Among the many lessons and themes found in Legally Blonde is the idea of not judging a person by first impressions. Elle Woods was frequently belittled at Harvard because of her love of wearing pink. But she was so much more than what her classmates’ assumptions had led them to believe. In Elle, the prequel series to the original film, no character exemplifies this more than Kimberly.
For the first few episodes, Kimberly is seen as Elle’s antagonist, making Elle feel she does not belong in Seattle. But there’s so much more to the character than those early interactions would have viewers believe. It’s this aspect of Kimberly that Chandler Kinney believes makes the character one to watch. In a series all about giving people chances, Kinney knows that Kimberly is more than worthy of a second opinion.
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Chandler Kinney on Finding the Humanity in Kimberly
Like many of the show’s cast, Kinney is very familiar with Legally Blonde. “It became one of my comfort movies that I would go to whenever I needed a self-confidence lift and a reminder that I am strong and capable,” she tells MEGA Asia. As one of her favorite films growing up, Kinney sees it as a full-circle moment that she’s part of the prequel series, and more so because she plays one of the most intriguing characters in the show.
Viewers first meet Kimblerly in the show’s first episode when Elle tries to sit at her table as a way to make friends. Kimberly immediately calls out Elle for her bright LA attitude, pink outfits, and misplaced confidence. Her disdain for Elle grows even more when Elle starts getting friendly with one of Kimberly’s best friends, Shannon.
But while it might be easy to stereotype Kimberly as the resident mean girl of the series, she proves herself to be a lot more than that. “I was very intrigued by the role of Kimberly because she’s a bit enigmatic. She has many layers. I think from the outside looking in, she can be a bit misunderstood. She definitely has a front that she presents, but you peel back those layers, and you get to know her more over the course of season one, and she kind of becomes more vulnerable, and you understand why she is the way that she is in many ways.”
Kinney, who has been in other high-profile youth-oriented projects such as Girl Meets World, the Zombies franchise, and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, found playing Kimberly a fulfilling challenge, trying to figure out what makes her tick. “I always try to approach my characters with an open mind. I think my number one rule is to never judge my character. I always try to lead with an open heart and a healthy dose of empathy because it really ties to the overall message of the films to not judge people immediately. And that first impressions aren’t always the whole story. So I think Kimberly is a great example of that.”
A part of getting into the deceptively simple shoes of Kimberly was embracing the show’s ’90s Seattle aesthetic in both look and attitude. The series is a labor of love that’s dressed in hot pink tops and Nirvana t-shirts. From grunge to flannel and analogue devices, it may have been an era Kinney hasn’t personally experienced, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.
“It’s so fun to explore the technology of the 90s. We have VHS, we have Walkmans. The music of that era, I think, really helped inspire all of us to get into that world and dig into our characters. I believe we all have playlists that we made for our characters. Music becomes a really big theme, or a big part of the story, in a lot of ways.”
The Strength of Empowerment Through Perseverance
Kimberly is just an example of the show’s overall exploration of understanding people beyond the superficial. From Elle to her classmates in Seattle and even their parents, the series is about persevering to live your truth in the face of judgment and stereotypes. For as loved as Elle Woods is, she is also imperfect, yet that never stopped her from achieving her goals.
Elle, the prequel series, dives into these themes similarly as viewers meet a cast of dynamic characters. “Our mistakes and our adversity really work to shape us into who we are. And so I think it’s such a brilliant idea to dive into who this character was before she made it to Harvard, before she was so deeply self-assured and optimistic,” Kinney expresses.
There’s a line of empowerment that runs through the show of someone just trying to survive high school and young people navigating uncertainty in their lives, just like with most teenagers. For as headstrong and demeaning as Kimberly can be, she is also fiercely loyal and endlessly protective, which speaks to how she sees the world and her eventual narrative arc on the show.
“Initially, outside looking in, I had a harder time tapping into that vulnerability with her, because her natural reaction to things is pretty opposite from my natural reaction to things. And so I think my connection point between myself and Kimberly is her protectiveness over her people. She says what needs to be said sometimes, not always in the nicest way. But there’s a lot of truth. I think her relationship with seeking the truth is a very interesting one.”
Why Elle Is a Timely Show
With Elle season one topping the Prime Video streaming charts and a second season already in production, viewers will be seeing a lot more of Kimberly and the rest of the crew in the next few years. As someone who is currently in the middle of it all, Kinney has been enjoying the ride with gratitude. While people can say what they want about the show, Kinney knows the effort that went into the series, and that, for her, is already enough.
“We are filming things that won’t see the light of day for a while. And we have no idea what the reception is going to be. But there’s a whole lot of faith and a whole lot of love that’s been poured into the show. And so I think that that will be palpable on the screen. This whole cast is incredible to work with. And it truly is such a tight-knit family. These are some of my best friends. And we’re just having such a blast every day making this show and bringing it to life.”
In the same vein, she also wants doubters who reduce the show to just another unnecessary prequel series to give it a chance, especially in a world that needs a good dose of joy and hope these days. As Kinney puts it, “At a time where we could all use a bit more optimism and not judge a book by its cover, I think this show is the epitome of that message and a very important reminder of all of us seeing the best in each other. And so I think in that way, this show is very timely.”
“We all really want to have a good time and laugh and come together. It’s heartwarming and touching and important, but also fun at the end of the day. I think Elle Woods makes everything a bit brighter and a bit pinker, too. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Kinney furthers.
Ultimately, Kinney is just excited that viewers get to watch the show and meet Kimberly. Some of the season one’s most memorable moments involve her, and viewers might be surprised by how multi-dimensional she is.
“First impressions are not everything,” states Kinney. “I think Kimberly is someone who, in a lot of ways, like many of us, the person she is at school is maybe not the person she is at home. And she has a lot to say, and there’s a lot more to her than what meets the eye. I hope people remember that when it comes to not only receiving her through this show, but also in moving through their own lives. I think you never know what people are going through, and leading with empathy is always something that we can use more of.”
All eight episodes of Elle Season One are now streaming on Prime Video.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Prime Video, Chandler Kinney (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler Kinney plays Kimberly, initially introduced as Elle Woods’ antagonist in Seattle. Kinney, known for Girl Meets World, the Zombies franchise, and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, described the role as layered and initially misunderstood before revealing more vulnerability over the season.
Kinney says her approach to any character is to avoid judgment and lead with empathy, connecting this method to Legally Blonde’s broader theme that first impressions aren’t the whole story. She found her personal connection to Kimberly through the character’s protectiveness over the people she cares about.
Elle explores perseverance, empowerment, and understanding people beyond surface impressions, themes Kinney connects to Elle Woods’ own imperfect but determined journey before Harvard. The series follows a cast of characters navigating uncertainty and judgment during high school.
Kinney describes embracing 1990s Seattle culture through VHS tapes, Walkmans, grunge fashion, and era-specific music that helped inform her performance. She notes the cast created personal music playlists for their characters as part of building the show’s period atmosphere.
Yes, a second season of Elle is in production following season one topping Prime Video’s streaming charts. All eight episodes of season one are currently available to stream on Prime Video.
