It’s hard to imagine Legally Blonde without Reese Witherspoon’s iconic performance as Elle Woods, but at first the studio did not want to cast her. Two years before Legally Blonde, Witherspoon starred in a black comedy, Election. Witherspoon’s character, Tracy Flick, runs for Student Body President of her high school. The movie portrays Tracy as overachieving and grating, although Election's surprising ending challenges the audience to see beyond the surface. Witherspoon was nominated for a Golden Globe for her indelible portrayal of Tracy Flick in Election, yet her involvement almost compromised her even more iconic role.
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Witherspoon’s full embodiment of Tracy Flick became a hurdle for her when she wanted to play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Producer Marc Platt pushed for her to get the lead role, but MGM was hesitant, typecasting Witherspoon based on her role as Tracy Flick. Witherspoon had to campaign aggressively to land Elle Woods, but the role changed her life and her reputation. Today, Witherspoon is associated with positivity and effervescence, like Elle Woods. However, Tracy Flick almost tarnished her image – in Hollywood and more widely.
Reese Witherspoon Was So Believable As Tracy Flick She Had To Prove She Was Not A “Shrew” In Real Life
Witherspoon Had To Take Meetings In Character & "Dress Sexy"
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Given how positive and uplifting Witherspoon's Legally Blonde performance is, it's easy to see why MGM was unconvinced that she was the right fit after seeing her performance in Election. In many ways, Tracy Flick is the antithesis of Elle Woods – petty, vindictive, and generally mean-spirited. It's a testament to Witherspoon's versatility and acting range that she was able to inhabit the role so convincingly.
Once Witherspoon decided she wanted to be Elle, her manager told her that she would have to meet with MGM’s studio head. The executives needed some convincing that she was not actually “repellent” like Tracy Flick in real life (via Hollywood Reporter). Witherspoon had to undergo multiple rounds of auditions for Legally Blonde. She was told to “dress sexy” and take meetings in character, complete with the Southern California accent. Witherspoon jumped through every hoop to become Elle. Luckily she persisted, because Elle Woods is one of Witherspoon's best roles.
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Witherspoon wanted Elle Woods to be a role model. She was specifically concerned that Elle would be too closely resemble Clueless’ Cher Horowitz, a ditzy, fashion-obsessed, Los Angeles-based blonde. Producer Marc Platt assured Witherspoon that Elle’s journey was more akin to Goldie Hawn’s in Private Benjamin - a character finding her way through a male-dominated world. Elle Woods showed the world how to smash a glass ceiling in chic pink pumps.
Legally Blonde Transformed How The Public Saw Reese Witherspoon
Elle Woods' Message Of Self-Empowerment Became Witherspoon's
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Tracy Flick and Elle Woods could not be more diametrically different characters, but Witherspoon embodied them both perfectly. Witherspoon’s journey to nab the role of Elle Woods is almost the reverse of Elle’s: Elle had to fight to be taken seriously for more than her looks, but Witherspoon had to show off her looks to clinch the role. Ironically, Witherspoon essentially channeled her inner Tracy Flick in her spirited campaign to become Elle Woods.
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Today, Legally Blonde is the movie Witherspoon is most associated with over her long career. Legally Blonde made Witherspoon America’s Sweetheart, allowing her to cherry-pick projects like Sweet Home Alabama and Walk the Line. Her studio is named Hello Sunshine to evoke brightness and positivity, just like Elle's empowering quotes in Legally Blonde. Witherspoon’s personal brand of self-empowerment strongly echoes Legally Blonde. Given the film’s lasting cultural impact, Witherspoon was the perfect choice for Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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9/10
Legally Blonde (2001)
PG-13
Comedy
Romance
Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen, is devastated when her boyfriend breaks up with her to attend Harvard Law School. Determined to win him back, she enrolls at Harvard and soon realizes her true potential as she tackles a high-profile murder case, ultimately proving her intelligence and capability in the legal world.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
*Availability in US
- Director
- Robert Luketic
- Release Date
- July 13, 2001
- Studio(s)
- Type A Films , Marc Platt Productions , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Distributor(s)
- MGM Distribution Co.
- Writers
- Amanda Brown , Karen McCullah Lutz , Kirsten Smith
- Cast
- Reese Witherspoon , Luke Wilson , Selma Blair , Matthew Davis , Victor Garber , Jennifer Coolidge
- Runtime
- 96 Minutes
- Sequel(s)
- Legally Blonde 2: Red , White & Blonde
- Budget
- $18 Million
- Main Genre
- Comedy
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Election
tv-ma
Comedy
Directed by Alexander Payne, 1999's Election is a Dark Comedy involving a high school election, focusing on the president of the student body. The film stars Matthew Broderick as a High School Social Studies teacher that ends up heading a scheme to disparage a popular girl (played by Reese Witherspoon) from winning the election.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
*Availability in US
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Release Date
- April 23, 1999
- Studio(s)
- Paramount Pictures
- Writers
- Alexander Payne
- Cast
- Reese Witherspoon , Matthew Broderick , Chris Klein
- Runtime
- 103minutes
