendants, including Centerbrook Sales, Fragrance Hut, Gemvara, and others". 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.

In 2015, Witherspoon made her second appearance on the Time 100 list, with her featured article written by Mindy Kaling. 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". In 2017, Forbes reported her career earnings were in excess of $198 million, making her the highest-paid primetime Emmy nominee in 2017. In 2019, Forbes listed her among the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

Personal life

Witherspoon met actor Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday party in March 1997. They became engaged in December 1998 and married on June 5, 1999, at Old Wide Awake Plantation in Hollywood, South Carolina. They have two children together, daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, born on September 9, 1999; and son Deacon Reese Phillippe, born on October 23, 2003. On October 30, 2006, Witherspoon and Phillippe announced their separation. She filed for divorce on November 8, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. 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. The marriage officially ended on October 5, 2007, with final divorce arrangements settled on June 13, 2008, according to court documents. Phillippe and Witherspoon share joint custody of their children.

Witherspoon dated her Rendition co-star Jake Gyllenhaal from 2007 until 2009. In February 2010, she was reported to be dating Jim Toth, a talent agent and co-head of motion picture talent at Creative Artists Agency, where she is a client. They announced their engagement that December, and married on March 26, 2011, in Ojai, California, at Libbey Ranch, Witherspoon's country estate, which she later sold. They have a son together, Tennessee James Toth, born on September 27, 2012. 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. In March 2023, Witherspoon and Toth announced their divorce after 11 years of marriage. The couple released a joint statement on Witherspoon's Instagram account. The announcement was made a few days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary.

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."

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. Her favorite films include Splendor in the Grass, Waiting for Guffman, Broadcast News, Raising Arizona, and Overboard.

Filmography and accolades

Main articles: Reese Witherspoon filmography and 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). 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.

Written works

References

  1. "How Reese Witherspoon Has Become The World's Richest Actress". Forbes. April 2, 2021. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
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External links

Reese Witherspoon
Producer
TV series created
Characters portrayed
Related articles
Awards for Reese Witherspoon
Academy Award for Best Actress
1928–1950
1951–1975
1976–2000
2001–present
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
1952–1967
British
Foreign
1968–present
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
1950–1975
1976–2000
2001–present
MTV Movie & TV 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 for Best Actress – Motion Picture
Drama
(1996–2010, 2018–present)
Musical or Comedy
(1996–2010, 2018–present)
Motion Picture
(2011–2017)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

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