Laura Leighton Explained

Laura Leighton
Birth Name:Laurie Diane Miller
Birth Date:24 July 1968[1]
Birth Place:Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1993–present
Children:2

Laura Diane Leighton (born July 24, 1968) is an American actress. She played Sydney Andrews on the television series Melrose Place (1993–1997) and its continuation (2009–2010), and Ashley Marin on Freeform's series Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017).

Career

In the early 1990s, Leighton's first on-screen jobs were in a commercial for Pizza Hut and Dep Hair Gel before taking her first major acting role as Sydney Andrews in the prime time soap opera Melrose Place. The part was originally intended for only two episodes in season 1, but was eventually developed into a full-time role for the subsequent seasons 2 to 5 (1993–97).[2] During the show's run, Leighton appeared on numerous magazine covers (including Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone and People). Leighton left the show at the end of the fifth season in 1997, which saw her character Sydney being struck and seemingly killed by a car, only moments after her wedding to Craig Field, played by David Charvet.

During breaks while filming Melrose Place, Leighton starred in the made-for-television films, In the Name of Love: A Texas Tragedy for FOX as Laurette Wilder, a woman from a poor background who falls for a rich man to the disgust of his grandparents, and The Other Woman for CBS as Carolyn Bryan, a newly married model who finds herself making friends with her husband's dying ex-wife. She also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1995 with musical guest Rancid.

After leaving Melrose Place in 1997 at the end of her contract, Leighton accepted a six-episode role on Beverly Hills, 90210. Aaron Spelling created the role of aspiring actress Sophie Burns for her, and she reportedly received a six-figure salary per episode. In 1999, she appeared in the independent short film Angels, Baby! directed by Jeff Fisher along with the Paul Lazarus-directed romantic comedy Seven Girlfriends opposite Tim Daly, and the thriller The Clean and Narrow opposite Jack Noseworthy which was released direct to video in early 2000.

In the 2000s, Leighton guest-starred in the shows Cupid and The Outer Limits, and voiced a part in the animated series Duckman. She later starred in the indie film The Sky Is Falling with Dedee Pfeiffer and Eric Close before taking a break to have her son Jack Douglas. In 2003, she returned to the small screen in Skin for FOX, which was cancelled after three episodes, and in the short-lived 2005 ABC series Eyes.

In 2006–07, after her FOX pilot Damages with Cole Hauser was not picked up, she made numerous prime-time guest appearances, on shows such as the ABC drama/comedy Boston Legal, , , and Shark. In 2004, she starred in the Lifetime movies A Deadly Encounter as Joanne Sanders, a single mother who is the victim of a stalker, and Love Notes, as Nora Flannery, a classic music critic who, while on a job, finds love with a popular country and western singer. Leighton also appeared in the thriller The Burrowers directed by J.T Petty and the Hallmark Channel movies Daniel's Daughter opposite Sebastian Spence and Mending Fences, opposite Angie Dickinson.

On April 5, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Leighton would appear in the 2009 series Melrose Place, reprising her role as the presumed-dead Sydney Andrews, who would serve as landlord at Melrose Place.[3] The remake only lasted a single season on The CW before being cancelled. On December 7, 2009, ABC Family announced that Leighton had been cast in a lead role in the TV series Pretty Little Liars, a TV adaptation of a book of the same name by Sara Shepard as Ashley Marin, the mother of Hanna Marin played by Ashley Benson, one of the four main characters on the show. Leighton stayed with Pretty Little Liars for all seven seasons until the show's end in June 2017.

In 2018, Leighton guest starred on the CBS medical drama Code Black as Sonya Finn, and then starred in the Hallmark Christmas movie Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane. In 2020, she guest starred as Karen Scott on L.A.'s Finest, 2021 saw Leighton playing Corinne Simon in The CW's Dynasty.[4] She appeared as Nettie in the episode "The Big Five Oh" of the Fantasy Island sequel series.[5]

Accolades

Following her performance in the second season of Melrose Place, Leighton was featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly's 1994 Fall TV Preview issue.[6] She appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone with her co-stars Heather Locklear and Josie Bissett in May 1994, in an issue entitled "The Hot Issue".[7] In 1995, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her work on the series,[8] was named one of the most beautiful people in the world by People magazine,[9] and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. The role of Sydney Andrews, which she signed on to reprise in the 2009 Melrose Place spin-off, has been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of the most popular characters" from the original series.[3]

Personal life

Leighton was born Laurie Miller in Iowa City, Iowa, and is a 1986 graduate of West High School in Iowa City. During her time at West High, Leighton was a cheerleader and a member of the school's show choir, and performed numerous solos during her time with the group. Leighton then joined The Young Americans and was a member of their 1987 "Around the World in 80 days" show.

In 1988, Leighton assumed her mother’s maiden name.

In May 1998, Leighton married her Melrose Place co-star Doug Savant. They have two children together: Jack and Lucy.[10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes

1998 Godzilla

1999Angels, Baby!Jessica
1999Clean and NarrowMarie
2000Seven GirlfriendsAnabeth
2000The Sky Is FallingAmber Lee
2008The BurrowersGertrude

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Victim of Love: The Shannon Mohr StoryTravel AgentTelevision film; uncredited
1993–1997Melrose PlaceSydney AndrewsGuest star (season 1); recurring role (season 2); main role (seasons 3–5)
1994Life with Louie

A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman

Voice role; television short
1995The Other WomanCarolynTelevision film
1995Laurette WilderTelevision film
1995Saturday Night LivevariousHost; episode: "Laura Leighton/Rancid"
1997DuckmanDitziVoice role; episode: "With Friends Like These"
1997The Larry Sanders ShowHerselfEpisode: "Artie and Angie and Hank and Hercules"
1998CupidKristy HolbrookUnaired episode: "Botched Makeover"
1998Beverly Hills, 90210Sophie BurnsRecurring role (season 9), 6 episodes
1998Naked City: A Killer ChristmasGerry Millar Television film
2000The Outer LimitsEpisode: "Inner Child"
2000Early EditionGingerEpisode: "Everybody Goes to Rick's"
2002We'll Meet AgainFran Sillman-->Television film
2003SkinCynthia Peterson6 episodes
2004Tru CallingJordan DaviesEpisode: "Daddy's Girl"
2004A Deadly EncounterJoanne Sanders Television film
2005EyesLeslie TownMain role
2006Alyssa PrinceEpisode: "Silencer"
2006Boston LegalErica DolenzEpisodes: "Lincoln", "On the Ledge"
2007SharkAngela Corbin Episode: "Backfire"
2007Lillian Rice Episode: "Responsible"
2007Love NotesNora FlanneryTelevision film
2008Daniel's DaughterCate MadighanTelevision film
2009Mending FencesKelly FaridayTelevision film
2009–2010Melrose PlaceSydney AndrewsRecurring role, 7 episodes
2010–2017Pretty Little LiarsAshley MarinMain role
2018Code BlackSonya FinnEpisode: "Change of Heart"
2018Christmas on Honeysuckle LaneAndieTelevision film
2020L.A.'s FinestKaren ScottEpisode: "For Life"
2021DynastyCorinne SimonEpisode: "Equal Justice for the Rich"
2021Fantasy IslandNettieEpisode: "The Big Five Oh"

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Famous birthdays for July 24: Elisabeth Moss, Anna Paquin . UPI . January 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724070239/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2022/07/24/Famous-birthdays-for-July-24-Elisabeth-Moss-Anna-Paquin/5841658632194/ . July 24, 2022 . live.
  2. News: Laura Leighton biography . . June 22, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008055407/http://tv.yahoo.com/laura-leighton/contributor/630565/bio . October 8, 2012 .
  3. News: Nellie. Andreeva. Laura Leighton Returns to Melrose Place. The Hollywood Reporter. April 5, 2009.
  4. Web site: Melrose Place Laura Leighton to Guest Star on CW's Dynasty. Michael Fairman TV. Michael. Fairman. Michael Fairman (journalist). June 11, 2021. June 15, 2021.
  5. Sparks Will Fly When Former Residents of Melrose Place Check in to Fantasy Island. Fox. The Futon Critic. July 16, 2021. July 30, 2021.
  6. Fall TV Preview. Entertainment Weekly. April 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090607213823/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20002230_2,00.html. dead. June 7, 2009.
  7. 1994 Rolling Stone Covers. Rolling Stone. June 22, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20080610043155/http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/5392236/1994_rolling_stone_covers/photo/9. dead. June 10, 2008.
  8. News: Laura Leighton profile. goldenglobes.org. June 13, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090626220547/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29499. June 26, 2009. dead.
  9. News: Most Beautiful, Laura Leighton. People. April 9, 2009.
  10. News: Fame & Fortune: Laura Leighton. bankrate.com. April 9, 2009. Siegler, Bonnie. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090626215414/http://www.bankrate.com/nydn/news/investing/20080118_fame_fortune_Laura_Leighton_a1.asp?prodtype=invest. June 26, 2009 .