Lexi Minetree, who brings the younger version of Elle Woods to life in the prequel series Elle, sees the show as an opportunity for audiences to think deeply about their place in the world. In conversation with Refinery29, she explained that understanding privilege is central to what the character teaches.
"All of us come from different backgrounds and different ethnicities, and different points of privilege, points of income," Minetree said. "But I think the biggest thing to remember is that we can all learn from each other. And once you learn about other people, it's important to ask, 'Okay, well what can I do with that privilege? And how can I help the people around me?'"
The actor sees Elle Woods as the living embodiment of that philosophy. Before the character arrives at Harvard Law School, she navigates Seattle and confronts real questions about activism, workers' rights, and acceptance. Those experiences shape how she moves through the world with both earnestness and growing awareness.
Beyond the surface lessons the show offers, Minetree highlighted a deeper message about accountability. "I think the biggest thing from this series, in particular, is it's not about the mistakes that you make, it's about how you handle it afterwards," she said. She emphasized that everyone engages in behavior they later regret, but those moments don't have to define a person. "It's about having integrity and owning what you do, and I think in the show you get to see someone who's not prideful, and really takes ownership of who she is, and her mistakes."
Minetree brings an unmistakable optimism to the role that mirrors her own worldview. She acknowledged the weight of current events, from global conflicts to climate crisis, but argued that Elle Woods offers something the world needs right now. "Now there's so much negativity in the world, I think it's really nice to have a character out there who sees the world in such a beautiful way," she said. "It's another way for girls to have a role model, by spending eight hours with Elle Woods."
Season 2 has wrapped production, and Minetree teased that fans are in for expanded storytelling. "We do start up fairly quickly from where the first season ends, so there's not a time jump or anything," she said. The new episodes will feature more group dynamics and ensemble scenes, giving secondary characters their moment in the spotlight. "I would say all the episodes are very similar to The Breakfast Club one, where we get to do more group scenes and everything." Another mystery awaits, along with more Elle Woods wisdom for those paying attention.
Author Jessica Williams: "Minetree gets it. The prequel works because Elle's relentless optimism about making the world better isn't naive, it's a challenge to everyone watching to examine their own role in fixing what's broken."
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