Leigh Zimmerman | |
---|---|
Born | (1969-03-28) March 28, 1969 (age 55) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, dancer |
Years active | 1986–present |
Spouse |
Domenick Allen (m. 1993) |
Children | 1 |
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 the musical Chicago. Zimmerman is also known for her roles in the London West End productions of The Seven Year Itch, Chicago, as Velma Kelly, Contact, as The Girl in the Yellow Dress, The Producers, originating the role of Ulla and A Chorus Line, as Sheila, for which she won an Olivier Award in 2013.
Career
In 1992, Zimmerman had a minor but memorable role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as a fashion model (woman on the street).
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 at the Queens Theatre. During that time, Zimmerman also worked on films such as 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, Zimmerman was asked to play the role of Miriam in the controversial play Three on A Couch by the 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, Zimmerman accepted leading roles in several 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, Zimmerman appeared in feature films, such as United 93 directed by Paul Greengrass, where she portrayed Christine Snyder. She spoke fluent Spanish as the gothic siren, Irene, in the Spanish Film, La Luna en Botella (Moon in a Bottle). Zimmerman also stars as the California love guru, Candy Connor, in the British independent film, Are You Ready For Love.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Fashion Model | |
1997 | Mr. Jealousy | Lois | |
2004 | The Defender | Reporter | |
2005 | Submerged | U.S. Ambassador | |
2005 | Proof | Friend at Party | |
2006 | Land of the Blind | Anchorwoman | |
2006 | United 93 | Christine Snyder | |
2006 | Are You Ready for Love? | Candy | |
2007 | La luna en botella | Irene | |
2011 | W.E. | East Side Woman |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Rear Window | Business Woman | Television film |
2002 | Smallpox 2002 | Lesley Peters | |
2003 | Second Nature | Dr. Shepherd | |
2005, 2012 | Doctors | Brook Banning / Tamsin Read | 2 episodes |
2005 | Blessed | Megan | 3 episodes |
2006 | Feel the Force | Sergeant Beesley | 6 episodes |
2006 | The Outsiders | Helen Harlow | Television film |
2007 | Numbers | Leslie Dennis | Episode: "Hollywood Homicide" |
2008 | Sparky & Mikaela | Mom | Episode: "Pilot" |
2011 | Person of Interest | Sasha | Episode: "Ghosts" |
2015 | Hangzhou Global Tour | Host / Self | 19 episodes |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | The Will Rogers Follies | Betty's sister | |
1992 | Crazy for You | ensemble | |
1996 | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Panacea | St. James Theatre |
1996 | Chicago | Go-to-hell-Kitty, Velma Kelly | Richard Rodgers Theatre |
2001 | Chicago | Velma Kelly | Richard Rodgers Theatre |
2002 | Contact | The girl in the yellow dress | Queen's Theatre |
2005 | The Producers | Ulla | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane |
2007 | The Producers | Ulla | |
2013 | A Chorus Line | Sheila | London Palladium |
2017 | Chicago | Velma Kelly | Ambassador Theatre |
2020 | Bliss | Princess Taffeta | 5th Avenue Theatre |
Personal life
Zimmerman is married to Scottish singer Domenick Allen. The two have a daughter, who is also a theatre actress and singer, Cayleigh Capaldi.
References
- Algar, Emily (December 8, 2021). "9 Of The Best Beauty Moments In Your Favourite Holiday Films". Grazia. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- "Previous Winners: Olivier Winners 2005 - Olivier Awards". Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- "PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With Chicago Star Leigh Zimmerman". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.