Reese Witherspoon has shared a fundamental piece of advice with Lexi Minetree, the actress set to portray a young Elle Woods in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video prequel series "Elle": prioritize self-care. Minetree told Fox News Digital that Witherspoon's guidance has been crucial as she navigates the demands of stepping into a beloved character's shoes.
"Honestly, the biggest thing that I've been taking to heart is being able to take care of yourself," Minetree said, highlighting the long hours typical in Hollywood. "We work crazy long hours, sometimes 15 hours a day, and making sure we're drinking enough water, getting enough sleep."
Witherspoon, who originated the role of Elle Woods and serves as an executive producer on the new series, has been mentoring Minetree. The veteran actress reportedly reminds the young star to focus on mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.
Minetree admitted that taking on the iconic role is a daunting task, causing fluctuating feelings of confidence and anxiety. "I flip-flop, there are days where I feel ‘top of the world, everything's great, I'm killing it,’ and then an hour later I'll be like, ‘I've ruined everything,’" she shared. She also acknowledged the significant impact Elle Woods has had on generations of fans and expressed her desire to do the character justice.
"I understand the undertaking this is because so many people love this character, and I want to do that justice, and she's so incredible, and she has inspired an entire generation of women and will inspire a new generation of girls, and that means something."
The series also features actors such as June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott. Scott spoke about working with the late James Van Der Beek, who appears in the series. Van Der Beek died on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48, after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Raphael recalled Van Der Beek's devotion to his children, sharing stories he would tell between takes about his daughters.
"Elle" is set to premiere on July 1 on Amazon Prime Video. Witherspoon recently attended the New York premiere of the series with her boyfriend, financier Oliver Haarmann. The original "Legally Blonde" film, which introduced Elle Woods, was released more than two decades ago, cementing the character as a cultural icon.