An Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in Zorro the Musical , Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda, The Musical. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of Dames at Sea. Lesli returned to MATILDA to close out its Broadway run.
Off-Broadway, Lesli starred as Princess in EMOJILAND and Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force WHO’S HOLIDAY. Her hilarious show-stopping performance earned her critical acclaim including a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Lortel nomination for Outstanding Solo Show and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination for Best Solo Performance.
Television credits include the ABC sitcom pilot “Most Likely To” opposite Yvette Nicole Brown and recurring roles on “Homeland” (Showtime), “Instinct” (CBS), “Seven Seconds” (Netflix), “Transparent” (Amazon), and “The Crew” (Netflix). Movie credits include the upcoming The Many Saints of Newark, Opening Night and Boogeyman 2 and Number 23. Lesli’s voice can also be heard on several animated films and shows including Disney’s Cinderella 3 and Nickelodeon’s “Sponge Bob Squarepants”.
Regional stage credits include Adelaide in GUYS & DOLLS (Sacramento Music Circus; Bucks County Playhouse), Signora Psyche Zinobia in A SCYTHE OF TIME (NYMF), Esmeralda in HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Sacramento Music Circus), Lilli / Kate in KISS ME KATE (Reprise; Ovation Award – Best Actress), THE GRONHOLM METHOD (The Falcon ; Ovation nom. – Best Ensemble), Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA (MTW; Ovation & LADCC nom – Best Actress), Julie in SHOWBOAT (Goodspeed Opera), Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (La Mirada), and Lady of the Lake in SPAMALOT (Sacramento Music Circus).
She is the creator/star of ‘Looks Not Books’ and ‘Ship Happens’ the popular backstage vlogs commissioned by Broadway.com, as well as the digital short series ‘Sparklefpuff,’ all of which can be seen on YouTube. Lesli’s books, NECK PUNCH and CARRY ON: Advice from the “Queen” and BLU!, are available on Amazon & iTunes.
Lesli’s critically acclaimed solo shows Rule, Broad, and This Broad’s Way continue to play to crowds across the country. Her debut live album RULE YOUR KINGDOM is currently in stores and available on all digital platforms.