| Laura Bell Bundy | |
| Birthname: | Laura Ashley Bell Bundy |
| Born: | 10 April 1981 |
| Died: | - |
| Othername: | Laura Bell, Laura Bundy |
| Occupation: | Film, stage, television actress, singer, dancer, songwriter |
| Yearsactive: | 1990 - present |
| Parents: | Don Bundy and Lorna Jones-Bundy |
| Website: | http://laurabellbundy.com |
Laura Ashley Bell Bundy (born April 10, 1981) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress and singer who has been seen in a number of Broadway roles, both starring and supporting, as well as in television and film. She is the daughter of Don Bundy and Lorna Bundy-Jones.
Bundy was born in Lexington, Kentucky. Grew up dancing at Town and Village school of Dance. In paris, Kentucky. She made her stage debut in regional theatre when she was nine years old. She originated the role of Tina Denmark in the Off-Broadway show Ruthless! The Musical. For this part, she was nominated for a 1993 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. In 2002 she made her Broadway debut , in the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray, originating the role of Amber Von Tussle. Bundy was next seen serving as a standby for both Kristin Chenoweth and Jennifer Laura Thompson for the role of Glinda in Wicked. She just recently ended her Broadway run in where she originated the lead role of Elle Woods. Bundy then received her first Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She was succeeded by Bailey Hanks, the winner of .
Credits outside of New York include the national tour of The Sound of Music and the Los Angeles production of Rock of Ages, in which she starred as Sherrie Christian.
Offstage, Bundy has appeared in films including The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993), Life with Mikey (1993), and Jumanji (1995) as Young Sarah Whittle. She appeared in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls as a member of the fictitious pop group "Dave & the Sweethearts". Bundy was also seen on the CBS soap opera The Guiding Light as Marah Lewis for two years, (October 14, 1999 – October 29, 2001) as well as in television shows such as Veronica Mars, Happy Hour, Modern Men, Cold Case, and Strangers with Candy.
Bundy released her debut country music album titled, Longing For a Place Already Gone. After leaving Legally Blonde: The Musical on July 202008, she moved back to Nashville to work on her second album.
On September 27, 2008, Laura headlined Anaheim, California's the Chance Theater with fellow Wicked alum Eden Espinosa, and with former Hairspray costar Kerry Butler for the Broadway Chance Style Up Close and Personal concert.[1]
Laura guest-starred in the TV series, Cold Case with Adam Pascal and Tracie Thoms in the episode "Wilkommen".
Bundy was a judge at the Miss America 2009 pageant.[2]
Bundy recently reprised the role of Elle Woods in the US national tour of as a temporary replacement for the injured Becky Gulsvig. She began her brief run on January 13, 2009 and ended it on February 22, 2009.[3]