The new Elle Woods era is here: Talking to Lexi Minetree, the modern voice behind the show in Sydney

Sydney in winter isn’t quite the Australia most people imagine. The light is softer, the mornings have a crisp bite, and the harbour moves at its own unhurried rhythm before the city fully wakes up. It felt like an unexpectedly fitting place to meet Lexi Minetree, the actor about to inherit one of pop culture’s brightest, pinkest legacies.

Fresh off her breakout role in Prime Video's Elle, Minetree is stepping into the world of Elle Woods. Reese Witherspoon’s iconic performance has shaped generations of fans, making the character instantly recognisable long before a single new scene begins.

For a few days, Swissôtel Sydney became our base in the heart of the CBD, close enough to wander to the Queen Victoria Building, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sydney Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge whenever there was a free hour between events. Mornings started with an Aussie-style coffee before heading out into the city, while quieter moments found us tucked away in the hotel’s Executive Club, catching up on notes and preparing for the conversation with Minetree. It’s the sort of space that makes business travel feel less transactional, with private workspaces and meeting rooms that let you focus before stepping back into the energy of the city.

The journey to Australia began aboard Etihad Airways from Mumbai via Abu Dhabi, and it set the pace for the week ahead. Between smooth connections, thoughtful service and leisurely meals inspired by Middle Eastern flavours, the long-haul flight never felt quite as long as it should have. There was also the small luxury of beginning the morning somewhere over the sea with an intensely dark mocha and warm madeleines before settling in for another film. Hours later, watching Australia’s coastline slowly appear beneath the aircraft window became one of those quiet travel moments that reminds you why the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Prime Video’s welcome to Sydney arrived in unmistakable Elle Woods fashion. Jimmy's Rooftop had been transformed into an immersive pink pavilion overlooking the CBD, complete with framed moments from the franchise, vintage VCRs, nostalgic trinkets, pink photo booths, and even Bruiser, Elle Woods' beloved Chihuahua. Against Sydney’s steel-blue winter skyline, the sea of pink somehow felt less theatrical than joyful. Guests drifted between cocktails by James Irvine and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes from Chef Simon Zalloua's charcoal grill while the sun disappeared behind the city's skyline, making for an evening that was equal parts launch party and love letter to one of cinema's most enduring female characters.

The following morning, we made our way to the InterContinental Sydney, where Minetree was waiting in a pink dress with the Harbour Bridge framed behind her. It was an image that almost felt too perfect, but the conversation that followed quickly moved beyond appearances. We spoke about carrying the expectations of an iconic role, finding confidence without losing authenticity, and why today’s Elle Woods isn't simply about dressing in pink.

Cosmopolitan India: There are many moments in the show when, after a bad day, Elle just snaps out of it within moments. What do you personally think about snapping out of a bad mood, and what's your formula for going from bad vibes to good vibes?

Lexi Minetree: Well, easier said than done! First of all, I think what I love about Elle is that she doesn't have this toxic positivity or she is not just happy all the time without it being warranted. She has a lot that she's grateful for. She has great friends and a great life. She has been through hard things, so she knows that she'll get to the other side. And I think that's the trick. I don't believe you should be happy just to be happy because that's not realistic. If anything, that's insane behaviour. Bad things happen, and we should acknowledge it, let yourself process it, but then you must move on and not harp on things. That's the ticket.

CI: Elle lives, breathes, and reads Cosmopolitan magazine. Who, according to you, is a true Cosmo girl?

LM: Florence Pugh. I am obsessed with her! She's just so talented. And Maitreyi (Ramakrishnan), she is in Elle season 2, she is definitely a Cosmo girl. A Cosmo girl is someone who's just so themselves, someone who owns who they are. They are not trying to be someone else. And someone who's kind to everyone.

CI:  Fashion has always been such a huge part of Elle's identity. How much did the costumes help you step into the character? And was costume designer Sara Byblow's vision exactly who you are as a person, or did you have to adapt?

LM: Costume is the final piece of the puzzle when you are playing a character. And Sara did such an amazing job. I don't wear stuff like this normally, and I don't own anything nearly as nice, but the fun of playing a character is getting to become a different person that you wouldn't normally be.

CI:  Pink is often dismissed as "just a girly colour," but Elle Woods has turned it into a symbol of confidence and power. How does this new series use pink as something bigger than just a colour?

LM: The pink symbolises where Elle is coming from as well. Bel-Air is kind of the bubble that she's been in in Seattle—the grunge, the dark, the flannels. She's such a pop of brightness in this dark, dreary world. And what I think is cool is that you get to see her take inspiration from Seattle, and at the same time her pink rubs off on them. And even at the end, you see the world kind of being washed over with a wave of pink and light. And to me, it's the representation of Elle bringing her joy into this new world, and also her taking something from them and what they fight for. It's a really good meshing of everything.

CI: What has your fitness routine been during the shoot of Elle?

LM: I took a page from Elle Woods' book. After filming, I would go walk on the StairMaster and memorise my lines. She does it in the movie. It's actually amazing because you get to dissociate and you forget that you're at the gym, and I also memorise my lines! I became very good at multitasking.

CI: Throughout the show, as Elle grapples with understanding what it means to be "woke," what kind of inspiration do you hope to leave audiences with?

LM: Do not be afraid to use your voice and stand up for what you believe in. I think a lot of times it's really scary to stand up and say anything. And having your friends there to help you is what helps people stay strong in times like that. 

CI: Since many teenage dramas revolve around love and relationships, what do modern-day relationships mean to you? And what have friendship and love taught you about life?

LM: I am in a really beautiful place in my life where I have so many amazing friendships. I am single for now. But I think the more I've lived on this planet, the more I realise how important friendship and family are, because they are going to be with you forever. I feel lucky because even in the whirlwind of all the press tour and the show, I have such a great support system. Everyone deserves to find those people in their lives they can just be their most authentic selves with.

Lead image: IMDb

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