With a career spanning from Netflix to Disney stints, actress Merit Leighton has no shortage of worthy achievements. The 18-year-old is most well-known for her Netflix roles: Hannah on the Emmy-nominated comedy Alexa & Katie and the voice of Frosta on She-ra and The Princesses Of Power. In addition, Leighton voiced Lucinda the Witch on Disney’s Sofia the First, and she currently stars in the English dub of Masaaki Yuasa’s Ride Your Wave. The actress is also an award-winning filmmaker herself, with numerous awards under her belt for the animated short, Planeman. As a professional singer, she has sung back-up for Halsey on the platinum single, "New Americana,” and has two tracks on the Sofia the First album. Leighton dedicates her downtime to charity work, serving as a Celebrity Youth Ambassador for The Jonathan Foundation for kids with special needs and learning disabilities. Below, the actress recounts her road to success. 


How did you get your start in the acting industry?

When I was five years old, I figured out that the “magic box” (aka the TV) wasn’t some mini window into another universe as I previously believed it was. I found out that I could actually be on TV through my favorite show, Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. They advertised that they were holding auditions, so I immediately ran to ask my mom if I could go. She said no. My mom is awesome but thought I was too young, and my dad said that if I believed enough, I could make it happen. A few weeks later, my mom, a photographer, got a call from a management company that said they wanted to represent one of her models: me. Soon after, I signed with them. Then I got an agent, went to my first audition and came out of the room crying tears of joy because it was the best thing I’d ever done. That's when I realized that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.


Who are some actors/actresses that inspire you and why?

I have a broad range of people who inspire me, from current stars to ones from decades back. Lee JiEun (IU) is an incredible actor and brings such beauty to her roles. I fell in love with her and Lee JoonGi in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, an incredible costumed K-drama loosely based in the Goryeo Dynasty. I also love Lee’s latest project, Hotel Del Luna—it’s a must-watch! Another one of my favorite actors is Gene Wilder. Whether playing Willy Wonka or ‪Young Frankenstein‬, he’s just a brilliant actor who has a unique style that makes him a one-of-a-kind comedic genius! From the voiceover world, I really admire ‪Ashleigh Ball‬ and Tara Strong’s work. They‘ve voiced so many beloved characters and sometimes do scenes with themselves, which is something I aspire to do. 


What was the audition process like for Alexa & Katie?

Originally, I was called to a work session for the role of Katie and went through the process of reading for the creators, who then asked me to audition for Alexa. After that, I heard nothing, which is a fairly common occurrence in this business. About a month later, I saw that they had cast Paris and Isabelle. After another month, they called my manager and said the role of Hannah was written with me in mind. I was in shock! I still had to go to a producer’s session and read against eight other actors, but they eventually offered me the role. It was a crazy ride but worth every second.


Where were you and how did you react when you found out you were cast?

They had pinned me for over a month, meaning that they were interested. I was on a temporary hold for a certain set of dates but had not officially booked the role. I got a call from my manager when I was at home, on the couch with my family, that I had booked it. We all jumped up and down and cheered! Having a large recurring role as a guest star on a multi-cam was on my bucket list, and that's been my life for the past three years. Sometimes, I still can’t believe it. 


How are you and your character similar? How are you different?

We’re similar in a few ways. Hannah has a different point of view from everyone else and has her own style, which I can relate to. However, she likes more serious classes than me at school, and I don’t think Hannah would ever be an actor. Also, she was a cheerleader, which I wouldn’t want to be. It’s fun to play her because we have similarities, but at the same time, at her core, she has different dreams and goals.

Who was your closest friend on set?

Finn Carr [“Jack”]. He used to come to my house for the weekend to hang out. Our families are very close, and we’re so blessed to have him in our lives. Finn’s such a kind, funny, smart and genuine person. I love hanging out with his family and playing video games online.


Any memorable behind the scenes moments you can share?

There are so many good memories from my years on Alexa & Katie. It was just such a wonderful cast and crew, and we were always having a laugh! I think one of my favorite moments is when Jolie Jenkins [who plays Jennifer Cooper] told me I was really funny. I look up to her, so that meant a lot!

How has the pandemic altered your career?

The pandemic has changed so much of everyone’s lives. I’ve been in quarantine for months because I have high-risk people in the house. So for me, I’ve had to redirect my career to voiceover work. I actually did the recording for the film, Ride Your Wave, from my home studio, which is a small, two-by-three converted closet meant for auditions. We recorded over the internet using Source Connect, and it came out amazing. That was definitely a crazy pandemic job! 


What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Believe, have a thick skin, work hard and never give up! I waited ten years for my first big role, and that’s okay. I learned a lot about how to deal with rejection and be a professional on set. Working over the years—consistently in small roles and auditioning sometimes daily—is what prepared me for my life right now. It’s a marathon, so stay hydrated and keep going. 


What are your future plans?

Voiceover is something I love with all my heart. I’ve been auditioning so much, and I love the process, so that’s definitely the direction I’m heading in right now. Working on Ride Your Wave was an amazing experience, and I hope to do a lot more dub work in the future. 

This or That:

Voiceover or on-camera acting? Voiceover. 

Comedy or drama? Comedy. 

Netflix or live TV? Netflix. 

Sandwich or salad? Sandwich. 

Airplane or car? Car. 

Follow Merit on Social Media:

Instagram: @meritleighton

Twitter: @meritleighton

Facebook: @meritleighton