Ubach played Elle Woods’ best friend, Serena McGuire, in ‘Legally Blonde’
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NEED TO KNOW
- On April 8, 2026, Alanna Ubach attended the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s Hacks season 5
- During the event, the 50-year-old actress reflected on her role in Legally Blonde as the film nears its 25th anniversary
- Ubach tells PEOPLE she had “no idea it was going to become as successful as it did”
While celebrating the release of the fifth season of Hacks, Alanna Ubach found herself reflecting on another defining chapter of her career: her role in Legally Blonde.
The actress — who played Serena McGuire, Elle Woods’ loyal and bubbly best friend — looks back fondly on her time working with Reese Witherspoon as the film approaches its 25th anniversary.
“I had done Freeway with [Witherspoon], and here I am back again doing it, playing her cheerleader best friend. We were like, ‘What is this? We're 27-year-olds playing 18-year-olds. What is this? No one's going to believe we're that age and this and the other,’” Ubach tells PEOPLE exclusively at the Los Angeles premiere of the hit HBO series on April 8.
“But they believed it, and it was so exciting when it came out. We had no idea it was going to become as successful as it did," she adds.
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Released in July 2001, Legally Blonde quickly exceeded expectations, becoming both a box office hit and a cultural touchstone.
Starring Witherspoon as Woods, the film followed a seemingly superficial sorority president who defies stereotypes by earning a place at Harvard Law School. While Ubach notes that the characters were younger than they were at the time, Woods and McGuire were likely in their early 20s, as the former was a recent graduate of UCLA.
Over time, the film has become an enduring favorite, resonating with audiences across generations thanks to its humor, heart and empowering message.
For Ubach, one of the film’s lasting legacies lies in the way fans continue to celebrate its most memorable lines. She revealed that one particular quote still follows her everywhere, especially among younger audiences.
“'I got bangs. I got bangs.' I get that quote from every other gay Gen Z-er this side of China, baby,” the 50-year-old actress says. “I light up every single time, so excited. I want to take them all home with me.”
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Luckily, fans eager to revisit the film will soon have the chance to experience it on the big screen once again.
Fathom Entertainment, alongside Amazon MGM Studios and Park Circus, is bringing Legally Blonde back to theaters nationwide for a special two-day engagement on May 24 and May 27.
The anniversary screenings will include a sneak peek at the upcoming prequel series Elle, along with exclusive introductions from both Witherspoon and Lexi Minetree, who takes on the role of a younger Elle. Tickets are available now.
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