Alanna Ubach Shares How a Chance Encounter with Jessica Cauffiel in Audition Bathroom Helped Her Book “Legally Blonde (”Exclusive)

Meredith WilshereSat, June 27, 2026 at 8:59 PM UTC

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Alanna Ubach with Jessica Cauffiel in 'Legally Blonde'Credit: Prime -

Alanna Ubach met Jessica Cauffiel in a bathroom before her Legally Blonde audition and borrowed lipstick

Cauffiel suggested they mirror each other's movements to showcase their chemistry, leading to their casting as Serena and Margot

Ubach recalls Reese Witherspoon as a new mom on set and praises her casting as a bold choice for the lead role

An unexpected bathroom run-in helped Alanna Ubach book Legally Blonde.

While reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the comedy, Ubach tells PEOPLE that she still can "remember everything” about working on the 2001 film, including a chance encounter with costar Jessica Cauffiel before her audition.

“I remember walking in and meeting Jessica Cauffiel in the bathroom before I tested for the role, and as a joke, I couldn't find a good lipstick to put on, and I looked over at her, and I said, ‘Do you have a nice lipstick I can put on?' That was all I said," Ubach, 50, recalls.

"She said, ‘Sure. Of course. I know this is your color. This is great,'" Ubach continues. "I started putting it on, and I said, ‘Have you been cast in the role?' ”

Alanna Ubach, Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Cauffiel in 'Legally Blonde'Credit: Prime

Cauffiel then revealed she had already been cast as Margot in the movie and was there to read with the different actresses to test their chemistry as best friends.

“I said, ‘I'm one of them, and I need to make rent, kid. I really need this role. I really need this job,'" Ubach, who was reading for the role of Serena McGuire, says.

Cauffiel then made a suggestion that changed everything.

“How about mirroring my movements? If you mirror my movements, I think we can be a team together,'" Ubach recalls the now-50-year-old actress saying.

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'Legally Blonde'Credit: Prime

“And Serena and Margot were born in the women's restroom of Universal casting,” Ubach shares.

Serena and Margot are two of Elle Woods' best friends in the movie, offering support from UCLA to Harvard Law School. In addition to Ubach and Cauffiel, the movie starred Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Victor Garber, Luke Wilson, Matthew Davis, and Jennifer Coolidge.

Ubach admits she and the rest of the cast had no idea the impact the movie would have.

“I was so excited that Reese Witherspoon was the lead, playing Elle Woods, because at that time, she was known as an indie darling, and I thought it was so cool that they hired this indie darling, the Sundance queen, to be in the driver's seat of a huge film," Ubach shares. "I thought, 'Oh, they're taking a chance on her.' "

She recalls Witherspoon, also 50, bringing her then-1-year-old daughter, Ava, to the set.

“She couldn't even talk. I think she was saying Mama and Dada. She was always there in the makeup and hair trailer, and I remember her just being tiny and able to stand on Reese's lap while she was getting her makeup done, and it was such a precious picture,” Ubach shares.

On the rumors of a Legally Blonde 3, Ubach says, “Who knows if that's going to be happening or not?”

“I'm usually the last to know. If that does happen, it's like, ‘Alanna, we need you tomorrow in a party scene at 4:00 in the morning,'" she jokes. "‘Okay. What's it for?' ‘Legally Blonde3.' ‘Oh, finally. I'm there.' "

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”