Reese Witherspoon, the acclaimed actress who famously brought Elle Woods to life, has been actively mentoring Lexi Minetree, the talent stepping into the shoes of a teenage Elle in the upcoming prequel series. The most significant piece of wisdom Witherspoon imparted to her successor focused not on performance, but on personal well-being.
Minetree shared that the primary lesson she has embraced is the importance of self-care. "Honestly, the biggest thing that I've been taking to heart is being able to take care of yourself," Minetree stated. She highlighted the intense demands of the industry, where workdays can stretch to 15 hours. "We work crazy long hours, sometimes 15 hours a day, and making sure we're drinking enough water, getting enough sleep. That one's important — I don't do that a lot, but I'm working on that. Seven hours, baby."
Witherspoon, who is an executive producer for the series, underscored the comprehensive nature of this advice. "Just taking care of yourself, mentally, spiritually, physically. It's really important… I try to… do that every day, and that's something she reminds me of," Witherspoon explained, emphasizing a holistic approach to maintaining health and resilience.
Embracing the Iconic Character
Minetree confessed that portraying the beloved character has brought a mix of emotions, fluctuating between immense confidence and moments of apprehension. "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 remarked.
The young actress is deeply aware of the significance of the role and the expectations that come with it. "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," Minetree articulated, expressing her commitment to honoring Elle Woods' legacy.
This week marked a celebratory moment for the franchise as Witherspoon attended the New York premiere of "Elle" in New York City on Monday. She made a rare public appearance alongside her boyfriend, financier Oliver Haarmann, to support the continuation of the story she helped popularize globally.
Remembering James Van Der Beek
The new series also features familiar faces, including actor Tom Everett Scott, who reflected on his experience working with the late James Van Der Beek. Scott lauded Van Der Beek's demeanor on set, noting the former teen star's enthusiasm. "Oh, yes. I'm so glad he was part of it, got to work with him, never met him before," Scott shared. "…I was there with him watching him enjoy acting. And then we went to dinner, and we talked about it, and he just was so lovely and charming and fun to be with."
Co-star June Diane Raphael was also profoundly affected by Van Der Beek's devotion to his family. "He was amazing… I was so moved by how much he talked about his kids and truly, in between takes, with every spare second, he was telling me stories about one of them," Raphael recounted. She added that two of his daughters even visited him on set, making the experience particularly special.
James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11 at the age of 48, following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. A statement released on his official social media account confirmed his passing, saying, "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Series Premiere Details
Reese Witherspoon serves as an executive producer on "Elle." The series features Lexi Minetree as a young Elle Woods, alongside a cast including June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney, and Zac Looker.
"Elle" is set to premiere on July 1, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
