Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976), professionally known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and producer.
Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991. In 1996, Witherspoon appeared in Freeway, and in 1998, she starred in Pleasantville. For her role in 1999’s Election, she earned a Golden Globe nomination.
2001 marked her career’s turning point with the breakout role as Elle Woods in the box-office hit Legally Blonde, and in 2002 she starred in Sweet Home Alabama, which became her biggest commercial film success to date. 2003 saw her return as lead actress and executive producer of Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. In 2005, Witherspoon received worldwide attention and praise for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, which earned her an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.