Elle Woods

Elle Woods is a fictional character who is the protagonist in Legally Blonde. The character originated in the 2001 novel, Legally Blonde, by Amanda Brown. Woods was portrayed in two films by actress Reese Witherspoon. In a Broadway theatre adaptation of the first film, Legally Blonde - The Musical Woods has been portrayed by seven different actresses in different stagings of the show. They were Laura Bell Bundy, Bailey Hanks, Becky Gulsvig, Jessica Jung, Nikki Bohne, Luna Park and in the West End by Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star Sheridan Smith (who was later to be replaced by her Legally Blonde co-star Susan McFadden). From 11th July 2011 Carley Stenson will take over the role of Elle Woods with Susan McFadden leaving the show.

Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "She's blond, bubbly, and carries a tiny Chihuahua. But despite the inevitable Paris Hilton comparisons, Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde dynamo managed to be taken seriously. Case closed!"

The character is mentioned, but not seen, in a later direct-to-video sequel, Legally Blondes, which portrays the adventures of two British cousins of Elle Woods.