Reese Witherspoon’s Shine Away event, scheduled for October 11 and 12 at Universal Studios Lot in Universal City, California, will bring together a powerful group of women to celebrate female agency and creativity. The latest edition of the Hello Sunshine-hosted conference will spotlight a diverse lineup of speakers and stars, highlighting the event’s ongoing commitment to supporting multidimensional women’s stories.
Shine Away 2024 Features Renowned Speakers and Entertainers
Reese Witherspoon, the Oscar-winning actress and Hello Sunshine founder, revealed that the third annual Shine Away gathering would include influential figures across entertainment and literature. Among the speakers are actors Mariska Hargitay, Chrissy Teigen, Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, Yvonne Orji, Jennie Garth, and Karen Pittman. The spotlight will also shine on authors Monica Lewinsky, Jen Hatmaker, and Rainbow Rowell, along with model Molly Sims and entrepreneur Jaspre Guest. The event additionally features a musical performance by Maren Morris.
Witherspoon expressed her excitement about the event, stating,
“I’m so excited to welcome such an extraordinary group of women to Shine Away’s third year,”
she said.
“With each bringing their own unique voice and perspective, I know our community will feel inspired by the conversations and connections we’ll share together.”
She added,
“It’s an honor to celebrate our third year surrounded by so much creativity and joy.”
This year’s gathering will also mark the launch of Witherspoon’s book tour for Gone Before Goodbye, a novel she co-authored with Harlan Coben, who will join the event alongside her. Shine Away’s focus remains on fostering an environment where women’s complex stories are authentically shared.
Elaborating on the event’s purpose, Witherspoon told People in July,
“There’s magic in being truly seen, and that’s what Shine Away has always been about—creating space for women’s full, multidimensional stories to unfold.”
She continued,
“As we enter our third year, we’re not just expanding our physical footprint but deepening our commitment to celebrating the beautiful friction of growth and the unexpected joy found in the process of becoming who we’re meant to be.”
Reese Witherspoon’s Early Life and Family Background
Born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon in 1976 in New Orleans, Reese’s surname derives from her mother Betty’s maiden name. Her family’s history includes being a purported descendant of John Witherspoon, one of the original 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, although this link remains unverified by genealogical experts.
Her father, Dr. John Draper Witherspoon, served as a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. Due to his military service, Reese spent four formative years living in Wiesbaden, Germany.
As a child, Reese developed a strong academic work ethic and a love for reading, earning her the moniker “Little Miss Type A” from her parents. She later named her production company Type A, a nod to this childhood nickname. She explained in a 2005 Interview magazine profile,
“It was actually an in-joke with my family because at [age] 7 I understood complicated medical terms, such as the difference between type A and type B personalities. But I just wished I’d named the company Dogfood Films or Fork or something. You carry that baggage all your life.”
Early Acting Roles and Education Journey
Reese’s introduction to acting began at age seven when she worked as a model in commercials for a florist, inspiring her to take acting lessons. Her breakout role came in 1991 when she auditioned for the film The Man in the Moon. Rather than a minor part, she secured the lead role of Dani Trant, a 14-year-old experiencing her first love. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Young Actress at the Young Artist Awards that year.
Though her acting career took off early, Reese also focused on academics, securing admission to Stanford University as an English literature major. However, she left after one year to fully pursue her acting ambitions.
Personal Life and Early Relationships
Reese met Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday party in 1997 through a mutual friend. She later recounted to People magazine in 2002 that she told him, “I think you’re my present.” Their relationship deepened after the success of Cruel Intentions in 1999. Phillippe proposed with a homemade breakfast in December 1998, and they married on June 5, 1999, in Charleston, South Carolina. Their daughter Ava was born three months following the wedding.
Career Highlights and Noteworthy Moments
On September 29, 2001, Witherspoon hosted Saturday Night Live’s first episode after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a significant moment she described in 2015:
“It was a really difficult time in New York City,”
she told Katie Couric.
“But I was so proud to be there and be on stage with firemen and Paul Simon and Lorne Michaels I think did an incredible job getting that show back on its feet and making America laugh again.”
During filming of Mira Nair’s Vanity Fair, director Nair humorously suggested Witherspoon should get pregnant to gain weight for her role. Indeed, Witherspoon announced her second pregnancy during production and wore costumes that cleverly concealed her baby bump. Their son, Deacon Phillippe, born in October 2003, was named after a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher relative of Ryan Phillippe.
Reese’s portrayal of June Cash in Walk the Line placed her among a select group of actresses who won the Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for the same role. However, her marriage to Phillippe ended in 2006 after seven years together.
Feeling dissatisfaction with the scripts she was offered, Witherspoon embraced producing as a way to create better roles for women. Reflecting on this decision during a 2017 interview with Chelsea Handler, she stated,
“I thought, ‘If every actress in Hollywood wants this part, I need to start making movies because this is not worth women’s talent.’”
Relationships and Personal Challenges
After dating Jake Gyllenhaal, Witherspoon met Jim Toth, a talent agent with Creative Artists Agency, at a party in early 2010. She recounted an incident to Elle in 2012:
“This really drunk guy was hitting on me, making such an idiot of himself, yelling at me. He was like, [slurring, scowling, pointing finger in her face] ‘You don’t know me.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I know. I don’t know you!’ Jim came over and said, ‘Please excuse my friend. He’s just broken up with someone.’ Jim was a really good friend, pulling him out of that situation. That’s just kind of who he is, a really good person.”
Witherspoon married Toth at her ranch in Ojai, California, in March 2011, and they welcomed their son Tennessee in September 2012.
In 2013, an episode involving Toth’s arrest for DUI in Atlanta led to Witherspoon being charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly confronting officers with remarks referencing her status. She later addressed the incident in a statement:
“Out of respect for the ongoing legal situation, I cannot comment on everything that is being reported right now. But I do want to say I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said,”
she said.
“It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that was no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. The words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am. I have nothing but respect for the police and I am very sorry for my behavior.”
Additional Interesting Facts About Reese Witherspoon
In a 2002 People interview, Witherspoon shared her quirky obsession with Tupperware, confessing she could not pass a Hold Everything container store without stopping in, despite their closure in 2006.
From 2007 to 2011, she served as the announcer for Playhouse Disney’s morning programming block on the Disney Channel, lending her voice to promos targeting young children.
Her musical talents appeared on Michael Bublé’s 2013 album To Be Loved, where she featured in a cover of the Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra duet, Somethin’ Stupid.
In 2015, Witherspoon launched her Southern-inspired retail brand Draper James, named in honor of her grandparents, Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon. The brand, which offers fashion, accessories, and home décor, opened its first physical store in Nashville, her hometown, the same year.
Witherspoon published her first book, a lifestyle guide titled Whiskey in a Teacup, on September 18, 2018. She also engages readers through a book club on her Instagram account.
Career Choices and Advocacy
Witherspoon declined roles in notable films like Scream and Urban Legend and was a contender for the lead in Romeo + Juliet before the part went to Claire Danes. She also withdrew from voicing Merida in Pixar’s Brave due to difficulty mastering the required Scottish accent.
She has retained much of Elle Woods’ wardrobe from her iconic Legally Blonde films.
Beyond her acting and business ventures, Witherspoon played a pivotal role in launching the Time’s Up movement. She mobilized her Hollywood contacts via texts and emails, encouraging women to unite and develop a collective strategy. She also found the designer responsible for the movement’s logo and pin, which debuted on the red carpet at the 2018 Golden Globes.
