Witherspoon's Steady Climb
Reese Witherspoon is all over the world of entertainment because of her performance in "Walk the Line." But she was in another big movie last year, "Just Like Heaven," which just has been released on home video. As reported by The Early Show's entertainment contributor Jess Cagle, who also is People magazine's editor-at-large, Witherspoon has gained a reputation as queen of the romantic comedy.
But a closer look at her 20 film roles show she is much more than that.
In "Just Like Heaven," Witherspoon, 29, plays a workaholic doctor who is way too busy for a life. One night, she gets into a horrible car accident and her spirit is stuck between heaven and earth. She doesn't know she's dead, and she thinks nothing has happened until she meets a lonely architect, who rents her old apartment.
Fourteen years earlier, Witherspoon made her film debut in the drama, "The Man in the Moon." She originally auditioned for a bit part, but so impressed the director that he hired her for one of the lead roles.
Critics really took notice with her first starring role in 1996's ultra-low-budget drama "Freeway." But Witherspoon's breakthrough was in 1998's "Pleasantville." She co-starred with Tobey Maguire as modern teenagers who get transported to the small town of a 1950s sitcom.
A year later, she starred as ruthlessly ambitious high school student Tracie Flick in "Election." That role made critics and audiences alike take notice.
Says Witherspoon of that character, "I can imagine what it's like to grow up with an overbearing mother who pushes you so hard. So I sort of saw the humanity of her. I feel for her even though she's ruthless and cutthroat."
But playing sorority girl-turned-law student Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde" made Witherspoon a certified superstar.
"I really relate to the sort of innocent side of her, and really that sort of part of her that wants to find the good in everyone, 'cause I'm like that a lot," Witherspoon says of her "Legally Blonde" character.
The $35 million opening weekend of "Sweet Home Alabama" solidified her spot on Hollywood's A-list. In the film, she plays Melanie, a New York fashion designer who tries to forget her small-town roots.
"I really relate to Melanie because of my southern roots and having to sort of come to terms with the fact that I'm from this place (Baton Rouge, La.), and that, you know, it's not always so comfortable to be from someplace that, you know, isn't glitzy or fabulous, you know. But it's really who I am," explains Witherspoon.
With "Walk the Line," Witherspoon showed a different side to her talent. An Oscar nomination for best actress, plus Golden Globe and SAG award wins, have cemented her place as one of film's most talented and diverse actresses.
Says Witherspoon: "I love comedy. I love drama. I love everything. You know, I just, I feel lucky that maybe it opens up people's minds about what I'm capable of doing, hopefully."