Back in 2001, the world was introduced to a new kind of heroine in Legally Blonde: Elle Woods. Fashion extraordinaire, friend to the underdog, and proof that hard work is one of your greatest assets. As viewers watched Elle go from sorority socialite to Harvard student, they were equally charmed by Reese Witherspoon’s winsome heroine and the heart warming message that, whether it’s book smarts or knowledge of last season’s Pradas (or both), everyone has something to bring to the table.
However, while Witherspoon was without a doubt the star, Legally Blonde does boast a strong ensemble cast. As the comedy turns 15 on Wednesday, let’s take a look at what the stars have been up to since Harvard graduation.
Reese Witherspoon — Elle Woods
Witherspoon really ascended to “America’s Sweetheart” status with the good-natured Elle, a “dumb” blonde we could all believe in. While she would reprise the role of Elle Woods in the lesser sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde (and is pushing to make it a trilogy), Witherspoon would go on to forge an extremely successful career beyond the signature pink.
A few years and a couple romantic comedies (The Importance of Being Earnest and Sweet Home Alabama) later, Witherspoon starred in Walk the Line as June Carter Cash, a role which would earn her a slew of awards notices, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. She went back to the romantic comedy route following her win, but found her feet again with indie fare like Mud, Wild (for which earned her a second Academy Award nomination), and Inherent Vice. She most recently starred in Hot Pursuit with Sofia Vergara, and is starring in an upcoming Tinker Bell live adaptation.
On top of her acting accolades, Reese Witherspoon has a prodigious amount of hustle offscreen. Not only did she co-found a production company, Pacific Standard (previously Type A Films), but she has a preppy clothing line called Draper James, as well. Witherspoon is also a mother to two children, Ava (who looks exactly like her mom) and Deacon, both with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.
Luke Wilson — Emmett
There are few romcom boyfriends that are as real-world dreamy as Luke Wilson‘s Emmett. Kind and supportive, Emmett is the ideal partner for an ambitious woman like Elle. Since Legally Blonde (and Legally Blonde 2), Luke Wilson has worked steadily in film and television.
In 2001, Wilson reunited with frequent collaborator Wes Anderson for The Royal Tenenbaums as the lovesick Richie. Wilson, like his brother Owen, became a fixture in comedies like Old School, The Family Stone, Idiocracy, Death at a Funeral (the American remake), The Skeleton Twins, and most recently, Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6.
Wilson has also been a part of some prestige ensemble television, co-starring in HBO’s gone-too-soon Enlightened, and leading the cast while trying to find truth and beauty in rock n’ roll in Cameron Crowe’s Roadies.
Selma Blair — Vivian Kensington
One of the greatest things that Legally Blonde did was subvert the trope of the Evil New Girlfriend. While Elle and Vivian start out as rivals in academics and in love, the two eventually become friends and unite against injustice (and Warner). Following her preppy, plaid turn in Legally Blonde, Selma Blair went on to have a fairly varied career. Not only did she appear in ensemble comedies like The Sweetest Thing and A Guy Thing, she was also Liz Sherman in the Hellboy films.
Later, Blair starred alongside Charlie Sheen in the TV adaptation of Anger Management (until a massive fallout), and most recently appeared in American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson as Kris Jenner. She also hit the comedy scene with appearances on Web Therapy and Comedy Bang Bang!. Blair provided narration to the audiobook of Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl and recently recreated her iconic Cruel Intentions kiss with Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Blair recently made news when she accidentally mixed some medication with alcohol and caused an altercation on a flight, but the actress handled it with one of the better celebrity apologies.
Matthew Davis — Warner Huntington III
We’ve all dated a Warner; that douchey guy who is just sticking around until he finds something better. While he may be here initial reason Elle entered the hallowed halls of Harvard, Warner was soon outed as a hindrance to all on the path to success. Following his turn as an Ivy League legacy, Matthew Davis appeared in films like Blue Crush, BloodRayne, and S. Darko.
Davis has worked steadily in television lately, with supporting roles in Damages, Cult, and CSI, and as a series regular on The Vampire Diaries for eight seasons.
Victor Garber — Professor Callahan
Victor Garber‘s lecherous professor may have turned out to be scum, but Garber has made a steady career out of playing upstanding authority figures. In 2001, the classic spy show Alias began, with Garber as Jack Bristow, badass spymaster and father to heroine Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner). Garber has remained close with Garner even after the show has ended, officiating her wedding to Ben Affleck and having adorable reunions at awards shows.
While Garber had a supporting role in the Oscar nominated Argo, he has mainly found success in television, with guest appearances on shows like 30 Rock, The Big C, Damages, The Good Wife, Web Therapy, and Louie. His most visible role lately has been as a prominent member of the DC Universe on The CW, playing Dr. Martin Stein, one half of Firestorm, on both The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.
Garber also married his longtime partner, artist and model Rainer Andreesen, in 2015.
Jennifer Coolidge — Paulette
As the first person that Elle is really able to help, Paulette is a funny lynchpin in Legally Blonde (and it’s sequel). The Bend & Snap is easily the most quoted part of Legally Blonde, and Jennifer Coolidge‘s impeccable timing is what really sells that hysterical scene. Coolidge has been a comedic heavyweight for decades, not only as one of Christopher Guest’s regular players, but as Stifler’s Mom in the American Pie series. Additionally, she appeared in Zoolander, A Cinderella Story, American Dreamz, Click, and Austenland.
Coolidge has guest starred on a number of television comedies as well, including Friends, Joey, Nip/Tuck, Party Down, Inside Amy Schumer, and Glee, and is currently a series regular on 2 Broke Girls and Gravity Falls. Coolidge is set to return to the Guest fold in his upcoming Netflix film, Mascots.
Holland Taylor — Professor Stromwell
Holland Taylor‘s Professor Stromwell is the professor that every student wishes they had. Sure, she’s tough, but she pushes Elle to be the best lawyer that she can be, while also helping her cultivate her mind. Following Legally Blonde, the Emmy Award-winning actress appeared in the Spy Kids series as Grandmother, The Wedding Date, and Baby Mama, as well as television shows including The Practice, Monk, The L Word, and Two and a Half Men.
In 2013, Taylor wrote and starred in the one-woman play Ann, about Ann Richards, the first elected female governor of Texas. Through her performance, she managed to snag a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance From A Leading Actress.
In 2015, Taylor confirmed that she was dating American Horror Story star Sarah Paulson.
Ali Larter — Brooke Taylor Windham
She may have lied about her lipo, but Ali Larter‘s Brooke Taylor Windham was surprisingly not a gold digger, subverting yet another damaging movie trope. After being proven innocent in Legally Blonde, Larter starred in films like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Final Destination 2, Resident Evil: Extinction, and Obsessed.
However, her biggest role(s) to date remains that of the superhuman Niki Sanders and Tracy Strauss on the sci-fi show, Heroes. She did not appear in the show’s reboot.
After becoming a mother of two (with husband Hays McArthur, from Angie Tribeca), Larter went the route that many celebrities take by writing a cookbook, Kitchen Revelry: A Year of Festive Menus from My Home to Yours.
Linda Cardellini — Chutney
While it is unknown whether or not Linda Cardellini has figured out the rules of getting a perm, she has carved out a Hollywood career over the years. She may forever be Freaks and Geeks‘ Lindsay Weir to many, but Cardellini also has a variety of film credits on her resume, including Velma in the live action Scooby Doo films, Brokeback Mountain, Welcome to Me, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Daddy’s Home.
As well as being a series regular on E.R. from 2003 until 2009, Cardellini also can be seen (or heard) on Robot Chicken, New Girl, Mad Men, Gravity Falls, and Regular Show. Most recently, she co-starred alongside Kyle Chandler in Netflix’s Bloodline.
