If you grew up in the early 2000s, Legally Blonde was probably one of your comfort movies.
The comedy first hit theaters 25 years ago, turning Reese Witherspoon’s fashion-loving law student Elle Woods into a pop culture icon and giving us lines we’re still quoting today.
Now, Prime Video is taking fans back to where it all began with prequel series Elle, which premieres on July 1 with newcomer Lexi Minetree taking over the role. To celebrate the show’s arrival, Witherspoon reunited with several of her former castmates at its New York premiere.
Here’s what the original cast have been doing since their days at Harvard Law.
Reese Witherspoon (Elle Woods)
Reese Witherspoon rose to fame as law student Elle Woods in 2001’s Legally Blonde.
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For many fans, Witherspoon will always be Elle Woods — but her career only got bigger after Legally Blonde. She won an Oscar for her performance in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005), before starring in TV hits including Big Little Lies (2017-2019) and The Morning Show (2019-present). She’s also built a successful career as a producer, and she has her own book club.
Luke Wilson (Emmett Richmond)
Luke Wilson went on to star in The Royal Tenenbaums and Anchorman.
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Luke Wilson won audiences over as Elle’s supportive love interest, Emmett. After Legally Blonde, he starred in films including The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Old School (2003) and Anchorman (2004). More recently, he has appeared in TV shows Stargirl (2020–2022) and Netflix’s No Good Deed (2024) and is expected to reprise his role in the upcoming Family Stone sequel.
Jennifer Coolidge (Paulette Bonafonté)
Jennifer Coolidge is a two-time Emmy winner for her role in The White Lotus.
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Who could forget Jennifer Coolidge’s scene-stealing performance as Paulette, the queen of the bend and snap? Also known for roles in the American Pie franchise (1999-2012) and A Cinderella Story (2004), she later enjoyed an Emmy-winning career renaissance with HBO’s The White Lotus (2021-2022).
Selma Blair (Vivian Kensington)
Selma Blair is an advocate for people living with multiple sclerosis.
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Selma Blair played Vivian, Elle’s rival turned friend. She built a successful film career with roles in The Sweetest Thing (2002) and the Hellboy films (2004-2008) and has become an advocate for people living with multiple sclerosis after revealing her diagnosis in 2018.
Matthew Davis (Warner Huntington III)
Matthew Davis starred as the ex-boyfriend who underestimated Elle — and lived to regret it. He later found a new generation of fans in The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017) and its spinoff Legacies (2018-2022).
Ali Larter (Brooke Taylor-Windham)
Ali Larter swapped courtroom drama for superheroes and zombies.
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Ali Larter made courtroom workouts look easy as Brooke Taylor-Windham. She later starred in NBC’s Heroes (2006-2010), the Resident Evil film franchise (2007-2016) and Paramount+’s Landman (2024-present).
Victor Garber (Professor Callahan)
Victor Garber has remained one of Hollywood’s most dependable character actors.
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Victor Garber was unforgettable as the intimidating Professor Callahan. Already known to many for his role in Titanic (1997), he has since appeared in projects including Oscar-winning thriller Argo (2012) and legal drama Family Law (2021–2025).
Holland Taylor (Professor Stromwell)
Holland Taylor reunited with Witherspoon for Apple TV’s The Morning Show.
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Holland Taylor gave Elle the pep talk she didn’t know she needed as Professor Stromwell. She has since starred in Two and a Half Men (2003-2015), The Morning Show (2019-present) and Netflix’s Hollywood (2020).