I'm Finally Where I To Be In Life

Academy Award-winning actress, and our favourite Southern belle, Reese Witherspoon talks about her love of Post-it notes, her new TV series, and explaining awkward film scenes to her kids

Reese Witherspoon, 41, the daughter of a nurse and a military surgeon, grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, with her older brother John Jr.

Her first film role was in the 1991 drama The Man in the Moon, and she went on to star in popular hits like Legally Blonde. Later, she took on more challenging roles, such as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2006.

In 2012, Reese started a production company, Pacific Standard, producing films like Gone Girl. Her brand-new TV series, Big Little Lies, which she stars in and produces, is about three women whose lives seem perfect, but they’re linked together by a dangerous secret.

She has a daughter, Ava, 17, and son, Deacon, 13, from her previous marriage to Ryan Phillippe, and son, Tennessee, four, with husband Jim Toth. She, Jim and her three kids live together in LA.

On making movies

I’m passionate about telling stories with strong female leads. A few years ago, I was frustrated with the kinds of roles that I was getting, so I decided to start my ownproduction company to help create great characters for all the amazing actresses out there. Women are just as compelling and intriguing as men are, and there are way too few films being made in Hollywood where women’s lives and women’s themes are central to the story. I want to make movies that give a greater voice to women.