Laura Bell Bundy
Laura Bell Bundy | |
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![]() Bundy at Birdland, July 2007 | |
Born | Laura Ashley Bell Bundy |
Other names | Laura Bell, Laura Bundy |
Occupation(s) | Film, stage, television actress, singer, dancer, songwriter |
Years active | 1990–present |
Parent(s) | Don Bundy and Lorna Bell Bundy-Jones |
Website | http://laurabellbundy.com |
Laura Ashley Bell Bundy (born April 10, 1981) is an American actress and singer who has performed in a number of Broadway roles, both starring and supporting, as well as in television and film. Her most well known Broadway roles are the original Amber in Hairspray and the original Elle Woods in Legally Blonde - The Musical. She signed to Mercury Records Nashville and released her first country music single, "Giddy On Up," to radio in early 2010.
Biography
Bundy was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of Don Bundy and Lorna Bundy-Jones. She 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 graduated from Lexington Catholic High School. Bundy originated the role of Tina Denmark in the Off-Broadway musical 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 musical Hairspray, originating the role of Amber Von Tussle. Bundy was next a standby for both Kristin Chenoweth and Jennifer Laura Thompson in the role of Glinda in Wicked. From 2007 to 2008 she starred on Broadway in Legally Blonde: The Musical where she originated the lead role of Elle Woods, receiving her first Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. After leaving the show in July 2008 she was succeeded by Bailey Hanks, the winner of Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. Legally Blonde: The Musical was where she also met her current off stage boyfriend, Christian Borle, a cast mate.[1]
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.
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 20, 2008, she moved back to Nashville to work on her second album.
On September 27, 2008, she headlined Anaheim, California's the Chance Theater with fellow Wicked alumni Eden Espinosa, and with "Spring Awakening" alumni Lea Michele for the Broadway Chance Style Up Close and Personal concert.
She guest-starred in the TV series, Cold Case with Adam Pascal and Tracie Thoms in the episode "Willkommen".
Bundy was a judge at the Miss America 2009 pageant.[2]
Bundy reprised the role of Elle Woods in the U.S. national tour of Legally Blonde: The Musical 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] She was to play Elle again during the Nashville engagement of the national tour from June 23-28.[4] However, she fractured her arm during the performance on June 27, and finished the show, and was rushed to the hospital immediately after.[5]
Country music career
Her first single, "Giddy On Up", debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at #60 for the chart week of February 20, 2010.[6] The single was made into a music video, which was directed by Shane Drake.[7]
Her debut album, Achin' and Shakin' is expected for release on April 13th, 2010.
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | US | ||||||||
2007 | Longing for a Place Already Gone
|
— | — | ||||||
2010 | Achin' and Shakin'
|
To be released | |||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Country | |||
2010 | "Giddy On Up"A | 41 | Achin' and Shakin' |
- A Current single.
Music videos
Year | Video | Director |
---|---|---|
2010 | "Giddy On Up" | Shane Drake |
References
- ^ http://www.examiner.com/x-5967-Nashville-Entertainment-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Omigod-you-guys-Two-Elle-Woods--two-Legally-Blonde-moms-onhand-for-opening-night-at-TPAC
- ^ 2009 Miss America Pageant Puts the Spotlight On National Judges Saturdaymissamerica.org, 12/1/2008
- ^ Laura Bell Bundy to Join LEGALLY BLONDE Tour as Temporary Replacementbroadwayworld.com, January 10, 2009
- ^ Hetrick, Adam."Bundy to Headline Nashville Engagement of Legally Blonde Tour,"playbill.com, June 22, 2009
- ^ Soltes, Fiona.'Legally Blonde' star Bundy injured,"The Tennessean, June 30, 2009
- ^ Trust, Gary (2010-02-08). "Chart Highlights: Rock, Alternative, Christian Songs & More". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved 2010-02-08.
{{cite web}}
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and|last=
specified (help) - ^ "CMT : Videos : Laura Bell Bundy : Giddy On Up". Country Music Television. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- Copley, Rich. Laura Bell Bundy has lead in 'Legally Blonde' on Broadway. Lexington Herald-Leader, October 3, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2006.