Five Fast Facts About Big Little Lies Star Reese Witherspoon

There’s no question Reese Witherspoon is one of the biggest movie stars — and now television stars — ever. From her iconic role in Legally Blonde, to Walk the Line, to now starring in Big Little Lies as Madeline Martha Mackenzie, there’s really nothing she can’t do.

With Season 2 of Big Little Lies premiering this Sunday on HBO, here are five fast facts you have to know about Reese Witherspoon!

True American Ancestor
Believe it or not, the Legally Blonde star is actually a descendant of John Witherspoon, who is one of the 56 people who signed the Declaration of Independence! Now that’s pretty impressive.

College Dropout
Witherspoon grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and decided to attend Stanford University as an English major. However, she left college before graduating so she could return to her acting career.

First Role
Witherspoon got her first role in The Man in the Moon back in 1991. She actually got the part because she saw there was an open casting call in Nashville for extras. But, when she went to audition, she was actually cast as the lead!

Tough Hosting Gig
While a lot of actors dream about being able to host Saturday Night Live at some point during their career, Witherspoon’s first opportunity was definitely bittersweet. She was the first person to host SNL following September 11.

An Oscar Second
Witherspoon won her Oscar back in 2006 for playing June Carter in Walk the Line. At the time she was only the second actress to win the Best Actress Oscar for playing a female singer in a biography. The first actress to do it was Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner’s Daughter.