Actress Lexi Minetree is stepping into some of the most iconic shoes in pop culture. She will portray a teenage Elle Woods in the upcoming Prime Video prequel series, Elle, taking on the beloved character originally made famous by Reese Witherspoon. The series is set to premiere on July 1, offering fans a look at the formative years of the optimistic and confident young woman who would eventually conquer Harvard Law School .
Diving Deep into the Role
For Minetree, preparing for the role required dedication to perfecting Elle's signature voice and mannerisms. Her process started with an intense study of the original Legally Blonde movie, which she reveals she watched over 150 times during the casting process . "I think at one point, I probably could've done a one-woman show of it," she joked on The Tonight Show .
To avoid a surface-level impression, Minetree worked closely with voice coach Kate Wilson to find Elle's vocal placement . "It would be so easy to play her as a stereotype or do a valley girl accent, but Elle doesn't have any of that," the actress explained . She noted that Elle's voice has a "melodic quality" and a "really perky physicality" that works in tandem with her attitude and energy .
The Morning Routine
Minetree committed to the character with a specific daily warm-up routine. "Every morning, I actually had a 15-minute warmup in place, to do not only body but also voice, just so I could get myself there," she told People at the show's New York City premiere . She explained that this was necessary because, "sometimes I sounded rough in the morning," especially on days that started as early as 4 a.m. . The ritual involved muttering lines from the film to get into the right headspace, which sometimes alarmed background actors .
Advice from the Original Elle Woods
Minetree also sought and received valuable guidance from Reese Witherspoon, who serves as an executive producer on the series . Witherspoon offered practical advice about staying healthy and soaking in the experience of being on such a large production .
More importantly, she gave Minetree profound insight into the heart of Elle Woods. Witherspoon reminded her of a key moment in the original film where Elle takes the high road with her ex-boyfriend Warner. "She never goes low. She's never a bully, even to people who are unkind to her," Minetree recalled . This core value of maintaining kindness has been central to Minetree's portrayal of the character . "That's the core of who Elle is. I try to hold onto that in scenes when she could easily lash out," she said .
A Modern Take on an Icon
The prequel moves the setting from sunny Bel-Air to 1990s Seattle, placing Elle as a "fish out of water" during the height of the grunge movement . While the show promises to honor the legacy Witherspoon created, Minetree notes she has been given permission to add "my own little sprinkles of magic" to the role .
The series stars June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott as Elle's parents and boasts a strong supporting cast . The show already has a second season order, indicating significant confidence from Amazon and Prime Video . For Minetree, the role is a full-circle moment of self-belief, as she has long admired the character's unwavering confidence. "I'm still pinching myself that this is my life," she said .
