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Before they rose to stardom, Britney Spears and Natalie Portman both served as understudies in the same 1990s musical, a fact recently revealed by Broadway actress Laura Bell Bundy.
Bundy, known for originating the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, reminisced about one of her early stage experiences during a recent episode of the *Hey Dude… The 90s Called! * podcast.
She recalled the Off-Broadway production *Ruthless! *, which ran from March 1992 to January 1993.
The dark comedy centers on an ambitious eight-year-old girl determined to land the role of Pippi Longstocking in her school play-no matter the cost. Bundy played the scheming child who eliminates a rival to secure the part.
“Britney Spears was my understudy,” she said, noting Spears was just a few months younger. “And then Natalie Portman took over as my understudy after Britney left.”
Reflecting on her relationships with the future stars, Bundy shared, “I felt I was a little closer with Natalie. We played together and even pulled some prank calls. I knew Britney too, but we didn’t really hang out.”
Since then, Bundy has built an impressive career, earning a Tony Award nomination and starring in notable productions like Sweet Charity, Hairspray, and Romy & Michele: The Musical. This glimpse into her early days highlights the surprising intersections of now-iconic performers before fame.