Where Are You Reese Witherspoon?

A dive into the career of the Oscar-winning actress to explore her impact in the entertainment industry and how her return is always welcome.

Elle Woods. Tracy Flick. Madeline McKenzie. These are just a few iconic characters actress Reese Witherspoon played. Since 1991, Witherspoon has become a household name, starring in over fifty films and many critically acclaimed TV programs. She has even dabbled in producing, which garnered her an Emmy win. Yet, recently, the star has slowly disappeared from the spotlight on screen. She has not physically been on the big screen since 2018, and her focus has shifted to being a producer, only starring in projects that seem safe for her career. Is that where all her incredible talent should be going? 

Researching for this article meant that I had to take in a lot of Reese Witherspoon, and I never got tired of seeing her on screen. Every role she was in felt different and enticing, leaving behind a beautifully impactful character. That element is missing in some of the popular actors and actresses today. They churn out all these movies but never cement themselves in the part. It is just another check; they are ready for the next one. Witherspoon puts a lot into her craft, and her slow disappearance from the entertainment industry created a small empty spot in the vast landscape that nobody has filled. It sucks because she helped influence a considerable part of this generation's talents.

Her 1996 film, Freeway—a 90s twist on the Red Riding Hood tale—is a somewhat underrated flick in her filmography. Yet, the troubled teenager vibe in her character Vanessa Lutz has to be one of the crucial influences in the empowered, edgy teenager landscape shown in current HBO and Netflix dramas. There is also her performance in Election, where she brings the classic nerdy vibe in a much more layered way than ever before. So many new actors and writers try to make the nerd trope deep and thought-provoking, but it ends up corny and dull. Not Witherspoon's Tracy Flick, though. Obviously, discussing Reese Witherspoon would only be complete by mentioning Elle Woods, one of the most iconic roles of all time. That performance cemented her as a pop culture icon and a critically acclaimed actress who could take on any part given to her. So, after all that she has worked for, why take a step back? 

In a recent interview with Vogue, Anne Hathaway stated that she does not want "to be pigeonholed and [...] placed in a box of what type of films" she needs to make because of her "age, gender, and because [Hathaway] won an Oscar." While Hathaway does not flat out say it, she describes how fans, critics, and executives continually pressure women in Hollywood to give a performance no matter what. Pushing them by force, actresses must be on top of their game because they do not always get to work as efficiently as others. This sentiment creates fear that if this actress does not win any awards, she might not have much appeal anymore, which is untrue, especially for Reese Witherspoon. 

In fact, Witherspoon has been able to create a brand for herself. Her famous book club has worked hand in hand with her production company, Hello Sunshine, in adapting many of those books to the movie and television screens. Her most recent film, Your Place or Mine, was a Netflix rom-com that did not get great reviews, but I checked it out for this article, and I had fun! As Witherspoon said in her viral The View interview, women's stories matter! They just matter! That includes the ones about single moms who love books. 

If these words magically make their way to Reese Witherspoon's mind, I hope she knows people miss her. She still partakes in film and TV, but maybe one day she will return to the big screen and try new stories on television. She does not have to make these artsy films to put her back on the map. She does not need to do something that will get her another Oscar because her winning performance as June Carter in Walk the Line is already spectacular enough. She does not need to revisit old projects like Legally Blonde, Election, or Big Little Lies—which sequels and new seasons are all in development, starring and produced by her—to connect her back with audiences. Witherspoon has immense talent, which she has proved time and time again, but let's maintain her sparkling impact on the film industry. Just give her a good script and let her work her magic.