Profile of the Day: Reese Witherspoon

Happy birthday to Reese Witherspoon! Today the actress turns 45.

Image: Reese Witherspoon / Wikimedia Commons

Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana to John Draper Witherspoon, an otolaryngologist, and Mary Elizabeth Reese, a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University. She attended Stanford University, but left before finishing her studies to pursue a career as an actress.

After earning critical acclaim for her roles in Election and Pleasantville, Witherspoon catapulted to fame as the star the 2001 film, Legally Blonde. In 2005, she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in the film, Walk the Line. Unsatisfied with the roles she was receiving, Witherspoon took matters into her own hands and launched her own production company. One of her first projects was an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Witherspoon starred as the lead and earned her second Oscar nomination for the role. Since then, Witherspoon has found incredible success as a producer for film and television. Some of her recent television projects include Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, and The Morning Show.

What’s your favorite role?

Explore Reese Witherspoon’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the star.