Leigh Zimmerman
Leigh Zimmerman
28.03.1969 (55 years) (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)
Leigh Zimmerman is an American actress, singer and dancer. She has appeared on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy for You and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Nathan Lane and created the role of Go-To-Hell-Kitty in the 1996 Broadway production of Chicago The Musical. Leigh is also known for London's West End productions of The Seven Year Itch, Chicago, role of Velma Kelly, Contact, role of The Girl in the Yellow Dress, The Producers, role of Ulla and A Chorus Line, role of Sheila, for which she won an Olivier Award in 2013. In 1992, she had a minor but memorable role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as a woman who has a run-in with burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) & Marv (Daniel Stern). In April 2001 Leigh made a huge splash in the West End starring as Velma Kelly, opposite Denise Van Outen in Chicago for an unprecedented one-year contract. In 2002, she was asked to work for the second time with director Susan Stroman to create for the West End the role of The Girl in the Yellow Dress in Contact, once again at the Queens Theatre. During that time, Leigh completed feature film work on Proof with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins, Red Light Runners with Harvey Keitel, The Defender with Dolph Lundgren, and Submerged with Steven Seagal. In 2004, Leigh was asked to play the role of Miriam in the controversial play Three on A Couch by the Nobel Prize winning scientist Carl Djerassi, and worked closely with him to shape the play for the legendary London fringe theatre, The Kings Head. Leigh then starred as Leslie Peters in the television docudrama Small Pox: Silent Weapon for the FX Channel and as Tamsin Reed on BBC's Doctors. Leigh was thrilled when she was asked to create the role of Ulla in London's West End Production of The Producers, and her portrayal earned her an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Leading Actress in 2004.During her run as Ulla in London from 2004 to 2006, Leigh accepted leading roles in several more highly acclaimed film and television projects. She played the English double agent, Helen Harlow, alongside Brian Cox, in ITV's The Outsiders. She starred as the Scottish police sergeant, Sergeant Beasley, in the BBC hit comedy Feel the Force. She also had a leading role as the American desperate housewife, Megan, in Ben Elton's comedy series Blessed for the BBC. In 2006, Leigh appeared in several high-profile feature films. She portrayed Christine Snyder in United 93 directed by Paul Greengrass for Universal and Working Title Films. She spoke fluent Spanish as the gothic siren, Irene, in the soon to be released Spanish Film, La Luna en Botella (Moon in a Bottle) for Ikiru Films in Madrid and Barcelona. Leigh also stars as the California love guru, Candy Connor, in the upcoming British independent film, Are You Ready For Love for Carnaby Films. In early 2007, Leigh returned to the US when she was asked to open the Las Vegas company of The Producers, reprising her role as Ulla. In 2008–2009, Leigh guest starred on several episodic television shows in America including her role as Leslie Dennis in season 4 of NUMB3RS on CBS. Leigh then returned to the West End of London to reprise the role of Velma Kelly in CHICAGO. In 2010–2011, Leigh returned to Broadway as Velma in Chicago and was thrilled to appear as the self-assured Upper East Side socialite in the feature film W.E. directed by Madonna. She also appeared as Sasha on the new CBS drama PERSON OF INTEREST with Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel. In 2012, Leigh guest starred in VINYL The Classic Rock Experience, alongside Domenick Allen (formerly with Foreigner) and Denny Laine (from Wings and The Moody Blues) in Las Vegas. In 2013, Leigh was invited to return to London's West End in the revival of A CHORUS LINE at the London Palladium. Leigh won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her touching and hilarious portrayal of Sheila. In 2013, Leigh also starred with Domenick Allen at the St James Theatre in London in the show A LOVE AFFAIR FROM A2Z, Opening the 2013 London Festival of Cabaret. In early 2014, they went on to reprise their show for a special Valentine's Day Concert, A VALENTINE FROM A2Z, also at the St. James Theatre in London. Leigh was then honored to be invited by Elaine Paige to appear as a special guest on Episode 1 of the new SKY ARTS show ‘THE ELAINE PAIGE SHOW" along with Julian Ovenden and Dame Gillian Lynne. She performed ‘Adelaides Lament’ from Guys and Dolls to a live studio audience. Leigh was then invited back to the popular BBC show DOCTORS for the episode ‘Must Edit Filth’ to the play the role of Brook Banning, a high powered, New York lawyer visiting Letherbridge to pay respects to her late aunt and causing trouble for Jimmi and Mandy. For the 2014 Olivier Awards, Leigh and Nigel Harman were the celebrity announcers of the Olivier Nominations and Leigh went on to present the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical on the live televised award show at London's famous Royal Opera House. Leigh then went on to achieve one of her highest career goals. Leigh was hand-picked by legendary director Trevor Nunn to portray Miranda Frayle in the West End production of Noël Coward's RELATIVE VALUES at the Harold Pinter Theatre alongside Patricia Hodge, Caroline Quentin and Rory Bremner. Leigh received wonderful reviews for this role including Michael Billington's review in the Guardian stating "Leigh Zimmerman invests the invasive movie star with a grace and dignity that makes you feel she's the one who'd be marrying beneath her.” Leigh continues her ongoing 22-year relationship with the Broadway production of Chicago The Musical, reprising the leading role of Velma periodically throughout the year.