Reese Witherspoon and children - family facts

1998 - 2012

Reese Witherspoon met her future husband, Ryan Phillippe, at her 21st birthday party. She reportedly introducing herself by saying, "You must be my birthday present." Soon after, the 2 budding actors were an item.

Reese and Ryan made their 1st couple's acting debut in the cult teen flick Cruel Intentions in 1998. It was during shooting that Reese discovered she was pregnant with their 1st child.

Reese and Ryan married on 5 June 1999, in Charleston, South Carolina, just as the film was released. Later that year, they welcomed their 1st baby together, a daughter named Ava Elizabeth, on 9 September 1999.

"Ava wasn't planned and suddenly I was faced with the prospect of becoming a mother and I had never even held a newborn in my arms before!" Reese revealed.

Reese said, "What was interesting about our becoming parents was that Ryan was the really cool one. He could change a diaper in something like 5 seconds flat. It was amazing to see him work! I feel like I went through a crash course in motherhood."

Reese spoke about her struggles returning to work to film the movie, Election, just months after she gave birth to Ava. "Some nights Ava would wake up screaming because she had the flu and I would spend most of the night trying to rock her back to sleep and then have to be on the set at 7 in the morning for make-up!" Reese said previously.

"And then you throw in the fact that I'm supposed to be playing a very bubbly and energetic California preppy who is smiling all the time! I kept thinking, 'I'm going to kill myself! I'm never going to make it!'"

Talking about how she coped, Reese said, "I couldn't have done it without Ryan's support. I was worried that I wasn't getting enough sleep because my daughter Ava was sick quite often during the shoot and there were a lot of days when I didn't think I could pull it off."

Reese found out she was expecting her and Ryan's 2nd baby when they returned from a romantic holiday. "It's something that I'm always open to," Reese revealed previously. "I was just happy if it happened. Ryan's really excited about having another baby."

Just like her 1st pregnancy, the news came during one of Reese's big movie roles - this time it was the film Vanity Fair. So once again, Reese was pregnant throughout filming!

Luckily, Reese's character in the film was pregnant too, so the timing worked out. "I'm a real believer in full-blown sensuality. So last summer I said to Ryan, 'Knock her up, won't you? I want the full babe!' And then I got my wish!" the director of Vanity Fair joked.

Reese said her daughter Ava was excited about being a big sister. "She was dreamy about it. She prepared her room for when her brother or sister came."

Reese and Ryan's 2nd baby, a son named Deacon Reese, arrived on 23 October 2003.

Fairly soon after giving birth to Deacon, Reese took the part of June Carter in the film Walk the Line. Reese spent 6 months learning how to sing and had to perform the vocals live in front of an audience. Her hard work paid off as she won a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA and then topped it off with an Oscar.

"I feel very blessed to have 2 wonderful, healthy children who keep me completely grounded, sane and throw up on my shoes just before I go to an awards show just so I know to keep it real," said Reese.

In 2006, US gossip magazine Star ran the story that Reese was pregnant with her 3rd child with Ryan. Reese went on to sue the publication, claiming the story invaded her privacy and tarnished her reputation, implying she was lying to film producers about her so-called pregnancy. Reese successfully sued the mag.

Sadly, just after her win in 2006, Reese and Ryan announced they had split after 7 years. The couple officially divorced in 2007, and Reese and Ryan have joint custody of their 2 children.

2011 - 2016

On 26 March 2011, Reese married her talent agent boyfriend Jim Toth in Ojai, California. Reese's son Deacon was the ring bearer and daughter Ava was maid of honour. "It was always Reese and Jim and Ava and Deacon," a guest told America's People magazine. "The children were included in everything. It was very sweet."

Reese's ex-husband Ryan became a dad for the 3rd time in July 2011 with a baby girl named Kai.

Ryan was spotted having coffee with Kai's mum, former fling Alexis Knapp, when she was pregnant, and was allegedly present at the birth. Ryan has also reportedly introduced Ava and Deacon to the baby girl.

In September 2012, Reese and hubby Jim welcomed their 1st child together - and Reese's 3rd child - a baby boy named Tennessee James Toth.

2017 onwards

In December 2016, Reese took to Instagram to share gorgeous family snap of her, Jim and her 3 kids looking all grown up on the red carpet (above).

Images: Instagram/Reese Witherspoon

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