Reese Witherspoon almost got rejected for a career-defining role because she was perceived as 'repellent'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed Elle Woods in the beloved 2001 film 'Legally Blonde', once revealed that she was nearly rejected for the iconic role due to her being perceived as "repellent" by a producer.

The Oscar-winning actress, for whom the role of the pink-clad Harvard Law School student was a turning point in her career, recently announced a global casting call for a 'Legally Blonde' prequel series, which will focus on her character's teenage years, as reported by E! News.

Reese Witherspoon claimed certain executives thought she was a 'shrew'

In a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 'Cruel Intentions' star claimed that during the filming of 'Legally Blonde', she failed to make an impression on certain executives because of her portrayal of the cunning and driven student Tracy Flick in the 1999 film 'Election'.

Witherspoon revealed to the outlet, "They thought I was a shrew," before adding that she was rejected at the last minute from several jobs that she had almost landed after the 'Election' film.

She continued, saying the producer in question believed she was actually her character from 'Election' and that she was "repellent."

"My manager finally called and said, 'You’ve got to go meet with the studio head because he will not approve you [for Legally Blonde]. He thinks you really are your character from Election and that you’re repellent.' And then I was told to dress sexy," mentioned Witherspoon.

The 'Big Little Lies' actress acknowledged that she was initially taken aback by the suggestion to "dress sexy," but she went along with it because, as she put it, "You’re 23, you have a baby at home, you need the money and you’re being told that by people who know what they’re doing."

Witherspoon further said that the 'Legally Blonde' audition process was rigorous and that she had even visited with several producers in character.

The actress apparently wasn't interested in playing the iconic Elle Woods, as per Marc Platt, who pushed her for the role and adapted Amanda Brown's book for the screen, according to HuffPost.

Platt recalled, "She was afraid it was too similar to Clueless, which had recently come out, in terms of the character." However, he eventually made the role more enticing by pointing out that Elle was a "role model."

Reese Witherspoon cannot wait to see all the Elle Woods' out there

'Legally Blonde' went on to make over $141 million at the box office worldwide.

Witherspoon reprised her iconic role in 'Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde' two years later, and went on to produce the 2009 direct-to-video spin-off 'Legally Blondes'. She was also a part of the 2007 Broadway adaptation of the film. 

In a video uploaded on Instagram on Wednesday, September 25, the actress announced, "I can’t wait to tell you that we are starting the casting process, and we are making it open. Yes, that is right. This is an open casting for the young Elle Woods when she was in high school."

Encouraging budding performers, Witherspoon said, "I cannot wait to see all the Elle Woods’ out there. This is gonna be really fun!"

The Oscar-winning actress declared that Hello Sunshine, her production company, will be in charge of this new Prime Video series.

According to a press statement, Elle is described as "a driven, natural born leader who will always stop to straighten another woman’s crown."

Her vivid personality will be captured in the series, which will also showcase her fragility and confidence as she experiences her first love and loss in the 1990s.