“Legally Blonde” just turned twenty! In honor of the movie’s special anniversary, Access Hollywood is looking back at our time chatting with Reese Witherspoon on the set while she was filming hit flick back in 2000. What, like it’s hard?
In this ‘oral history’ of Legally Blonde, The New York Times spoke to some of the cast (including Jennifer Coolidge, Jessica Cauffiel and Matthew Davis) about the film to mark its 20th anniversary. Although Reese wasn’t involved in the discussion, it does have some really interesting trivia on the film:
‘Legally Blonde’ Oral History: From Raunchy Script to Feminist Classic
Along the way, adult zingers were edited out, Jennifer Coolidge struggled with the “bend and snap” and the ending was changed at least three times.
In 2001, Reese Witherspoon was already on her way to becoming a household name. But it would be the feminist masterpiece “Legally Blonde” that would cement her status as a Hollywood star.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown, “Legally Blonde” follows Elle Woods (Witherspoon) from ditsy, sorority socialite to first-year law student in an effort to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis). But what transpires next surprises everyone, including herself: The perky blonde with a tiny Chihuahua named Bruiser and a flair for pink discovers she is actually cut out for the courtroom.
It’s been 20 years since Elle, against all odds, got into Harvard Law, fended off a professor’s advances and came to the legal defense of a sorority alumna. She remains an emblem for challenging stereotypes and embracing female empowerment in the face of misogyny. By refuting the “dumb blonde” trope, Elle has become beloved for her sincerity and her insistence on unapologetically being herself.
In 2021, “Legally Blonde” is more relevant than ever. Years before the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, the Robert Luketic-directed comedy tackled workplace sexual misconduct and power dynamics. High-profile fans like Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian (who each paid homage to it in videos) have stoked its legacy, as has a 2003 sequel (and a third movie due next year), as well as a Broadway adaptation.
Every year, Time magazine release their ‘Time100’ list which highlights the most influential people out there, and this year, they are launching an additional list of Most Influential Companies – which includes Reese’s Hello Sunshine! Reese graces the cover of the magazine with a new photoshoot, and talks about building the company in the detailed interview inside. Read the interview below, find scans and the photoshoot in the Gallery, and see the behind the scenes interview in this post. Pick up a copy of Time on news-stands now!
Reese Witherspoon, 45, has transformed her role in Hollywood from movie star to business leader—and maker of her own fortune. After rising as a child actor, she shot to household-name status for 2001’s Legally Blonde, going on to win an Oscar in 2006 for Walk the Line. But even after those triumphs, for a time she struggled to find satisfying roles in Hollywood, where women’s stories have long been sidelined. She discovered a way to change that in a lifelong love: books. Celebrating books through her book club—and adapting them for the screen—is now the foundation of Witherspoon’s business at Hello Sunshine, the media company she founded in 2016, where she’s established a track record for spotting, and making, hits.
Reese appeared on Good Morning America this morning. It was billed as her having a “big announcement”, but it was nothing completely new – she spoke about her new Book Club app, as well as her dogs, how she’s managing quarantine, and working on Legally Blonde 3 with Mindy Kaling. Watch the interview below:
Golden Globe-winning actress Reese Witherspoon sat down to talk to HFPA journalist Margaret Gardiner about her decades in Hollywood, from her start in films like Cruel Intentions, Election, and Legally Blonde, to turning points in her career like Wild and Walk the Line, to her recent forays in television with The Morning Show and Big Little Lies, to her outside work like her use of fashion and her ongoing monthly book club that highlights and celebrates great and noteworthy works, and more.
Advertising and marketing company AdWeek have honoured Reese in their 2020 Hot List and she is on the cover of their October 26th 2020 magazine cover to mark this! The magazine used additional photos from the Emmy magazine photoshoot that was published earlier in the year, and features a new interview in which Reese talked about growing her business and working to be taken seriously as a producer. Read the article below, and find the scans in our Gallery. Congratulations to Reese on being recognised for her fantastic work again!
The 2020 Hot List: Honoring the Year’s Best in TV, Publishing, Digital and Brands
When the pandemic forced us all to begin sheltering in place in March, we leaned on TV, publishing and digital brands more than ever before to connect us with the outside world. So it’s no surprise that Adweek’s annual Hot List, which always honors the best in those three categories, is full of people and brands who were at their best when so many things seemed at their worst.
Take Adweek’s Media Visionary Reese Witherspoon, who has turned Hollywood on its head by creating a successful media company, Hello Sunshine, focused on female-centric stories—for a variety of platforms.
Our TV Creator of the Year, Jon Favreau, helped get Disney+ off to a hot start with The Mandalorian, while TV Executive of the Year, TLC president Howard Lee, showed that linear networks still have plenty of fight in them.
Digital Creator of the Year Sarah Cooper turned her popular President Trump lip-syncs on TikTok and Twitter into a Netflix comedy special, and Digital Executive of the Year, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, is helping lead the charge against lies and hate speech on social media.
Watch the amazing Legally Blonde reunion below – and pay a visit to the organisation it’s in aid of at World Central Kitchen.
Reunions give you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people join host Reese, moderator Chloe Fineman, and the stellar cast of Legally Blonde for a reunion after 20 years of the film’s production. So tune in; what like it’s hard?
Get Organised With The Home Edit – the new home improvement reality series that Reese produced through Hello Sunshine – premiered on Netflix earlier this month. Reese appeared in the opening episode, and the hosts Clea and Joanna organised Reese’s closet with her movie, TV series and red carpet outfits/memorabilia. Reese has an impressive collection of outfits from Big Little Lies and Legally Blonde in particular, and it was so fun to see her look back through them! The finished closet looked amazing too!
Find The Home Edit team on Instagram, and watch the show on Netflix.
Big Little Lies (2019) Seasons 1 & 2 available now on HBO Role: Madeline Genre: HBO TV Series - Drama News / Info / Photos / Official Site
The Morning Show (2019) Seasons 1 & 2 available now on AppleTV+ Role: Bradley Jackson Genre: Apple TV+ Series - Drama News / Info / Photos / Official Site
Little Fires Everywhere (2020) Season 1 available now on Hulu/Prime Video Role: Elena Richardson Genre: Hulu TV Series - Drama News / Info / Photos / Official Site
Sing 2 (2021) Available to purchase now Role: Rosita Genre: Animation, comedy, musical News / Info / Photos / Official Site
Legally Blonde 3 (202?) In production Role: Elle Woods Genre: Comedy News / Info / Photos / Official Site
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Big Little Lies (2019)
The Morning Show (2019)
