Editing Reese Witherspoon (section)

===1991–2000: Early work and breakthrough===
Witherspoon attended an open [[Casting (performing arts)|casting]] call in 1991 for ''[[The Man in the Moon (1991 film)|The Man in the Moon]]'', intending to audition for a [[bit part]];<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 ''[[The Guardian]]'', 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=[[The Guardian]]|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 [[Roger Ebert]] 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 [[Young Artist Award]], 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=[[Good Housekeeping]]|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 ''[[Wildflower (1991 film)|Wildflower]]'' with [[Patricia Arquette]].<ref name="movieyahoo" /><ref name="newsindependent" /> In 1992, Witherspoon appeared in the [[television film]] ''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 [[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.<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 ''[[S.F.W.]]'', directed by [[Jefery Levy]].<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 ''[[Fear (1996 film)|Fear]]'' alongside [[Mark Wahlberg]],<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=[[Huffington Post]]|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 ''[[Freeway (1996 film)|Freeway]]'', alongside [[Kiefer Sutherland]] and [[Brooke Shields]], 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 [[serial killer]] on the way to her grandmother's home in [[Stockton, California|Stockton]].<ref name="talent" /> 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."<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=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |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 [[Festival du Film Policier de Cognac|Cognac Police Film Festival]] 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=[[The Biography Channel]] |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 1998, Witherspoon had major roles in three films: ''[[Overnight Delivery]]'', ''[[Pleasantville (film)|Pleasantville]]'' and ''[[Twilight (1998 film)|Twilight]]''.<ref name="newsindependent" /><ref name="spoonful" /> 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 Awards|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 |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 [[Gary Ross]] applauded her efforts saying, "she commits to a character so completely and she understands comedy".<ref name="commitment" />

A year later, Witherspoon co-starred with [[Alessandro Nivola]] in the drama thriller ''[[Best Laid Plans (1999 film)|Best Laid Plans]]''; 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 [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] and Ryan Phillippe in the drama ''[[Cruel Intentions]]'', a modern version of the 18th-century French novel ''[[Les Liaisons dangereuses|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."<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=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |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 [[Marcy Playground]] for the film's soundtrack. Next, she appeared in ''[[Election (1999 film)|Election]]'' (1999) opposite [[Matthew Broderick]], based on [[Tom Perrotta]]'s [[Election (1998 novel)|novel of the same name]].<ref name="movieyahoo" /> For her portrayal of [[Tracy Flick]], she earned acclaim and her first nominations in the Golden Globes and in the [[Independent Spirit Award]]s. She also won the Best Actress Award from the [[National Society of Film Critics]] and the [[Online Film Critics Society]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon Award |publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]] |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=[[Independent Spirit Award|spiritawards.com]] |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 ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmsite.org/100greatperformances3.html |title=100 Greatest Movie Performances of All Time |publisher=[[Filmsite.org]] |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 [[Alexander Payne]] said "She's [Witherspoon] 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" />

Following the success of ''Election'', Witherspoon struggled to find work due to [[Typecasting (acting)|typecasting]].<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=[[The Washington Post]]|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 ''[[American Psycho (film)|American Psycho]]'' as [[Patrick Bateman]]'s trophy girlfriend, and made a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] appearance in ''[[Little Nicky]]'' as the mother of the [[Antichrist]].<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=[[St. Petersburg Times]]  |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 [[Friends (season 6)|sixth season]] of ''[[Friends]]'' as [[Rachel Green]]'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=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|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>