Biography
Who is Chyler Leigh?
Early life and start in acting
Chyler Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 10, 1982. Her parents, Yvonne Norton and Robert Potts, operated a business focused on weight loss, which eventually filed for bankruptcy. Following the divorce of her parents when she was twelve, she moved with her mother and older brother, Christopher Khayman Lee, to Miami. She spent her formative years in Virginia Beach.
During her time in eighth grade, she began working as a model. She also appeared in local commercials and a syndicated teen news program titled Hall Pass. In 1999, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue an acting career. At sixteen, she completed the California High School Proficiency Exam.
Early television and film roles
Her first film appearance occurred in 1997 with the movie Kickboxing Academy. In 2001, she secured the lead character of Janey Briggs in the comedy film Not Another Teen Movie, acting alongside Chris Evans. During this period, she appeared in the Marilyn Manson music video for Tainted Love. In 2002, she held roles in the television series Girls Club and That '80s Show.
She later joined the cast of the legal drama The Practice, though her time on the show ended due to budget constraints. In September 2005, she became part of the series Reunion.
Television success and directorial work
She gained prominence for her role as Dr. Lexie Grey on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. She joined the show during the third season and remained a main cast member until the eighth season. After departing the series, she returned for a guest appearance in 2021.
From 2015 to 2021, she starred as Alex Danvers in the DC Comics series Supergirl. This role included appearances in crossover episodes for Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. She also directed an episode of Supergirl titled Prom Again. Since 2023, she has appeared in the Hallmark Channel production The Way Home.
Music and personal life
In 2002, she married Nathan West in Alaska. The pair worked together on the show 7th Heaven. They have three children. The couple recorded music together under the name WestLeigh, releasing tracks such as Love Lit the Sky and Nowhere. In 2026, she shared that she and West had separated, with their divorce finalized in June 2025.
She has been open about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her recovery from drug addiction. During 2020, she contracted COVID-19 and documented her recovery experience online. She currently advocates for The Thirst Project, which seeks to provide safe drinking water to communities globally.
Birthday and age
Chyler Leigh was born on April 10, 1982, which makes Chyler 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Chyler shares the date with 69 other famous people.
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