Reese Witherspoon's breakthrough role was in a film.
A breakthrough role , also known as breakout role , is a term in the film industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress in a film or television show which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition . Reese Witherspoon . Witherspoon 's breakthrough role was playing Elle Woods in the 2001 film Legally Blonde , for which she received her second Golden Globe nomination .