Reese Witherspoon

Date of Birth: 22nd March 1976

Significant others: Recently separated from husband of seven years, Ryan Phillippe. The couple have two children, Ava (7) and Deacon (3).

One minute rundown: Little Reese got her debut in a made for TV movie called Wildflowers when she was just 15, and at the same age she was cast as a lead in The Man In The Moon - a coming-of-age story about sisters who fall for the same boy. This role got her noticed and in 1999 a blossoming Reese played hard done by Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions, with her then-boyfriend and hunky hubby to be, Ryan Phillippe, whom she met at her 21st birthday party.

It was a match made in heaven and the couple went on to marry - a joining that lasted seven years - a pretty long time in Hollywood, actually. Her role as Tracy Flick in the well-received school drama Election won her the leading lady status she craved, in the classic hit movie, Legally Blonde. Once established on the A List, Witherspoon went on to win an oscar just before her 30th birthday, for her part as June Carter Cash in Walk The Line. Her separation from Phillippe followed, amidst rumours of jealousy over who earned more money. In spite of being hurt by Ryan and sorting out custody issues for their kids, Reese has been spending time with Jake Gyllenhall, although both are struggling to keep things on the down-low...