Actress Laura Leighton: Iowa Time Machine July 24, 1968

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 24, 1968, actress Laura Leighton was born in Iowa City. Leighton endeared herself to generations of television audiences through her performances on “Melrose Place” and “Pretty Little Liars.”

Born Laurie Miller, the actress grew up in Johnson County and attended Iowa City West High School. She was a standout show choir performer, vocalist, and cheerleader for the Trojans before joining The Young Americans for their “Around the World in 80 Days Show” in 1986.

In 1988, the actress adopted her maternal grandfather’s last name, Leighton, and began appearing in minor roles, including a Pizza Hut ad. Her big break came in 1993 when a guest spot on “Melrose Place” evolved into a recurring role as Sydney Andrews, which she held until 1997. After the show, Leighton appeared on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and in several made-for-TV movies.

After briefly reviving Sydney Andrews in the 2009 reboot of “Melrose Place,” Leighton landed the lead role of Ashley Marin on the hit television show “Pretty Little Liars.” For all seven seasons, Leighton shone in the role while the show proved a hit with audiences. #Iowa #OTD #History #Acting #Hollywood