So, it’s hard – but still essential – to hear about the dark side of auditioning for the role.

Speaking in an interview with Hollywood Reporter this week, Witherspoon said she was considered “repellent” by movie bosses and was told to “dress sexy” by her manager.

“They thought I was a shrew,” she recalled. “My manager finally called and said, ‘You’ve got to go meet with the studio head because he will not approve you. He thinks you really are your character from Election and that you’re repellent.’ And then I was told to dress sexy.”

Reese Witherspoon just revealed the very dark side of her Legally Blonde audition