The early 2000s were a heyday for rom-coms, andSweet Home Alabamais certainly one of the era’s most memorable.
The film grossed over $35 million on opening weekend and earned over $130 million domestically during its theater run. It made another $53 million at the worldwide box office, with a budget of $30 million.
“20 years agoSweet Home Alabamacame out andcompletely changed my life,” Witherspoon wrote on Instagram in 2021 to celebrate the film’s anniversary. She continued: “Incredible memories of shooting this movie with these amazing actors—Josh, Patrick, Dakota, Melanie, Jean, Ethan, Mary Kay, Fred, and Candace, of course!”
During a 2022 appearance onTODAY with Hoda & Jenna, Witherspoon said that aSweet Home Alabamarebootwould be “a great idea.”
Shortly after, Lucas toldEntertainment Tonightthat he “would love to” participate in thesequeland that he’s even spoken to Witherspoon about it, but that her busy schedule is a hindrance.
Reboot or not,Sweet Home Alabamacertainly played a big role in many of the actors' careers. Here’s what Witherspoon and the rest of the cast have been up to in the two decades since the rom-com’s release.
Reese Witherspoon as Melanie Smooter
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Reese Witherspoon was already known for her film roles such asThe Man in the Moon(1991) andCruel Intentions(1999), but she became a true rom-com star in the early 2000s. In 2001, she portrayed Elle Woods inLegally Blondeand reprised the role in the 2003 sequel. In between the two films, she stole hearts as Melanie Smooter in 2002’sSweet Home Alabama.
Witherspoon later revealed that the project hit a personal note for her. “When I read the script I was like, ‘Do these people know my life story?’ " she said in 2018, adding that the film reminded her of her own feelings of missing home. “You want to leave home and then you realize that there’s so many important things about the closeness of family or people who knew you before. And I feel really like that movie really encapsulated those ideas. And it was a lot of fun. It was so much fun. I had a great time doing it.”
After her sequence of rom-coms, Witherspoon was cast as June Carter in theJohnny CashbiopicWalk the Line(2005), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The star also owns a Southern-inspired clothing line,Draper James, which was founded in 2013 and named after her grandparents, Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon.
As for her personal life, Witherspoon married herCruel IntentionscostarRyan Phillippein 1999 the couple welcomedtwo childrentogether, daughter Ava and son Deacon, before divorcing in 2008. In 2011, the actress married talent agent Jim Toth and after 11 years of marriage,Witherspoon and Toth announced their divorcein March 2023. They share a son, Tennessee James, who was born in 2012.
Josh Lucas as Jake Perry
Along with films likeAmerican Psychoin 2000 andA Beautiful Mindin 2001, Josh Lucas gained recognition for playing Jake Perry inSweet Home Alabama. He went on to land roles in films likeGlory Road(2006),Stolen(2009),Shadows and Lies(2010) andThe Lincoln Lawyer(2011).
Lucas also appeared on television shows likeThe FirmandThe Mysteries of Laura.From 2018 to 2022, Lucas had a recurring role on the Western dramaYellowstone, playing a younger version of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton.
Lucas has also performed in theater productions. In 2018, he starred oppositeUma Thurmanin the Broadway playThe Parisian Woman.
In 2022, 20 years after the release ofSweet Home Alabama, Lucas toldEntertainment Tonightthat he “would love to” participate in asequel to the romantic comedyand that he’s even spoken to Witherspoon about the idea.
“I’ve campaigned her. I’m not going to say that she’s the problem, but I think part of it is that Reese is so busy,” he told the outlet.
As for his personal life, Lucas married writer Jessica Ciencin Henriquez in 2012 just six weeks after meeting. They welcomed a son, Noah, that same year, though the pair later divorced in 2014. Lucas and Henriquez continued toamicably co-parenttogether, and the former couple were reportedly rekindling their romantic relationship as of 2020.
Patrick Dempsey as Andrew Hennings
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After playing Melanie’s fiancé inSweet Home Alabama, Patrick Dempsey starred in other romantic comedies likeEnchanted(2007),Made of Honor(2008) andValentine’s Day(2010). However, he’s probably best known for playing Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on the long-running ABC medical dramaGrey’s Anatomy. He also reprised the role in two episodes of the spin-off seriesPrivate Practice.
Since his departure fromGrey’s Anatomy, Dempsey reunited with hisEnchantedcostarAmy Adamsfor the 2022 sequelDisenchantedand underwent a shocking whitehair transformationfor the upcoming 2023 biological dramaFerrari.
Candice Bergen as Mayor Kate Hennings
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Candice Bergenwas a critically acclaimed actress long beforeSweet Home Alabama, where she played Andrew Henning’s mother and the Mayor of New York City, Kate Hennings. She’s known for her early roles onMurphy BrownandBoston Legaland also appeared in a string of rom-coms in the 2000s and 2010s such asMiss Congeniality(2000),Bride Wars(2009) andBook Club(2018). In 2022, it was announced that the actress would be starring in theBook Clubsequel, releasing on Mother’s Day 2023.
Bergen also starred in the Broadway revivals ofThe Best Man(2012) andLove Letters(2014).
In addition to acting, Bergen has a successful line of customized luxury handbags,BergenBags, which she began working on in 2016. In 2020, she expanded the brand to includeaffordably priced merchandise, including apparel, bags, phone cases, pillows, dishes and wall art.
In her personal life, Bergen has been married to philanthropist Marshall Rose since 2000. She was previously married to director Louis Malle from 1981 until his death in 1995.
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As for his personal life, Embry married actress Amelinda Smith in 1998, and the couple welcomed a son, Cogeian Sky, the following year. However, they later divorced in 2002.
In 2005, the actor married actress Sunny Mabrey. The couple divorced in 2012 but remarried in 2015.
In 2017, Embry spoke out about hisopiate addictionon Twitter and shared that he had been clean for six years.
Jean Smart as Stella Kay Perry
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As for her personal life, Smart was married to herDesigning Womencostar Richard Gilliland until his death in 2021. They have two sons together, Forrest and Connor. In 2022, Smart said thatbecoming a single motherafter losing her husband unexpectedly was the “hardest thing” she’s ever done.
Fred Ward as Earl Smooter
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Mary Kay Place as Pearl Smooter
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Mary Kay Place played Melanie’s mother, Pearl Smooter. Prior to Sweet Home Alabama, Place was best known for her role as Loretta Haggers on the television seriesMary Hartman, Mary Hartman, for which she won an Emmy Award, as well as appearances onMAS*HandThe Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Dakota Fanning as Young Melanie Smooter
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Portraying young Melanie was one of many ofDakota Fanning’s roles as a child actor. After rising to fame as the youngest Screen Actors Guildnominee for her role in 2001’sI Am Sam, Fanning also appeared in films such asUptown Girls(2003) andWar of the Worlds(2005).
Her later film credits includeThe Secret Life of Bees(2008),The Runaways(2010) andOnceUpon a Time in Hollywood(2019). In 2022, she portrayed Susan Ford in the Showtime seriesThe First Lady.
As for her personal life, Fanning dated model Jamie Strachan from 2013 to 2016 and started datingHenry Fryein 2017. She is also the older sister of actressElle Fanning, and the siblings have remainedpublicly supportiveof one another throughout their careers.
Melanie Lynskey as Lurlynn
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Lynskey, who is originally from New Zealand, went on to star in a wide range of films such asShattered Glass(2003),Away We Go(2009) andThe Perks of Being a Wallflower(2012).
More recently, she appeared in the 2021 black comedyDon’t Look Upand Showtime’s thriller seriesYellowjackets, for which she won a 2022 Critics' Choice Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award. Lynskey also gave a memorable performance as resistance group leader Kathleen in two episodes of the HBO apocalyptic drama,The Last of Us.
In her personal life, Lynskey is married to actorJason Ritter. The couple started dating in 2013,welcomed a daughterin 2018 and were married in 2020.
source: people.com
