Blonde Ambition

Actress Reese Witherspoon has become a formidable force in Hollywood – and she’s using her clout to tell stories about women

- By Nasifa Sulaiman

In one of her most famous roles she plays a Chihuahua-toting, pink-loving law student who’s laughed off as ditsy and a little ridiculous by the men in her orbit.

But the guys quickly learn one thing: fob her off at your peril. Elle Woods, Legally Blonde’s high-heeled heroine, runs legal loops around the competition and graduates top of her class.

Today she remains one of the best characters Reese Witherspoon has ever played for one main reason: “Like her, I don’t like to be underestimated,” she says.

And like Elle, Reese has risen to the top and become one of the most powerful women in Hollywood in the process.

The 45-year-old is the highest-ranking female entertainer on the latest Forbes list of mega-rich movers and shakers, coming in at No 12 with earnings of $116 million (about R1,7 billion) over the past year. Some of the money comes from The Morning Show, the hit Apple TV+ series she stars in alongside Jennifer Aniston. The show is produced by her company, Hello Sunshine – a major player that’s brought shows such as Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere to television. Last year Reese sold a chunk of her company to a media company backed by private equity firm Blackstone for $900 million (about R13,5 billion).

Reese will join the board of the company and continue to oversee day-to-day operations. The Oscar winner says it was a tough decision to sell but she believes it was the right move as it will free her up to do what she loves best: telling stories about women.