There’s a particular kind of pressure that comes with stepping into a beloved character’s shoes, especially when it’s the pink pumps of one Miss Elle Woods. Somehow, Lexi Minetree, the 25-year-old actress tapped to play a teenage Elle Woods in Amazon Prime Video’s Legally Blonde prequel series Elle, has tackled the task with grace and earned Reese Witherspoon’s blessing.
When talking with Minetree, it becomes immediately evident that her resemblance to the good-natured Elle Woods goes well beyond her looks. She possesses the same unshakable optimism and zest for life. Here, the actress talks pink lips, borrowed glam tricks and the best lesson she learned from Witherspoon herself.
Elle Woods has such an iconic aesthetic. How much of Elle’s look did you bring into your own personal beauty routine, and how much stayed on set?
“I feel like the biggest thing about Elle is that her clothing is always a big statement, but her makeup is actually pretty clean and simple and beautiful. It’s really focused on the basics: a good lash, a good blush, a good lip. And I definitely feel like I’ve brought that into my own routine. One mascara that we loved using was the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Mascara ($12). It’s just really nice, not cakey at all and it doesn’t flake, which is really important when you’re filming all day because you don’t want little mascara speckles ruining a take!”
Was there a specific beauty or hair moment that helped you finally feel like Elle Woods when you looked in the mirror?
“Well, of course, the side part. I used to have a side part in high school, and those were definitely traumatizing days for me. But when Elle does it, she of course rocks it. And I think one thing that always felt like it completed the look was the lip. I remember one time Jen, my makeup artist, put on this beautiful L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Satin Lipstick in Tickled Pink ($13) and it just felt so youthful, so cutesy and so Elle. It was like, ‘Okay, there she is!’”
Are there any glam tricks the hair and makeup team taught you that you’ve stolen for your own routine?
“I actually didn’t know that you’re supposed to put concealer on and let it settle on your face—let it ferment—and then do a little tap, tap, tap, tap. And bada bing, bada boom, your face is clear. Perfect skin. So I’ve definitely stolen that one.”
Reese Witherspoon has been closely involved with this show. Did she pass along any beauty advice, on-camera or off, from her own Elle Woods days?
“She never gave me one specific beauty trick, but I think one of the biggest things I’ve taken from being around Reese is that taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to unlock your inner beauty. And I also think the best accessory you could ever wear is kindness. That’s something Reese has, and obviously that’s something Elle brings too.
Elle cares about how she looks, and she’ll take time to work on her fitness and her body and her style, but she does it because it makes her feel beautiful. She doesn’t ever expect anyone else to do the same. She treats everyone with the same amount of kindness and respect no matter how much makeup they wear or what they’re wearing. I think style and makeup are just another way for people to have fun and express themselves.”
Is there a specific scene from the original Legally Blonde movie that shaped how you envisioned your version of Elle? Did the movie mean something to you growing up?
“I think the scene where she stands up for Dorky David really stood out to me as an example of who Elle is. She sees someone who’s being terrorized by these mean old girls, and she could easily just walk by and do nothing, but instead she stands up for him. But she does it in a way that doesn’t also tear down the girls! She actually sets everyone up for success to have a fun little cheeky night out, which we love.
And I think there are multiple ways to go about solving a problem. Elle just sees the world in this very specific way that a lot of people don’t, and ultimately that’s what helps her become an amazing lawyer in the movie. I wanted to bring that same thing into our version of Elle and the way that she kind of shifts Seattle’s perspective in her own very Elle way.
And growing up, Legally Blonde was one of those movies that was always there to comfort me. As a young woman, it inspired me so much to be myself and be rambunctious and silly and fun and kind, and to not let other people define what potential I had.”
What lessons have you learned from Elle Woods?
“I think Elle has taught me the power of a put-together plan—alliteration intended! Sometimes life feels like it’s making us fly by the seat of our pants, and that life is happening to us versus us happening to life. And I think Elle has gumption. She sees a problem, and she’s like, boom, we’re gonna tackle this.
I also think what’s so beautiful about the show is that it’s about someone who loves herself deeply but is also growing and learning who she is at the same time. And that’s okay! It’s okay to have growing pains. It’s okay to change your mind, learn from people and lean on people. Elle isn’t afraid to lean on her friends.
And, you know, she makes mistakes in the show. She makes a little oopsie kissy kiss with a boy who she should not be kissy kissing, but she always owns up to things in her own way. I mean, that’s so human. We all make mistakes. I mean, I haven’t, but in theory [wink].”
What does your actual everyday skin-care and makeup routine look like off set?
“I’m a big skin-care girl. Acne-prone gals rise up! I make sure to wear my sunscreen every day, of course, a little hyaluronic acid moment, moisturizer and I double cleanse, of course.
In terms of makeup, I’m a simple gal. I like concealer, mascara, blush and a lip. I love the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush ($15). I literally just put that sucker on with my hand and do a little tap, tap, tap, tap, tap moment. I know there are brushes probably intended for it, but it just feels right with my hands. I’ve been really into lipstick recently because it stays on so much longer. As a girl who yaps, I need that support in my life.”
What’s a product you’re currently obsessed with?
“I really love the L’Oréal Paris Super-Blendable True Match Foundation ($14). Wow, I’ve never been more humbled than when I put that foundation on one side of my face, and it’s suddenly beautiful and clear, and then I look at the other side, and it’s a red-hot mess. But what I really love about it is that it doesn’t look like you have foundation on. A lot of times when I wear foundation, it looks like a different color sitting on my skin, or like I’ve just caked something on. This just looks like my skin. It looks like I woke up that way. Tricked ya!”
