From Madeline Mackenzie in Big Little Lies and Cheryl Strayed in Wild to June Carter Cash in Walk The Line, Reese Witherspoon has played many a fictional character on the big screen with aplomb. But it would appear there’s one female lead who keeps on inspiring our careers: the formidable Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

Woods, who first appeared back in our screens in 2001, defied the ultimate stereotype: that femininity, womanhood and the colour pink are not mutually exclusive with intelligence, ambition and determination.

Hell-bent on smashing the patriarchy, Woods graduated as a young law student from Harvard in a chic suit, and made a big point of providing support and compassion to her fellow women along the way before clutching her degree.

And Woods is still inspiring us today.

“At least once a week I have a woman come up to me and say, ‘I went to law school because of [the film],’” Witherspoon recently told the Wall Street Journal.

And just like Elle Woods, Witherspoon is done with being modest.

“I know I’m good at things, and I’m over being bashful about it,” she said.

“Do basketball players have to sit there and act coy?” she continued. “Tell me something: does LeBron James twiddle his thumbs and say, ‘Jeez, I’m kind of great at shooting, and I guess I’m OK at dribbling and passing’? No, he’s like, ‘I’m amazing! I rock!’ I wish more actresses had that kind of bravado.”

Reese Witherspoon reveals which of her film roles inspires women’s careers