Lexi Minetree Talks ‘Elle’ Season 2, Acing Reese Witherspoon’s Iconic Cry and the One YA Series Elle Should Crossover Into (EXCLUSIVE)

“Elle”, Prime Video’s prequel series based on Reese Witherspoon’s character from “Legally Blonde,” has painted the town pink since its release in July, the same month the beloved 2000s comedy celebrates its 25th anniversary. It’s star Lexi Minetree, who plays the younger, pre-Delta Nu Elle Woods, has aced the mannerisms of Witherspoon (also executive producer) so uncannily that Season 2 was greenlit even before Season 1 came out.

Lexi Minetree, in an exclusive chat with Variety India, dropped a few tidbits about working with Reese Witherspoon, the upcoming Season 2, her on-set friendship with fellow cast members that translates into their dynamic on screen and the one YA series she’d love for Elle to have a crossover with.

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You've talked about getting pointers from Reese Witherspoon on playing Elle Woods. Was there a scene or an episode this season that you were particularly nervous for her to see?

I think the crying scene in Episode 1, just because I had to mimic her very iconic cry; the high-pitched one that has a very whistle-like tone. And I was so nervous for it because that cry is so well known. I don't even know how she thought of crying that way. It's so genius. And so, I was nervous for that one. But I remember, on the day when we did it, I hit notes I didn't even know I was capable of. I felt like Ariana Grande with those whistle tones.

One of Elle’s adorable quirks is her belief in astrology. Now that she has discovered she isn't a pure Gemini, but a Gemini-Cancer cusp, how’s that going to change Elle’s personality in Season 2?

Oh, God, I think she's gonna have an existential crisis about it! It means a lot to her; that’s big. But, to me, even though it's a very funny scene, how much she reacts to it represents how she's changing. She's not the girl that she thought she was, and Seattle is opening up new sides to her that she didn't even know existed.

Your Elle Woods is so uncanny; it does feel like watching Reese Witherspoon in “Legally Blonde”. But is there something about Elle you still want to perfect for Season 2?

Well, we just wrapped two weeks ago, so maybe for Season 3, if we are so lucky! But it's funny when I went into Season 2, I was a bit cocky. I was like, “Oh, I did Season 1, I got this in the bag, let's do this!” And then two weeks in, I'm like, “I don't know what I'm doing.”

I had this epiphany that maybe we never really reach the end goal, you know? Maybe we're always going to be learning, trying and figuring things out. And I could be doing this character for twenty seasons and still be learning things about her. And that's maybe where you want to be. So I'm always learning and growing with this character.

You were at Prime Video’s Obsessed Fest with actors from other YA shows. If Elle could have a crossover with any one of those series or films, which would you pick?

Oh, God, I'm trying to think! “Off Campus” would be insane. I would say, maybe “Every Year After”? Elle loves a lake. 

And she has the perfect bikini for it.

Exactly! She already has her pink bikini to jump into the lake. 

In India, Elle’s favorite fuchsia shade of pink has a name: Rani Pink, a shade favored by royals. If Elle could name a shade of pink, what would it be?

Oh, she would probably say “Bruiser Paw Pink”. It's the pink of Bruiser's paw!

The relationships Elle has with other female characters, like her mother, Eva, are written with such nuance. Do you have a favorite one?

I love her relationship with Liz (Gabrielle Policano). I feel it mirrors a lot of Paulette and Elle's relationship about how we can come from different backgrounds, but there's something in us that's deeper than that. And we can sense a kindred spirit.

Also, Gabby is one of my favourite people ever. We're both crackheads. And so whenever we're together, we just have the most fun time ever. They’re such a talented actor. I think people can sense the friendship we actually share through their characters as well.

Since you’ve wrapped “Elle” Season 2, give us a one-word tease on what it’s going to be like?

Oh, chaotic!