By Rob Faubion

 

    Broadway’s original “Elle Woods” in the musical Legally Blonde, the Tony-nominated star Laura Bell Bundy will be lighting up the Bass Concert Hall stage when the national tour of Legally Blonde visits Austin for a one-week run on February 3rd through 8th.  AustinOnStage.com spoke to the multi-talented actress about returning to the role that made her famous, her storied Broadway history, and her hopes to play South by Southwest.

AustinOnStage.com:   Let’s go back to your break-through role - Tina Denmark in Ruthless!.  Is it true that both Natalie Portman and Britney Spears were your understudies?

Larua Bell Bundy: It’s true!

AOS.com:  What was it like to be nominated for both the Outer Critics Circle award and Drama Desk award for Best Actress

	Laura Bell Bundy in Legally Blonde (photo by Paul Kolnik)

at such a young age?

LBB: I had no idea what they were at 11 years old.  I was surprised I was eligible for one.  I thought the only theater award that existed was a Tony.  But, thinking back on it...it is quite a big deal for someone to get that, especially for an Off-Broadway show.

AOS.com: And then it happened again 14 years later with Legally Blonde, including a Tony nomination - how has the role of Elle changed your life?

LBB: In every way you can possibly imagine.  I grew up with Elle.  I grew as an actress and person, and the show opened a tremendous amount of doors for me.

   As an actress, I have been able to access emotions more naturally, be more truthful, and fine tune my comedic skills.  As a person, I’ve been able to do the same thing, ironically - and be more true to myself.

   The role of “Elle Woods” is the kind of role you dream about, because you get to showcase everything -singing, dancing, emotional and comedic acting chops.  So in that respect, I have been able to exercise all of those skills.

   In terms of my career, it established me in a lot of ways.  I feel very fortunate.  The best thing I got out of the show were the life-long friendships I have made.  The people are really what has changed my life.

AOS.com:  Now, before landing the role of Elle, you were the original Amber Van Tussle in Hairspray - what was that experience like?

LBB:  Hairspray was my first Broadway Show.  It was completely exciting and exhilarating.  Everyone involved felt like the show was truly special and that we would never have an experience quite like that again.  I had just turned 21, and it really as the first time that I felt like I was making decisions for myself and experiencing my life - so that only added to the impact of the show.

   I worked on the show from the first reading in May of 2000, so I carry a sense of pride for the creation of that show - along with the entire cast and creative team.  Hairspray created a family of folks who have and will remain connected forever.  I met Jerry Mitchell on Hairspray, because he was the choreographer.  And then he directed Legally Blonde, so I contribute the beginning of our faith in one another to that time.