Laura Ashley Bell Bundy (born April 10, 1981) is a
Tony Award-nominated
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.
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. She ended her Broadway run 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. 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.
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