The Character Everyone Forgets Laura Bell Bundy Played In Jumanji
Broadway star and actor Laura Bell Bundy is no stranger to the spotlight. Having performed in various TV shows, films, and stage productions, the Ohio native has kept herself fairly busy over the years. But there's one performance of Bundy's that many people have surprisingly managed to forget.
The year was 1995, and the film was "Jumanji." Bundy was just 14-years-old at the time of that film's release, but had already starred in two other movies — "The Adventures of Huck Finn" and "Life with Mikey" — by then (via IMDb). Bundy would go on to appear in several more films before transitioning primarily to television and stage work, where she found even greater success. For instance, roles on "How I Met Your Mother" and "Anger Management," as well as countless other shows, helped make Bundy a recognizable TV figure.
Elsewhere, her 2007-2008 run on Broadway as Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde: The Musical" landed Bundy a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actress. For that reason, you could argue her turn as Elle Woods in that production is her most well-known performance to date. That is, until you remember who she played in "Jumanji."
Laura Bell Bundy played young Sarah Whittle
While Laura Bell Bundy's appearance in "Jumanji" may have flown completely under the radar, her character Sarah Whittle is one that movie fans — and '90s babies — surely haven't forgotten.
Bundy played the young version of Sarah Whittle, who is forced to sit and watch as young Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd) is sucked into the infamous Jumanji board game. Sarah is subsequently chased out of Alan's house by a giant swarm of bats that emerges from the fireplace. It's an experience that leaves Whittle traumatized as an adult, with Bonnie Hunt playing the older version of the character.
All of this is to say that, while Bundy is probably best known for her stage and television work, it's her appearance in "Jumanji" that may be her most recognizable to casual moviegoers and TV viewers. Indeed, the 1995 film is just that iconic.
Meanwhile, Bundy is managing to stay extremely active these days, thanks to her roles in films and TV shows like "Perfect Harmony," "Good Behavior," "The F***-It List," "The Christmas Calendar," and "The Guest Book."