Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976), professionally known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991, later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower. In 1996, Witherspoon appeared in Freeway and followed that appearance with roles in three major 1998 films: Overnight Delivery, Pleasantville and Twilight. The following year, Witherspoon appeared in Election, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.