Bio
Laura Leighton is an American actress best known for her role as Sydney Andrews, introduced in the 1990s television series Melrose Place. She reprised the role in the 2009 series of the same name.
She also stars as Ashley Marin, a well-polished business executive who spends more time on her cell phone than she does with her daughter, Hanna, in the teen drama mystery series Pretty Little Liars.
After her long stint on the original Melrose Place, she continued to turn in memorable performances on such shows as CSI: Miami, Boston Legal, Shark and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, all the while raising a family.
She also appeared in Jerry Bruckheimer Television's Skin, as well as the series Eyes. She was also seen in the feature thriller The Burrowers and telefilms Love Notes, Daniel's Daughter and Mending Fences.
Leighton's other credits include Naked City; the independent feature The Clean and Narrow, directed by William Katt and co-starring Jack Noseworthy; and Seven Girlfriends, with Tim Daly, Olivia D'Abo, Jami Gertz and Mimi Rogers.
Born in Iowa City, Iowa, to a Midwestern family, Leighton found a passion early on for the arts. Shortly after high school, she left Iowa to tour the country with the song and dance troupe Young Americans.
Leighton eventually moved on to study acting and, soon after, began landing television commercials and was cast in a guest spot on the original Melrose Place.
She parlayed that into a permanent role, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, an Us Magazine Entertainer of the Year Award and the coveted honour of hosting Saturday Night Live.