Most popular girl in Hollywood? It might just be Reese Witherspoon [1]. It seems as though the bubbly, pint-size actress, producer, entrepreneur, and voracious reader [2] is friends with just about every A-lister out there, and she recently added a new name to her list of besties: Beyoncé. Though we're not sure Reese and Beyoncé are actually "best friends," [3] as the actress jokingly claimed during a March 2020 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Reese certainly has an impressive circle of A-list BFFs, many of whom are current or former costars. Here's who the actress counts among her closest friends (though if you're in need of more friends, Reese, feel free to call us!).
Jennifer Garner
Though it's unclear how they first met, Reese has been besties with Jennifer Garner [4] for years, and Jennifer has proven her devotion to her BFF by pulling out her saxophone to wish Reese a happy birthday [5] on Instagram not just once but twice [6]. The two love to get goofy together, and after OK! magazine falsely reported that the ladies were both pregnant [7] in March 2019, Reese shared the magazine cover on Instagram [8], captioning it, "Hey @jennifer.garner! Can we raise our imaginary babies together?" Jennifer, of course, played along, replying, "We are going to be the cutest imaginary family!! I'll just go ahead and move in now."
Jennifer Aniston
Reese and Jennifer Aniston [9] first worked together on the set of Friends in 2000, when Reese made a guest appearance as Rachel Green's self-absorbed little sister Jill. When Reese got flustered while filming and flubbed her lines, Jen was there to comfort her [10] with a hug and kind words. "She was so sweet to me," Reese recalled during an October 2019 conversation with Natalie Portman [11] for Harper's Bazaar, later adding, "We've been friends ever since." The two are now executive producers and costars on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show, and Jen still lovingly refers to Reese as her "little sister." [12]
Kerry Washington
Their characters may not be friendly on Little Fires Everywhere, but Reese and her costar Kerry Washington [13] were actually friends long before filming the Hulu series together, especially since they're both heavily involved in the Time's Up movement. Kerry has pointed out that they make pretty unlikely friends [14], telling Variety in February 2020, "In the real world, Reese and I are not supposed to be friends. I grew up in the Bronx a block away from the projects, and she grew up in Nashville, TN." Despite that, the two somehow clicked, and Reese proudly refers to her friend as "a champion for change [15] in the world in so many ways."
Nicole Kidman
As executive producers and costars on Big Little Lies, Reese and Nicole Kidman [16] are tight both on and off screen (despite their 10-inch height difference). The two never get tired of singing each other's praises, and it's clear they have major respect for each other's talent. In a June 2016 interview with E! News, Nicole gushed about filming with Reese [17], saying, "We have so much in common and we're very close. I'm lucky to have her as such a good friend." Reese returned the favour during her speech at the 2017 Gotham Awards, referring to Nicole as her "beautiful, soulful, talented friend [18]."
Zoë Kravitz
Just like Reese and Nicole Kidman [19], Big Little Lies brought Reese and Zoë Kravitz together as well. Zoë told Elle that she considers Reese "one of her best friends," [20] and she also told InStyle that Reese would make her list of "top-five favourite humans." [21] Of Reese, Zoë gushed to InStyle, "She's so honest. She's so funny. And she's fiery as hell. Her ferocity and care for everybody in her life is through the roof. I strive to be a friend like her." The feeling is mutual, as Reese posted a cute photo of them [22] from the set of BLL the day after Zoë's Paris wedding in June 2019, which she captioned, "Well.. this pretty much says it all. I love you, Z."
Mindy Kaling
Though Mindy Kaling and Reese have admired each other for years (with Mindy even making a "Wreath Witherspoon" [23] in honour of Reese back in 2014), it wasn't until they worked together on A Wrinkle in Time that they became IRL BFFs. Reese later made a cameo appearance [24] on The Mindy Project, where she gave Mindy's character some tough love, and in return, Mindy poked fun at Reese [25] by channelling her inner Elle Woods on social media. Reese even has the cutest nickname [26] for Mindy: Min Diesel.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Believe it or not, Reese and Gwyneth Paltrow [27] weren't always pals. Back in 2006, Gwyn sort of shaded Reese to The Guardian, suggesting that the Legally Blonde actress always took on the same sorts of roles [28]. "Even actresses that you really admire, like Reese Witherspoon [29], you think, another romantic comedy? You know," she said. "You see her in something like Walk the Line and think, God, you're so great. And then you think, why is she doing these stupid romantic comedies? But of course it's for money and status." However, less than three years later, the two entrepreneurs spent Thanksgiving together in London [30], and they've been close ever since. As well as supporting each other's businesses [31], Reese told Oprah Winfrey [32] that she considers Gwyn a "dear friend." [33]
Natalie Portman
Reese and Natalie Portman [34] became close while working on Lucy in the Sky, which Reese helped produce and Natalie starred in. Natalie gushed about her experience working with Reese [35] while chatting with Entertainment Tonight, telling them, "She's such a powerhouse. She's producing and making work for a lot of us, so I'm very grateful and it was really lucky to get to have a friend to get to call up and be like, 'What do you think about this?'" Reese, in turn, told Vanity Fair that Natalie was the creative "catalyst" on set [36], and she even showed Natalie how to work Instagram [37] when she joined social media in February 2018.
Kate Winslet
Reese met Kate Winslet [38] back in 2007 after Kate moved into her neighbourhood, and they were brought together by a bottle of wine [39]. As Reese recounted to InStyle, "Imagine my good fortune when Kate Winslet moved into my neighbourhood, rang my doorbell, and said, 'Dahling, Sam [Mendes] is off shooting and I believe our children are the same age. Could they possibly have a playdate, and, oh, by the way, it's almost nine o'clock and I've had nothing to drink — do you have any wine?'"
Eva Longoria
Like several of her celeb besties, Reese became close with Eva Longoria [40] while supporting the Time's Up movement together. For the 2018 Golden Globes, the two actresses wore black gowns and walked the red carpet in honour of the movement, and a few months after that, Reese stood by Eva as she received her star [41] on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "Thank you to so many beautiful women who showed up to support me and my star on the Walk of Fame," Eva wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of her, Reese, and Kerry Washington [42]. "What an honour and even more so to share it with y'all!"
Kate Hudson
Despite spending several years vying for the same roles, Reese and Kate Hudson [43] have been friends for nearly 30 years [44], as they first met at an afterparty for the premiere of The Man in the Moon in 1991. When Reese received the American Cinematheque Award in 2015, Kate noted in her speech how much her friendship with Reese meant to her [45]. "We share a passion for feminism," she said. "She's self-made and sufficient. She's a fighter for all women to achieve, including myself. She's the kind of cheerleader you want. She sends you flowers to remind you that your success is everyone's success." Last April, Reese was sure to support her longtime pal [46] by attending Kate's 40th birthday party.
Laura Dern
Back in 2011, a mutual friend introduced Laura Dern to Reese [47] in front of a restaurant in Santa Monica, CA. Little did they know that, soon enough, Laura would play Reese's mom in 2014's Wild and they would become inseparable. The duo grew even closer when they worked together on Big Little Lies (though their characters aren't exactly the best of friends on screen). Of Laura, Reese told The New York Times, "Nobody makes me laugh harder than Laura. She can put me on the floor with a text message." In return, Laura said that as soon as she met Reese, "I knew she would be my family for the rest of my life."
Selma Blair
Selma Blair [48] and Reese go way back, starring alongside each other in both Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions. Though they may not hang out as often as they used to, the actresses seem to look back on their time together fondly by posting fun throwbacks on social media [49]. In December 2017, Selma even said she has a "dream to work with this dynamic force again" [50] in reference to Reese. After Selma was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, she told People that Reese sent her "weekend meal packs [51] like I've never feasted on before" in order to help out her friend.
Salma Hayek
It's unclear how Reese and Salma Hayek [52] first met, but it was likely through Salma's agent Jim Toth [53], whom Reese married in 2011. Like Reese, Salma is very involved in the Time's Up movement, and Reese called Salma a "dear friend" [54] during an interview with Oprah Winfrey [55].