Lexi Minetree, the 25-year-old star of Amazon Prime Video's new prequel series Elle, has opened up about the pressure of stepping into Reese Witherspoon's iconic pink shoes as a younger Elle Woods. Speaking to Metro ahead of the series premiere, Minetree explained that directly copying Witherspoon's performance would be a disservice to the character and the audience.
Taking on a Monumental Role
Minetree, whose previous credits include Law and Order: SVU, portrays Elle Woods as she navigates moving from glamorous Los Angeles to grungy Seattle to attend a new high school. She acknowledged the weight of the role, noting that many fans credit Witherspoon's Elle with changing their lives—inspiring them to study law or feel empowered. 'I took it very seriously, because when a character means that much to someone, you want to make sure that you capture that and capture the things that made her so special,' Minetree said.
She praised Witherspoon's 'amazing job' in the 2001 film but admitted she could never 'completely mimic' the portrayal. 'It would be a disservice because we have had different life experiences. And also it's a character at a younger age. So I tried to bring in the essence of what made Elle, Elle. Her kindness, her silliness, her heart, and obviously, add my own life experiences,' she explained. 'I hope that this new Elle resonates with people the same way that Reese's version did.'
Castmates Share Support
Minetree's co-stars Gabrielle Policano and Chandler Kinney, who play Liz and Kimberly respectively, joined her in the interview, offering resounding reassurance. Chandler described the first time she saw Minetree and Witherspoon standing together: 'It was so meta and so, almost… freaky is the word that comes to mind because I'm like: “I think I'm seeing double.”' She noted eerie similarities in inflections, word choices, and hand gestures.
Witherspoon serves as an executive producer on Elle, credited with originating the prequel idea. Minetree gushed about their relationship: 'What's so incredible is how available she made herself to all of us. The fact that I could just call her up at any time or send her a voice memo and get one back. What world am I living in now?'
Reese Witherspoon's Influence on Set
Zac Looker, who plays classmate Dustin, said Witherspoon's presence was always felt even when she wasn't physically there. 'You always feel a sense of her will and her drive running across the entire set. You can really tell she has a very specific vision for what she's looking for from the show,' he said. Jacob Moskovitz, who plays love interest Miles, added that Witherspoon was 'in the trenches' with them, recalling her appearance during a chaotic mosh pit scene.
Looker admitted he didn't feel his best self that day, having just stage dived before being called to meet Witherspoon. 'I'd just stage dived, and they were like: “We'd like to see you over at video.” And I was like: “Oh, ok. I'm so damp right now.”' Fortunately, it 'turned out ok' for him. Tom Everett Scott, who plays Elle's father Wyatt, praised Witherspoon as 'such an amazing leader,' adding, 'She's always been inspirational.'
Elle is produced by Hello Sunshine, Witherspoon's production company, in partnership with Prime Video. The series is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
