WHEN THINGS START TO GO SOUTH FOR LAURA BELL BUNDY, SHE KNOWS HOW TO TURN THINGS AROUND. HERE’S HOW LBB ALWAYS TAKES CHARGE, COMES OUT ON TOP AND HAS FUN DOING IT.
I’m an Aries and I get a little fiery,” says actor, singer and songwriter Laura Bell Bundy (also known as LBB). And that fiery spirit has served her well in terms of her career and in taking charge of her health.
FROM KENTUCKY TO STARDOM
Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Bundy made her stage debut at the tender age of nine in a regional theater. The Southern Belle soon moved to New York and took on the role of Tina Denmark in the Off Broadway musical Ruthless! in which she received a 1993 nomination from the Drama Desk for Outstanding Actress in a musical. This led to her 2002 Broadway debut in Hairspray in the role of Amber Von Tussle, and the lead role of Elle Woods in Broadway’s Legally Blonde The Musical in which Bundy received her first Tony Award nomination.
Outside of New York City, Bundy has guest starred on various television series, had roles in movies including Dreamgirls and Jumanji, and reprised the role of Elle Woods in the national tour of the musical and the TV movie. Along the way, she began a country music career that has brought her international acclaim. Now making homes in both Los Angeles and Nashville, Bundy co-stars alongside Charlie Sheen as his therapist in Anger Management.
ACHIEVING BALANCED HEALTH
A common health issue almost sidelined Bundy’s career before it even started. Twelve years ago Bundy was diagnosed with celiac disease. “It was actually me who told my doctors to test me for celiac disease,” she recalls. “I was swollen all the time; I was having joint pain and I was bloated. I was also allergic to wheat so I had two things going on at the same time. Digestively, everything was creating an irritable bowel situation.” Add in acid reflux, water retention, and inflamed joints, and the overall combination was creating constant physical challenges for Bundy who was starring on Guiding Light at the time. The producers were pressuring Bundy about her weight gain. “They had worked me into such a frenzy that I was exercising two-and-a-half hours every day,” recalls Bundy. “I was still putting on the pounds!”
Bundy says that finding out she had celiac disease saved her. “Cutting out all the forbidden foods made me feel better, look better, and my skin was better,” says Bundy. “I lost 10 pounds in the first week.”
Forbidden foods for someone with celiac disease include anything with gluten. Celiac disease is a digestive and autoimmune disorder where the body cannot process gluten proteins found in some grains. When gluten is eaten, it damages the lining of the small intestine, making it hard for the body to absorb certain nutrients.
Because gluten is so common – especially in restaurant foods – Bundy is a brown bagger when she’s on set or tour. “I’m totally low maintenance and not a diva, but when I have to ask catering to wash off the grill first before making me a grilled chicken breast they think I’m a lot of work,” says Bundy.
The biggest issue on set is that the first thing that swells up for Bundy is her face. “If I’m on screen and I’ve eaten gluten I get a blowfish face. Bringing food from home is a lot easier,” she says.
THE SIMPLE LIFE
Making life easier is what Bundy strives for on a daily basis. Her motivation is not to be famous; it’s to have pleasure and live a balanced life. “Have fun and laugh – that’s what I try to do all the time,” says the 33-year-old. “As a culture there’s an element of guilt put on us for having fun. We feel like we have to justify it.”
For the last few years, Bundy has focused on what gives her energy and what makes her feel joyful. “I love performing and acting,” she says. “I also have to have time to spend with my friends and go on vacations. I have to have balance in my life. If I know that the input of energy and output is equal and if I’m not exhausted on a regular basis, I have achieved balanced living. Being silly, being adventurous, driven and passionate – that’s a good balance.” VM
