Reese launches charity bracelet - Mar 5 2008
Reese Witherspoon has lent her support to an UN and Avon-led campaign to end violence against women.

"Worldwide, one in three women are affected by violence. Violence against women is a global epidemic, and I strongly support the efforts of Avon and Unifem (United Nations Development Fund for Women) to put an end to it," she said at a press conference at the United Nations in New York.

The 31-year-old mother-of-two, who is Avon's global ambassador, unveiled the Women's Empowerment bracelet as she spoke out at the Global Summit For A Better Tomorrow. Proceeds from the wrist candy will go towards the Avon Empowerment Fund to support Unifem in their work to end violence against women - and help their local partnership with Refuge.

"The bracelet's clasp is the infinity symbol - representing a future without limitations for all women, a cause I truly believe in," she continued.

Reese added: "I love the bracelet, and what it stands for: our collective power, our solidarity, our determination and our hope. I hope to see this bracelet on the wrists of women all around the world as a sign of solidarity and hope that one day every woman will be empowered and live a life free of violence."

The Avon Women's Empowerment Bracelet will be available from May 11, priced £1.50, from Avon representatives and online.

New chapter for Oscar winner Reese - Feb 24 2008
Reese Witherspoon is looking forward to a new chapter in her professional life, after producing new fairytale movie Penelope.

"I’m a big fancy producer," she told Extra. "It’s a thrill for me because it’s like a new chapter in my life. It’s a new start in a way - to be doing something I’ve been doing for so many years but in a different capacity. I feel like putting on a producer hat is like flexing all those muscles and using all those skills that I’ve learned in so many years being an actress."

The star admitted that she is tempted to direct her first project too.

"I’m starting to get closer to it," she said. "I’ve been scared for a while just because it is so much responsibility. But it’s a thrill. It’s so great and I feel so proud of this movie. I’m just happy people are going to see it now."

Meanwhile the previous Best Actress Oscar winner revealed she wasn’t going to be attending the awards this year.

"I’m not going to the Oscars I’m going to be watching at home," she said. "There are so many great movies this year. I’m so excited."

Reese out for Penelope premiere - Feb 22 2008
Despite battling the flu, Reese Witherspoon stepped out onto the red carpet for the star-studded Hollywood premiere of new movie Penelope.

The Oscar-winning actress - whose production company, Type A, produced the film - was full of praise for her leading lady Christina Ricci, who plays Penelope, a girl who was born with a pig’s nose as the result of a family curse.

"Christina is just a fearless actress," Reese told Extra. "She’s hysterically funny, she’s got great attitude, she’s smart, she’s funny, she’s gorgeous."

"The fact that we got her to do this movie and put on the pig nose is just so lucky," added Reese.

"I said ’are you sure you want to do this?’ And she said ’yeah, I’m totally into it,’ so she just threw herself into it, and it was really very fortunate."

Reese was also happy at landing Atonement star James McAvoy as Penelope’s love interest.