Reese Witherspoon Reflects on “Election”'s 25th Anniversary: I 'Never Dropped That Character' (Exclusive)

"When I read the script I was like, 'I have to play this part. I must play this character,'" says the actress

Reese Witherspoon is looking back at embodying ambition as Tracy Flick in Election, 25 years after the movie's release.

When she helped celebrate PEOPLE's 50th anniversary for part of a star-studded cover story earlier in April, Witherspoon reflected on her career and memorable roles, including as the over-achieving high schooler running for class president in the 1999 film.

"It was so fun playing Tracy Flick," recalls Witherspoon, 48. "I remember when I read the script I was like, 'I have to play this part. I must play this character.' "

"I remember going into the audition, and I looked at Alexander Payne, the director, and I was like, 'You can audition other people, but I'm the right person for this part.' He was like, 'Holy crap.' I just never dropped that character."

Witherspoon's costars included Matthew Broderick and Chris Klein in Election, which is based on the Tom Perrotta novel. She says "every day was just such a delight" on set, especially with the "funny" Payne, 63, who directed the recent Oscar-winning film The Holdovers.

"He and I would laugh all the time, and he just let me be free to be as silly and strange as I wanted to be," says the star.

Related: Reese Witherspoon Jokes About Fans Confusing Her Sweet Home Alabama Costar Josh Lucas with Matthew McConaughey (Exclusive)

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When she first saw the finished film, Witherspoon recalls getting emotional over her appearance onscreen: "He did this thing where he stops motion on my face while I'm talking. I was like, 'Why did you do that? I looked so bad,' and I was crying."

But, "Then people start calling me and going, 'I love this movie. I'm obsessed with this movie. This movie is so fun and it's so great.' "

"Movies are funny, because you think they're one thing when you're making them, but then they go out in the world and they take on a life of their own, and it's not really up to you," says Witherspoon. "It belongs to people, once you put it out in the world."

Related: Reese Witherspoon to Reprise 'Election' Role in Sequel 'Tracy Flick Can't Win'

Witherspoon says it's "amazing that people loved it so much" and that her Tracy Flick "became such an iconic female political character."

"We don't have that many, and she is an archetype of American ambition and this idea of a woman wanting to get ahead," says the actress. "It's interesting as you go back and look at it now. What are the qualities that we thought were not great about her ambition, and now that we encourage in young women? It's a real shift."

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