Reese's vital stats:
- Reese Witherspoon, born March 22, 1976
Reese's children:
- Ava Elizabeth, born September 9, 1999. Ava is Reese's first child from her first marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe.
- Deacon Reese, born October 23, 2003. Deacon is Reese's second child from her first marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe.
Reese Witherspoon met her future husband, Ryan Phillippe, at her 21st birthday party. She reportedly introducing herself by saying, "You must be my birthday present." Soon after, the two budding actors were an item.
Reese and Ryan made their first couple's acting debut in the cult teen flick Cruel Intentions in 1998. It was during shooting that Reese discovered she was pregnant with their first child. Reese and Ryan married on June 5, 1999, in Charleston, South Carolina, just as the film was released. Later that year, they welcomed their first baby together, a daughter named Ava Elizabeth, on September 9, 1999.
"Ava wasn't planned and suddenly I was faced with the prospect of becoming a mother and I had never even held a newborn in my arms before!" Reese revealed.
Reese said, "What was interesting about our becoming parents was that Ryan was the really cool one. He could change a diaper in something like five seconds flat. It was amazing to see him work! I feel like I went through a crash course in motherhood."
Reese spoke about her struggles returning to work to film the movie, Election, just months after she gave birth to Ava. "Some nights Ava would wake up screaming because she had the flu and I would spend most of the night trying to rock her back to sleep and then have to be on the set at 7 in the morning for make-up!" Reese said previously. "And then you throw in the fact that I'm supposed to be playing a very bubbly and energetic California preppy who is smiling all the time! I kept thinking, 'I'm going to kill myself! I'm never going to make it!'"
Talking about how she coped, Reese said, "I couldn't have done it without Ryan's support. I was worried that I wasn't getting enough sleep because my daughter Ava was sick quite often during the shoot and there were a lot of days when I didn't think I could pull it off."
Reese found out she was expecting her and Ryan's second baby when they returned from a romantic holiday. "It's something that I'm always open to," Reese revealed previously. "I was just happy if it happened. Ryan's really excited about having another baby." Just like her first pregnancy, the news came during one of Reese's big movie roles - this time it was the film Vanity Fair. So once again, Reese was pregnant throughout filming!
Luckily, Reese's character in the film become pregnant too, so the timing worked out. "I'm a real believer in full-blown sensuality. So last summer I said to Ryan, 'Knock her up, won't you? I want the full babe!' And then I got my wish!" the director of Vanity Fair joked.
Reese said her daughter Ava was excited about being a big sister. "She was dreamy about it. She prepared her room for when her brother or sister came."
Reese and Ryan's second baby, a son named Deacon Reese, arrived on October 23, 2003.
Fairly soon after giving birth to Deacon, Reese took the part of June Carter in the film Walk the Line. Reese spent six months learning how to sing and had to perform the vocals live in front of an audience. Her hard work paid off as she won a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA and then topped it off with an Oscar.
"I feel very blessed to have two wonderful, healthy children who keep me completely grounded, sane and throw up on my shoes just before I go to an awards show just so I know to keep it real," said Reese.
In 2006, US gossip magazine Star ran the story that Reese was pregnant with her third child with Ryan. Reese went on to sue the publication, claiming the story invaded her privacy and tarnished her reputation, implying she was lying to film producers about her so-called pregnancy. Reese successfully sued the mag.
Sadly, just after her win in 2006, Reese and Ryan announced they had split after seven years. The couple officially divorced in 2007, and Reese and Ryan have joint custody of their two children.
On March 26, 2011, Reese married her talent agent boyfriend Jim Toth in Ojai, California. Reese's son Deacon was the ring bearer and daughter Ava was maid of honour. "It was always Reese and Jim and Ava and Deacon," a guest told America's People magazine. "The children were included in everything. It was very sweet."
Since re-marrying, Reese has found herself in the middle of yet more pregnancy rumours, although they've been ignored.
Reese's ex-husband Ryan, however, has allegedly become a dad for the third time with his former fling, Alexis Knapp. Although it hasn't been confirmed, Ryan was spotted having coffee with Alexis when she was pregnant and was allegedly present at the birth of her daughter Kailani. Ryan has also reportedly introduced Ava and Deacon to the baby girl.
