Your honor, we’re calling Danielle Chand to the stand. The up-and-coming actress has officially joined the Legally Blonde cinematic universe (yes, it’s a thing) by playing Elle Woods’ bestie Shannon in the Prime Video prequel series.

“I wasn’t a Legally Blonde expert when I booked the part,” Danielle says of what is, nbd, her first major role. “But being on the show gave me such a new appreciation for the original.”

And she’s not alone. As anyone who’s already started bingeing the eight Elle episodes that just dropped knows, the series reveals a whole new side of Miss Woods, taking us back to her teenage years circa 1995.

When Elle moves from sunny SoCal to perpetually bleak Seattle, the peppy Gemini vegetarian struggles to fit in—all while navigating first crushes, heartbreak and friend drama. Luckily, Danielle’s character takes our protagonist under her wing.

So how do you land a role in one of the buzziest series of the year produced by the OG herself, Reese Witherspoon? Hint: You don’t need a perfect LSAT score or a scented pink resume—just a dash of Elle Woods energy. 

Born to bend ‘n’ snap

Now gracing our screens in handpicked vintage (as one does), Danielle was once a creative kid from Vancouver—not to mention the karaoke queen of her neighborhood.

“My first memory of performing was at parties in my family’s backyard,” she recalls. “My mom’s friends would bring over karaoke equipment, and I’d sing Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ or Lady Gaga’s ‘Paparazzi’ for everyone.” 

Years of theater classes, talent shows and parts in short films followed before Danielle landed an audition for Elle, which, at the time, was still a top-secret project. In fact, when her agent emailed her about it, they didn’t mention the name or what it was about. “The description just said it would be a really good idea to rewatch Legally Blonde,” she says.

So Danielle locked in, squeezing in some extra acting coaching and perfecting her self-tape (no, it didn’t feature her reclining on a pool floatie like someone else we know). And as instructed, she revisited the timeless 2001 flick, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer.

“I immediately fell back in love with the film’s message about being exactly who you are,” she shares. Witnessing Elle’s progression from valley gal to valedictorian changed things for Danielle: “Watching it was a reminder that being ‘girly’ doesn’t make you less smart or less strong.”

Main character meet-cute

While many onscreen queen bees bring an icy edge, Danielle’s character is different. “Shannon welcomes everybody, which is something I try to do, too,” says Danielle. “If my friends bring someone into our group, I’m always the one who tries to make them feel super comfortable.”

And a big-hearted bestie (besides her iconic chihuahua Bruiser, of course) is exactly what Elle needs in a sea of Seattle grunge. But Shannon doesn’t just match Elle’s perky vibe—she rivals her retro-chic closet, too.

“The difference between Shannon and me is that I wish I were as fashionable as her,” Danielle jokes. “Lots of the outfits I wore on set were actually these amazing, authentic pieces from the ’90s.”

Keep on ruling

Given that the show is already renewed for a second season (with Never Have I Ever leading lady Maitreyi Ramakrishnan reportedly joining the cast), Danielle is definitely enjoying her big moment.

But she’s already looking ahead to the next adventure, packing her cal with tons of end-of-summer side quests, including going on a shopping spree for more Elle-inspired pink threads (“I’m reclaiming it!”), pursuing her dream part (“I’d love to do a dramatic coming-of-age movie”) and casually hiking Canada’s mountains.

Mostly, she’s just embracing all the newness as it comes. What, like it’s hard?

Hey, girl! Just to let you know, this originally ran in our August/September 2026 issue. Read our print mag for *free* today when you click HERE!

Credits: Photographed by Kristine Cofsky Photography. Styled by Mahkeebah Fleming Creative. Makeup and hair by Molly Etherington.