Christina Applegate: 'Turning Down Legally Blonde Was A Stupid Move'

Christina Applegate has said that turning down the lead role in ‘Legally Blonde’ was a 'stupid move’.

The former teen star was originally offered the part of Elle Woods, the role that made a name for Reese Witherspoon who ended up taking on the hit 2001 comedy.

Speaking to ETonline, the 42-year-old actress said that it was a fear of 'repeating myself’ that made her turn it down, following her role as Kelly Bundy in the US sitcom.

“The script came along my way and it was right after I had just finished, Married [With Children], and it was a blonde who in that first script is dimwitted but ends up going to Yale, or Harvard, I don’t remember,” she said.

“I got scared of kind of repeating myself. What a stupid move that was, right?”

But rather than wishing a pox on the house of Witherspoon, she holds no ill will.

“Reese deserved that. She did a much better job than I ever could, and so that’s her life,” she added.

“That’s her path.”

As it turned out, Applegate did OK, starring in hits like 'Anchorman’ and 'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’, as well as TV shows like 'Friends’ and 'Up All Night’.

Meanwhile, 'Legally Blonde’ spawned a sequel, 'Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde’ in 2003, and a Broadway musical.

Next up, Applegate stars as Debbie Griswold, wife of Ed Helms’ Rusty Griswold in the National Lampoon’s 'Vacation’ series reboot.

It’s due out on August 21.

Image credit: AP/Rex Features