PRODUCTION NOTES

BACK IN BLONDE

How many blondes did it take to change Harvard Law School? Just one. Two summers ago, Elle Woods worked her perky pink magic on moviegoers in the original Legally Blonde, a story about a fashionable fish-out-of-water who followed her heart to law school and ended up surprising everyone with her well-coiffed brainpower. Now, how many blondes will it take to capture the heart of Washington, D.C.?

Is there any question? Elle Woods is back - bigger, better, and blonder.

After Legally Blonde became a breakaway hit and launched Reese Witherspoon into the stratosphere, audiences demanded to see more of Elle Woods. Not only was Witherspoon's creation acclaimed by critics (she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance), but filmgoers loved Elle's luminous brand of resolve and fair-haired intellect. With designer clothes, a perfect head of hair, and the heart and mind to fill them out, audiences found a new favorite heroine.

Witherspoon and producer Marc Platt really enjoyed working together so closely on the first film, and with a hit under their belts, they were excited to take Elle on a new adventure - but not until they found the right script. Both were adamant that they not do a sequel just for the sake of doing a sequel.

"In the first movie, I loved that Elle so enjoys being a woman," says Witherspoon. "She loves being girly, she loves her shoes, her nails, her hair. But she also has real ambition, real drive, real smarts. People really connected with her. They understood who Elle was, so we needed to raise the stakes and put her in an even more complicated and difficult scenario."

"We wanted it to be even better then before," says Platt. "Reese and I both felt a great sense of responsibility and obligation to Elle because of the way the character is viewed, especially by young people. They love to laugh at her, they love to see what she's wearing, they love her dog, but they also love to root for her. And they're really inspired by her. It was important to us to live up to that standard."

In addition to reprising her role, Witherspoon also served as executive producer on Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. "It was a real treat for me to start working on the sequel even earlier in the process," says Witherspoon. "I wasn't involved in pre-production on the first film, so that was really exciting."

"Do you guys remember that feeling that we used to get during a really intense spinning class…
that feeling that we feel so truly amazing about ourselves?
Well, that's how I feel being a lawyer."
- Elle Woods

One of the first challenges facing the producers was to find a suitable director, one who would be true to the character of Elle Woods and her world but who was not afraid to also make the movie his own. They decided on legally bald but blonde-at-heart filmmaker Charles Herman-Wurmfeld.

Witherspoon says, "I was so excited to meet Charles - I loved his film Kissing Jessica Stein - and when we talked to him, we realized he really understood what we wanted to do with Legally Blonde 2. He understood the messages we wanted to get across, but he also knew we wanted to have fun. It had to be hysterical but have a lot of heart."

For Herman-Wurmfeld, it was a thrill to get the call. "Marc asked if I'd like to do the sequel to Legally Blonde," he says, "and I was blown away. I loved the original movie. I loved the thought of getting to work with Reese Witherspoon. I was - and still am - incredibly excited about the whole thing.

"I have always seen Elle as a role model," Herman-Wurmfeld continues. "She is so very wise, but still manages to maintain her innocence about the world and keep a faith in her fellow human beings. She is not judgmental. She is kind. She is a lot of things I aspire to be. I look up to the character, so I took pleasure in helping to put her out there again."

When asked about stepping back into Elle's high heels, Witherspoon says, "I am still enamored with Elle. She almost magically finds she can relate to every single person on one level or another. She doesn't think she's above or below anyone. She sees each person as an individual and finds the good in everyone. I think that's really great about her."

Expressing his feelings about Witherspoon's character, Herman-Wurmfeld says, "I was really sensitive to what had already been established and then looked for new ways to make my mark. I certainly didn't want to reinvent the character. Reese did a brilliant job of inventing her in the first place, so my goal was to help her bring Elle back for a second time.

"It's an extremely exhausting role," he continues, "and it definitely takes it out of her. The weeks are long, it was week after week, and she's in almost every single scene. I did everything I could to protect her and her performance."

"I had no idea I could be this happy without accruing credit card debt."
- Elle Woods

To fill out the cast, the filmmakers brought back favorites from the first film in addition to finding new cast members who could make the leap into Elle Woods' world.

Returning members of the Legally Blonde family include Jennifer Coolidge as sweet-natured, slightly off-kilter beautician Paulette Bonafonte-Parcelle; Luke Wilson as Elle's handsome, perfect boyfriend, Emmett; and Jessica Cauffiel and Alanna Ubach as energetic Delta Nu sorority sisters Margot and Serena. And, of course, Moonie the Chihuahua is back as Bruiser Woods, Elle's best friend and canine companion.

New cast members include two-time Academy Award®-winner Sally Field as bold, blonde Congresswoman Victoria Rudd; Regina King as smart and straitlaced Rudd staff-member Grace; Bruce McGill as southern Senator Stanford Marks; legendary favorite Bob Newhart as Sid Post the doorman, Elle's newfound mentor; and Dana Ivey as Texas Congresswoman Libby Hauser - and Delta Nu sorority sister.

Witherspoon was thrilled with the cast they assembled. "We found a collection of really wonderful actors in addition to the ones we brought back," she says. "Sally Field - I have admired her for some time. I've seen ALL her movies. She's been a really wonderful person to work with. She was very helpful and gave me lots of great advice. It's really a dream come true to work with her. I was so nervous the first day I met her I just burst into tears."

Director Herman-Wurmfeld echoes Witherspoon's enthusiasm about working with Field. "Of course, it's exciting to work with an actor as established as Sally. But what was truly awesome was the talent and fearlessness she brought to the set every day. I just tried to take inspiration from her, learn from her and support her as best I could."

In the film, Elle sees Congresswoman Rudd as her role model in D.C. Rudd is smart, successful, and understands the importance of good hair care. She is the woman Elle aspires to be, though their relationship becomes more complicated as the film progresses.

"I saw my character as Elle Woods grown up," says Sally Field. "I think Rudd sees a lot of herself in Elle, herself as she was when she first came to Washington."

Field was a big fan of the first film and was happy to get a chance to be a part of the sequel. "Legally Blonde was really a delight," she says. "Reese is just magic, and it's a really wonderful film for women, young and old. And it's so funny - I think that's what makes boys and men interested in it, too. Who wouldn't be interested in what Reese is doing?"

Field also enjoyed working with her co-star. "Reese is great fun to be around," she says. "I don't think of her as being younger - she's a pro. She's exceptionally good at what she does."

"I'd have to say in this case, the cost of beauty is way too high…
I can't believe I said that, but it's true."
- Elle Woods

Bob Newhart's character, Sid Post, has seen presidents and politicos come and go, but he's never met anyone like Elle. He may be the most knowledgeable doorman in Washington - he teaches Elle how the city works - but Sid doesn't truly believe in himself and lacks self-confidence. That makes Elle and Sid perfect friends for one another - and great allies.

"Sid likes Elle immediately and wants to help her," says Newhart. "He knows the ins and outs of Washington and imparts his wisdom to Elle. I love my character. I know Sid. I know this kind of person, and maybe there's a piece of me that is Sid."

Newhart also relished the opportunity to share the screen with Witherspoon. "I loved the script - the writing really appealed to me, it was so creative - but most of all, I wanted to work with Reese," he says. "She's fantastic. It's so easy to go over the top with her role, but she never does. It's always contained and controlled. The movie works because you want her to win, and you want her to win because you like her so much."
Newhart did have a bit of research for his role - mainly concerning the film's fashions. As a man in a girl's world, "there were a number of fashion statements that had to be explained to me," he says. "My wife helped me out. She did some research on Jimmy Choos and handbags and that kind of thing."

Witherspoon says, "It was such a dream to work with Bob. I watched his show every night when I was a kid. It was on after the news, and I would sneak in and watch it while my parents thought I was asleep. He is a really kind, genuinely funny, humorous man."

Herman-Wurmfeld says, "Bob Newhart is an icon. He is so much a part of the consciousness of America. It was a little freaky for me on the first day. I just kept thinking, 'It's Bob Newhart.'"

"Wow! This is just like C-SPAN…except I'm not bored!"
- Elle Woods

Regina King plays Grace Rossiter, a sharp young Capitol Hill veteran who works for Congresswoman Rudd as her chief of staff. She doesn't understand why a cheerful blonde bathed in pink has so easily invaded her territory in working for Rudd - and she refuses to give Elle an easy time. King had a great time playing the role.
"Well, it's actually fun to be a little nasty," she laughs. "It gives you a 'get out of jail free' card to really go for it. It's a lot of fun being able to give all those mean looks," says King.

"Legally Blonde 2 was so attractive to me," she continues. "To be a part of something that was so great in the beginning. Then when I actually read the script, there are just so many funny things that happen. The audience is going to be pleasantly surprised - they're going to laugh a lot."

Of Witherspoon, King says, "She is a very, very smart woman. She's the type of person that is always reading and always wants information. It's refreshing to be with a woman her age that's just a sponge and loves to soak in knowledge. It's awesome."

"You look like the Fourth of July! Makes me want a hot dog real bad."
- Paulette

Anyone who fell in love with Legally Blonde also certainly fell under the spell of actress Jennifer Coolidge as beleaguered beautician Paulette Bonafonte - now Paulette Parcelle. Everyone will be pleased to learn she's back in business for the sequel.

In creating her character, Coolidge says, "I make kind of odd choices. Sometimes they're kooky or just weird. But I think we can all relate to Paulette. Everyone can relate to feeling different. I went through this awkward stage when I was fifteen. I could really just sort of channel who I was at fifteen to play Paulette.
"It's so much easier the second time around," she continues. "You've already established the character. You can be insecure about new choices and the new places you're taking the character, but Paulette is Paulette - she just has better hair and make-up this time."

Witherspoon was pleased to see Elle and Paulette together again. "Jennifer is always funny," she says. "The biggest laughs in the movie are Paulette's because she's so off the wall."

Herman-Wurmfeld concurs. "In our original conversations we thought Paulette might have become a little bit more sophisticated. But when we got on the set, we very quickly went back to the Paulette everyone knows and loves. We couldn't resist. Coolidge is such a funny woman and her humor is so specific and zany."

"Is bill writing super fun or what?"
- Elle Woods

In the first film, Elle ended up getting her man, though he wasn't the one she thought she was going to get. And once Elle makes up her mind, she gets what she wants - which is why Luke Wilson is back as Emmett, ready to walk down the aisle with Elle.

"Elle's planning this elaborate wedding at Fenway Park," he says, "a major league baseball park in Boston. It's a guy's dream. Emmett's really excited because he's a big Red Sox fan."

Arriving on set, Wilson was glad to find it was more like a homecoming than a first day of shooting. "It's a great feeling when you get the chance to come back and work with the same people," says Wilson. "Reese and Jennifer, the producers and certain crew members, wardrobe, hair and make-up - it's nice. It's like getting an old team back together."

Wilson especially appreciated working with Witherspoon again. "Reese really commits to playing a funny character," she says. "That takes guts. A lot of actors would play it more straight and take less of a chance. Reese took a risk and created this great character, and people like to watch her."

Finally, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde marks the return of one of the most beloved characters of all…Bruiser Woods, Elle's Chihuahua. Bruiser is played by canine character actor Moonie. In the original, moviegoers loved Bruiser and his Elle-matching outfits so much that his role and storyline are expanded in the sequel - including some big surprises.

"I was really distressed about the idea of working with a dog," laughs director Herman-Wurmfeld. "I'd never worked with animals before. He had to perform all sorts of complicated stuff, and I wasn't sure how I would communicate - I'm so used to really talking with actors. But I discovered you just have to make the space for Moonie to do his thing, and then we play with it in the editing room. We never lost a minute because of the dog."

Witherspoon laughs, "Moonie is the best. He comes in, hits his mark, we shoot the take, and he goes back to his trailer. And this time, we explore Bruiser's character a little more and some important things are revealed about him. It's fun and very sweet."

Wilson adds, "People love that dog. Whenever I am around kids, they ask me what Reese is like - then before they can catch their breath they ask about Bruiser."

THE FASHION

"Too Nancy…too Hillary…too Monica…too perfect for words!"
- Elle Woods

As costume designer for the original Legally Blonde, Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell put together a fabulous collection of clothing for fashion-forward Elle Woods - and people loved it. When it came time to make the sequel, there was no question the filmmakers would bring Carbonell back to design and style Elle for her new adventures in Washington, D.C. With a new locale and storyline - but the same signature color - Carbonell worked closely with Witherspoon and Herman-Wurmfeld to update Elle Woods' closet and bring fresh style to the nation's capital.

"I don't think any of us realized how big of a hit Legally Blonde was going to be," says Carbonell. "Coming back to it after that - well, I felt the pressure. The brilliant part is that a lot of the groundwork was already done. You know the actors, you know the characters, a lot of the crew is the same - it was quite a comfortable environment to work in."

Witherspoon loved the chance to play in Elle's closet again. "We went in and found an entirely new wardrobe," she says. "We did a lot with the hair, the make-up, and certainly the clothes. I was totally transformed. I arrived in the morning in my sweat suit, they put on fake nails and hair, and then I stepped into a totally fabulous outfit as a totally different person. I felt like Elle."

In putting together the wardrobe, Carbonell and Witherspoon looked at where Elle had been and where she was going. "She's still the same person," says Carbonell, "but she's more adult and has a professional job. She's older and more sophisticated." Though her style has evolved, Elle is as colorful and individual as ever. "She's definitely in her own element wherever she is.

"Because it was based in Washington," Carbonell continues, "we took Jackie O. as our starting point and went from there - tweeds and sixties-looking Chanel and pieces like that for when she's at work in the Congressional offices." For other parts of the film, there's "a seventies grassroots activist look." Though the Legally Blonde 2 costumes are distinctive and original, Carbonell did gain inspiration from different time periods and famous fashion statements. "A lot of the outfits have nicknames," Carbonell continues. "There's the Gloria Steinem outfit, the revolutionary outfit - references to political and social figures."

One of the reasons Reese Witherspoon is so effective as Elle is that she knows the character inside and out. She was an invaluable help in keeping the character and her clothing "distinctly Elle." Carbonell says, "Reese is very aware of the character. She personally wouldn't wear many of the outfits, but she knows Elle would wear them." The film is a comedy, so they made sure to keep the costumes as fun and colorful - and often outrageous - as possible, but they always remained true to Elle.

While Carbonell created many of Elle's new looks from scratch, several of the world's top fashion designers helped Carbonell complete Elle's outfits, from fabulous hats to colorful purses and around 50 incredible pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes and boots. Versace, Nanette Lepore, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Tocca, Louis Vuitton, Hogan, Anya Hindmarch, H. Stern, Mikimoto, Oscar de la Renta, Chloe, Juicy Couture, Miss Sixty, Emmanuel Ungaro, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui, and William B. are just some of the designers and labels whose clothing, jewelry, and accessories are seen in the movie.

Hair and makeup are also integral parts of a character's overall look. Witherspoon, Carbonell, and Herman-Wurmfeld collaborated with hairstylist Anne Morgan and makeup artist Brad Wilder to complete the total Elle package. It was a team effort, and everyone involved was delighted with the result.

Then, again, there's Bruiser. Having become one of the most popular dogs in filmdom, his role is expanded in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, which gave Carbonell a chance to expand his wardrobe as well. Outfit for outfit, Bruiser's duds give Elle's a run for their money.

"People loved the dog in the original," says Carbonell, "and they loved that the dog had clothes. We went into that a lot more with Legally Blonde 2. We were able to match up a lot of Moonie's wardrobe with Reese's outfits, specifically designing them so they would compliment each other." Dog-clothing line Fifi & Romeo and the line's creator, Yana Syrkin, collaborated with Carbonell on Bruiser's many looks.

"You can do things the Washington way. But I'm going to do it the Elle Woods way."
- Elle Woods

With the movie finished, the cast and filmmakers are "super-pleased" with the final product. By balancing loads of humor with a great deal of heart and an uplifting outcome, the filmmakers did what they set out to do.
Witherspoon says, "I think it's great when you can make a fun movie that people enjoy so much. But it is even more fulfilling, particularly as a mom, that I can make a film that is commercial but also has a message. I think these lessons are really important, wrapped in such a sweet package."

"We had a huge responsibility to the audience, to the huge fans of this character and their expectations," says Herman-Wurmfeld. "I know Reese felt that way, the producers felt that way. We did our best to deliver a movie that fulfills that promise. As before, Elle Woods continues to inspire us to boldly be ourselves, to express our individuality…to speak our minds without fear or shame."

Boston. Washington. Where will Elle head next? No one's quite sure because a third Legally Blonde isn't in the works…yet. But when asked whether there will be another Elle adventure, producer Platt smiles and says, "Anything's possible." If audiences have their way, we haven't seen the last of Elle Woods and her fabulous blonde and blonde-at-heart friends.