Leisha Hailey

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Leisha Hailey

Leisha Hailey
Born July 11, 1971 (1971-07-11) (age 37)
Okinawa, Japan
Occupation Actress, musician
Years active 1991–present

Leisha Hailey (born July 11, 1971) is an American actress, musician and producer, most widely known for playing Alice Pieszecki in the Showtime Networks production The L Word. Hailey, who had "always wanted to be an actress"[1], first came to the public's attention as a musician in the pop duo The Murmurs and has continued a music career as part of the band Uh Huh Her.

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[edit] Early life

Born in Okinawa, Japan to American parents, Hailey grew up in Bellevue, Nebraska and attended Bellevue West High School.[citation needed] At 17, she came out as a lesbian before moving to New York City to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts[2], where she graduated in 1991.[citation needed]

[edit] Musical career

With her Academy classmate Heather Grody, she formed the pop duo The Murmurs in 1991. They enjoyed a cult following in the 1990s, released several albums and toured on the Lilith Fair. In 2001, Hailey and Grody changed their name to Gush. The band split when Leisha began working for The L Word. In 2005, Hailey founded Marfa Records[3].

In July 2007, Uh Huh Her, an electropop duo consisting of Hailey and Camila Grey, released an EP entitled I See Red; over a year later they released their first album Common Reaction.

[edit] Acting career

Hailey's first major role was in 1997's cult hit All Over Me, and right around this time she played a struggling musician on an episode of Boy Meets World. Since 2003 she has starred as Alice Pieszecki, a bisexual journalist, on the The L Word.

In September 2008, Showtime announced Hailey will star in a "pilot presentation spinoff" The Farm [4]of The L Word, to be written and produced by Ilene Chaiken, creator and executive producer of The L Word.[5]

[edit] Film and television appearances

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Other work

Hailey has appeared in several Yoplait yogurt commercials. In April 2008, Hailey was named spokesperson for Olivia Cruises, a travel company which sells cruises and resort vacations marketed towards lesbian customers.[6]

[edit] Acclaim

In 2007, Hailey was named the sexiest woman in the AfterEllen Hot 100 list compiled by AfterEllen.com.[7] She responded to topping the list with: "Wow, I don't even know what to say. I hope Angelina's not mad at me. I have to say this really makes up for the time I was on the Homecoming Court in high school with my boyfriend (yes I had one) and he won and I didn't. So thanks to everyone. I'll try and keep up my hotness."[8]

[edit] Personal life

Hailey dated k.d. lang for nearly five years, in a relationship that ended in 2001.[2] As of 2006, she is dating retailer Nina Garduno, owner of Free City Supershop in Malibu, California.[9]. They are involved in the arts scene in Marfa, Texas.

Hailey is a soccer player, "I was a soccer star… I was a goalscorer, but then I busted my knee out and my whole career ended.'" She has been incorrectly reported to be a supporter of Manchester United F.C., stating that "I don't know where that rumour started." [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hanging Out With Uh Huh Her — And Lots Of L Word Fans from the MTV website
  2. ^ a b L is for Leisha, a February 2004 interview by Dennis Hensley for The Advocate magazine, via Hensley's website
  3. ^ News from the Marfa Records website
  4. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288495/
  5. ^ Leisha Hailey Cast in The L Wordpilot spinoff for Showtime from the Showtime website
  6. ^ Leisha Hailey Is the New Face of Olivia from Business Wire
  7. ^ The AfterEllen Aesthetic: Making our own list of hotties from AfterEllen.com
  8. ^ Leisha Hailey responds to our Hot 100 List | AfterEllen.com
  9. ^ 800 Very Unsquare Feet from The New York Times'
  10. ^ Time Out London Interviews Star of 'The L Word', Leisha Hailey About Her Band Uh Huh Her - Features - Gay - Time Out London

[edit] External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Leisha Hailey
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