Reese Witherspoon Unveils Star-Studded Guest List for Shine Away Event

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The guest list for Reese Witherspoon’s next event is shining bright with talent.

Reese Witherspoon told TopMob News that her company, Hello Sunshine, will host its third annual Shine Away event-a two-day celebration for women who take control of their lives-with support from AT&T. The event will feature well-known speakers like Mariska Hargitay and Chrissy Teigen.

Reese will be joined by Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow, known for their roles in *Hunting Wives*, along with actresses Yvonne Orji, Jennie Garth, and Karen Pittman. The event will also feature authors Monica Lewinsky, Jen Hatmaker, and Rainbow Rowell, as well as model Molly Sims and entrepreneur Jaspre Guest.

The actress, known for *Big Little Lies*, expressed her enthusiasm for welcoming a remarkable group of women to the third year of Shine Away. She believes their diverse viewpoints will inspire meaningful conversations and connections within the community.

She added, “It’s an honor to celebrate our third year surrounded by so much creativity and joy.”

Reese Witherspoon will kick off her book tour for *Gone Before Goodbye*-a novel she wrote with Harlan Coben-at the Shine Away event. The event will be held October 11th and 12th at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, and Coben will be joining her.

Although this year’s event boasts many famous attendees, including a performance by Maren Morris, Reese has emphasized that the conference’s main purpose remains her top priority.

She told *People* magazine that Shine Away is all about allowing women to share their complete and complex stories, and that’s what makes it special. As the organization enters its third year, it’s not only growing in size but also strengthening its dedication to celebrating the challenges and unexpected happiness that come with personal growth and becoming your true self.

Reese isn’t just the founder of Hello Sunshine – here are some other interesting things about her!

Reese Witherspoon, born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon in New Orleans in 1976, uses her mother Betty’s original last name, Reese.

She says she’s related to John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but the Society of the Descendants of the Signers hasn’t confirmed this through genealogical research.

Reese Witherspoon spent four years of her childhood living in Wiesbaden, Germany because her father, Dr. John Draper Witherspoon, was a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.

As a child, she was a focused and avid reader, earning the nickname “Little Miss Type A” from her parents. Years later, she used a variation of this name for her production company, Type A. However, in a 2005 interview with *Interview* magazine, she explained the story behind the name, revealing it stemmed from a childhood fascination with psychology – at age seven, she understood the difference between Type A and Type B personalities. She jokingly added that she wished she’d chosen a different name altogether, like Dogfood Films or Fork, admitting she felt burdened by the association throughout her life.

She started her acting career at age seven by appearing in commercials for a florist. This experience motivated her to begin taking acting classes.

I remember when she first caught my attention – it was back in 1991! She actually went to an open casting call for *The Man in the Moon* just hoping for a small part. But can you believe it? She ended up playing the main character, Dani Trant, a fourteen-year-old experiencing first love with her older neighbor! It was her very first role, and she was even nominated for a Young Artist Award for it – I was so thrilled for her!

Although she started acting at just 14, she was a good student and got into Stanford University to study English. However, she left after one year to focus on her growing career as an actress.

Reese Witherspoon first met her future husband, Ryan Phillippe, at her 21st birthday party in 1997, thanks to a friend who brought him along. She later told *People* magazine that she told him at the end of the night, playfully suggesting he was her birthday gift.

Ryan Phillippe proposed to his girlfriend in December 1998 with a special breakfast of waffles, strawberries, and cream, not long after filming the popular movie *Cruel Intentions* in 1999. They were married in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 5, 1999, and welcomed their daughter, Ava, three months later.

On September 29, 2001, Reese Witherspoon hosted the first episode of *Saturday Night Live* following the September 11th attacks. Speaking with Katie Couric in 2015, she described it as a challenging time for New York City, but expressed pride in being part of the show alongside firefighters, Paul Simon, and Lorne Michaels. She praised Michaels for successfully bringing the show back and helping the country find some humor again.

When Reese Witherspoon was cast as the lead in Mira Nair’s film *Vanity Fair*, Nair playfully suggested she gain weight for the role by getting pregnant. Shortly after, Witherspoon announced she was expecting her second child, and the costume department had to cleverly hide her growing baby bump during filming.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s son, Deacon, was born in October 2003. He’s named after Deacon Phillippe, a baseball player and a relative of Ryan Phillippe.

Reese Witherspoon received major recognition for her role as June Cash in *Walk the Line*. She won five prestigious awards – the Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award – all for that single performance, placing her among a select group of actresses to achieve this feat.

14. She and Phillippe split in 2006 after seven years of marriage.

Reese Witherspoon was inspired to become a producer after receiving a particularly bad script from her agent. She explained to Chelsea Handler in 2017 that she realized if actresses were competing for roles like that, she needed to create her own projects to better utilize women’s talent.

Following her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon met talent agent Jim Toth at a party in early 2010. She recalled to *Elle* magazine in 2012 that a heavily intoxicated man was aggressively pursuing her, shouting and making a scene. He was repeatedly telling her he didn’t know her, and she responded that she didn’t know him either. Jim stepped in, politely excusing the man’s behavior and explaining he was going through a breakup. Witherspoon appreciated that Jim was a kind and helpful person who quickly diffused the awkward situation.

The couple got married at her ranch in Ojai, California, in March 2011, and had their son, Tennessee, in September 2012.

In 2013, police in Atlanta stopped Jim Toth and Reese Witherspoon because he was driving erratically, changing lanes without signaling. While officers were arresting Toth for driving under the influence, Witherspoon reportedly became angry and confrontational, asking the officers if they knew who she was. When they said it didn’t matter, she allegedly said they would soon find out. She was then arrested for disruptive behavior and later pleaded no contest to a charge of obstructing the police.

Because of the current legal proceedings, I’m unable to discuss the details being reported. However, I want to acknowledge that I had too much to drink and I’m truly ashamed of what I said. While it was a frightening experience and I was worried about my husband, that doesn’t excuse my actions. I was disrespectful to the officer, who was simply doing their job, and my words don’t represent my true character. I have great respect for the police and sincerely apologize for my behavior.

In a 2002 interview with *People* magazine, Reese Witherspoon confessed she loved Tupperware, even admitting she had to stop herself from going into Hold Everything stores whenever she passed one. Unfortunately, those stores closed in 2006.

Between 2007 and 2011, Tamera Witherspoon was the voice of the Playhouse Disney programming block on the Disney Channel. She provided voice-overs for the block’s promotional materials, short connecting segments, and commercials, which were aimed at children aged 3 to 8.

In 2013, she collaborated with Michael Bublé on his album *To Be Loved*, providing vocals on a cover of the classic Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra duet, “Somethin’ Stupid.”

Reese Witherspoon started her lifestyle brand, Draper James, in 2015, naming it after her grandparents, Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon. The brand features clothing, accessories, and home goods inspired by the American South, and its first physical store opened in Nashville that fall.

Her debut book, *Whiskey in a Teacup*, shares the charm and traditions of her Southern roots and was published on September 18, 2018. She’s also a passionate reader who hosts a book club on Instagram.

Reese Witherspoon passed on roles in the films *Scream* and *Urban Legend*. She auditioned for the lead in *Romeo + Juliet*, but Claire Danes ultimately got the part. Later, she had to leave Pixar’s *Brave* because she struggled to perfect the Scottish accent needed for the character of Merida.

24. She kept most of Elle Woods’ iconic wardrobe from the Legally Blonde franchise.

Reese Witherspoon was a key force behind the Time’s Up movement. She quickly connected with her Hollywood friends and coworkers, bringing them together to discuss solutions and develop a clear plan. She also secured a designer to create the movement’s memorable logo and pin, which were first seen at the 2018 Golden Globes.

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2025-09-23 19:18