Lexi Minetree, the 25-year-old actress stepping into the role of Elle Woods in the new Prime Video prequel "Elle," embarked on a years-long, strategic journey to secure the coveted part. Minetree, born Alexandra Minetree Jones, has revealed that her transformation into the iconic blonde character involved more than just a change of hair color.
Reese Witherspoon, who originated the role of Elle Woods in the hit film series and serves as an executive producer on the prequel, personally selected Minetree after being captivated by her audition tape. "When I saw Lexi Minetree in her video, I was absolutely... it stopped me. It took my breath away," Witherspoon stated.
Minetree's path to this breakout role was marked by consistent dedication to her craft. Her voice teacher, Grace Pompei, described Minetree as having a "stubborn determination" and an unwavering commitment to improvement. "She's really consistently worked so hard and every audition she's gotten, even if it was an open call and she didn't know what would happen, she's put her all into it," Pompei told the Daily Mail. Minetree also pursued dance classes and vocal training to enhance her performance skills, aiming to audition for musical roles.
A Strategic Transformation
While Minetree has described her decision to dye her naturally brown hair blonde as a "random kismet thing," those close to her suggest a more deliberate approach. "I really feel like she was manifesting this and putting everything in place for that, because it didn't just happen out of the clear blue sky. She was really, really strategic," Pompei commented. The actress herself noted that the color change, which cost $30 at a salon school, coincided with her graduation from the University of Southern California and represented a desire for a significant life change.
Minetree, who graduated in 2024 with a double major in theater and public relations and also trained at the British American Drama Academy in London, moved to Brooklyn, New York, to pursue her acting career. Her grandfather was the late Walter B. Russell Jr., a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives and chair of the Dekalb County commissioners.
Family Background and Support
Born months before the original "Legally Blonde" film was released in July 2001, Minetree's parents divorced when she was one-and-a-half years old. Legal documents reveal her birth name as Alexandra Minetree Jones, with Minetree being her mother's middle name. Court filings from her parents detail proceedings related to child support modifications, with a final order establishing her father's monthly child support payments and a lump sum for arrearages.
Minetree has found a strong mentor in Witherspoon, who has offered consistent support throughout the production. "She has been so fantastic during this whole process," Minetree said of Witherspoon. "She is always checking in on me. She'll like, always send me little voice memos like, 'Don't forget to drink water and get rest!'"
The eight-episode prequel "Elle" premiered on Prime Video on July 1. The series follows Elle Woods' early high school years in Seattle after a botched nose job leads her family to relocate. Minetree stars alongside June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney, and Jessica Belkin.