Melanie Leishman (born February 20, 1989)Melanie Leishman's Bio at Tribute, Entertainment industry magazineMelanie Leishman's Bio at Northernstars: The Canadian Movie Database, Archived via web.archive.org is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying bespectacled Hannah B. Williams, one of the main characters on the cultTodd and the Book of Pure Evil at TV TropesWhy you should watch Todd and the Book of Pure Evil – Bloody Disgusting article comedy horror television series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. Before that, she had a recurring role on Darcy's Wild Life as Kathi Giraldi and comedy series House Party (2008) as desperate to be popular Mandy. Other TV credits include Being Erica, Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries. She has also voiced several animated roles in series such as Detentionaire, Grojband and the Total Drama Island revival where she voices Emma. Film roles include musical slasher Stage Fright (2014) as Liz Silver, comedy-drama The Exchange (2021) as Diane and Christmas romantic-comedy Single All the Way (2021) as Ashleigh.
Early life Leishman was born on February 20, 1989. She began acting, singing, and dancing at the age of eight. Leishman starred in her first play while attending The North York Montessori in grade three, playing the title character in the play Annie.The Creative Imbalance, Episode 34, interview with Melanie Leishman and producer Andrew Rosen at SoundCloud.com She attended the Earl Haig Secondary SchoolEarl Haig Secondary School information and former alumni at lechool.com, archived (Aug 5, 2023) via web.archive.org here in the Claude Watson Arts Program as a drama major, involved in both drama and dance programs there.Darcy's Wild Life cast Bios at discovery.com, via web.archive.org
Career
Film Her first theatrically released film was a supporting role in Victoria Day (2009).
Leishmann starred as Ladeeda in the Devon Bostick-led short film The Long Autumn in 2010.The Long Autumn – Clermont Film Festival, via web.archive.orgExcerpt at YouTube for the 2010 Whistler Film Festival
Quirky romantic/drama Old Stock (2012)Old Stock synopsis and credits at Northernstars: The Canadian Movie Database saw her playing sparky love interest Patti, an arsonist serving community service teaching dance classes at a retirement home.The Arts Guild Interview with Noah Reid and Melanie Leishman about Old StockInterview: Noah Reid and Melanie Leishman by That Shelf, May 28, 2013
Musical/slasher Stage Fright (2014) saw her take on the role of "mean girl" Liz Silver, going against the type of her recent roles as either the "lead's best friend" or other generally timid characters."with high school diva Liz Silver" quoted from Stage Fright review by Peter Martin at screenanarchy.com"inciting the jealousy of the other contender" quoted from "'Stage Fright' movie review: A bloody Broadway camp" by Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post (May 8, 2014) Retrieved from
In 2016, she appeared in the film Below Her Mouth as Claire.
She reprised her role of Hannah alongside the rest of the original cast in Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End,Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon Form by Matt Donato at www.dreadcentral.com a feature-length animated film that concluded the cult TV series, which was released in 2017.
2018 short comedy-drama film SoftcoreWest Coast Premiere, Best of LGBT Shorts – Volume 2, Sunday, June 10, 2018, at FilmOut San Diego via web.archive.org saw Leishman co-star with Alyssa Owsiany as a pair of bridesmaids that bond over exchanging the bizarre stories of their sexual awakenings.
In 2021, she appeared in the 80's setReview: ‘The Exchange’ is hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt by Nell Minow at www.rogerebert.com comedy-drama The Exchange as Diane, the teacher's assistant"Reliably funny Exchange hits close to home" by Randall King at www.winnipegfreepress.com and long suffering girlfriend to primary antagonist gym teacher Gary Rothbauer (Justin Hartley). The same year, in Christmas set romantic comedy Single All the WaySingle All the Way synopsis and credits at www.radiotimes.com as Ashleigh, young mother of two small children and a supportive sister to the lead Peter (Michael Urie).
Television
Her first television role was in the children's/family series Darcy's Wild Life (2004–06) as Kathi Giraldi.
2008 saw the release of two TV movies with her in. As Angie Bremlock in Never Cry Werewolf,Never Cry Werewolf Cast list and review by Andrew Pragasam at www.thespinningimage.co.uk wherein a werewolf moves in to terrorize a neighborhood, and True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet,True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet review by Brian Lowry at variety.com where she was EmilyTrue Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet at rottentomatoes.com a girl who unwittingly befriends incognito teen celebrity Morgan Carter (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque).True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet review by Marilyn Moss at www.hollywoodreporter.com Incidentally True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet also featured her future Todd and the Book of Pure Evil co-star Bill Turnbull in a small role.True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet credits including Bill Turnbull's role of Dan at www.moviefone.com
The same year she was part of the main cast of characters in House Party (2008),Farpoint Films – House PartyNew series draws comedy from Winnipeg house party at cbc.ca the desperate to please Mandy. Each episode focuses on a particular character, revealing the various plot developments to the audience as they are encountered by the episode's focal character."Mandy, who wants you to like her. Really really wants you to like her." quoted from "New show: House Party" by Denise Duguay at montrealgazette.com The show was re-released in 2021 by the production company Farpoint Distribution on their YouTube channel.Farpoint Distribution re-release "House Party"
2009 saw a role in Being Erica, Season 2, Episode 19 "Shhh... Don't Tell" playing Fiona Watt, a student that's being mercilessly bullied and humiliated by other classmates.
In 2010 she co-starred in the Canadian television horror/comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil as science geek Hannah B. WilliamsTodd and the Book of Pure Evil by Scott A. Gray at exclaim.ca who forms part of the team at Crowley High School that "fights evil with mixed results"."fighting evil... with mixed results" Retrospective: Todd & The Book of Pure Evil by Derek Anderson, Part 1 & Part 2 at dailydead.com (Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of DEADLY Magazine) The show was renewed for a second season, that aired in 2011, where she reprised her role as Hannah."Todd & The Book of Pure Evil Season 2 Production Is Underway" by Diane Wild at tv-eh.com Leishman shared a Gemini Award for "Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series" with her cast mates for their work on the show."Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit: The Gemini-winning Canadian series has captured fans with its unique blend of horror and humour." by Bill Brioux at thestar.com
In 2011 she voiced bossy popular girl Brandy Silver"Melanie Leishman is the voice of Brandy Silver in Detentionaire" at behindthevoiceactors.com in the school set mystery animated series Detentionaire and also voiced the overly perky and thus aptly named Chipper in Grojband.
She has appeared three times in long running detective series Murdoch Mysteries, as different characters. First in 2011 as Nancy Booth, a taken advantage of maid, in "Downstairs, Upstairs". In 2014 as Sarah Harrison, who gets entwined in espionage between the US and Canada following the assassination of U.S. President William McKinley, in "The Spy Who Came Up to the Cold".Making Murdoch: The Spy Who Came Up To The Cold at www.cbc.ca And in the 2024 season 17 episode "Spirits in the Night" she portrayed Camilla Grundy, a woman whose sleepwalking leads to her being tried for murder.
In 2018, she starred as two very differentWeb Series Wednesday – Kristal Clear at starrymag.com twin sisters and lead characters Kristal and Kyle Hasting in the web series Kristal Clear,Coconut Effect Productions Official Kristal Clear site for which she won the award for "Best Lead Actress in a Comedy" at the HollyWeb Fest.Amanda Fahey’s web-series, Kristal Clear, wins big at HollyWeb Festival In 2019 Kristal Clear season 2 got approved for funding by the Independent Production Fund (IPF)."Independent Production Fund (IPF) 2019 Web Drama Series Funding Decisions", Including season 2 of Kristal Clear
In 2022, Leishman played Remi Belcourt in episode "Between" of medical drama Transplant,Transplant – Episode "Between" – Guest Cast at tvmaze.com a patient admitted to the emergency department with burns whose accident ends up revealing some uncomfortable truths about her boyfriend. In episode "One Wild Night" of police procedural drama Hudson & Rex, Leishman plays bridesmaid Quincy ThomasHudson & Rex – Episode "One Wild Night", synopsis and credits at www.tvmaze.com whose straight talking about a murder victim after a bachelorette party leads to her being a suspect. She plays Christina, assistant and confidant of caterer Molly Frost (Merritt Patterson) in Great American Family's romantic TV movie Catering Christmas.‘Catering Christmas’ on Great American Family, Where Merritt Patterson Caters a Holiday Gala review By Brett White, at Decider.com
In the 2023 spy-thriller TV series Gray, Leishman plays Sophie the estranged daughter of the titular character played by Patricia Clarkson. Abandoned for 20 years when her mother had to go into hiding, Sophie is wary of letting her back into her and her young daughter's lives for fear of being hurt once again. In the animated series Total Drama Island reboot Leishman voices Emma,"Melanie Leishman is the voice of Emma in Total Drama Island (2023)" at behindthevoiceactors.com one of the main characters who are contestants competing to win a million on a reality TV show. Emma has to contend with both the crazy challenges set as part of the competition and the unexpected presence of her ex-boyfriend, the self-centered Chase, as a fellow competitor.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2007DebutDebut, short film at BravoFACT's official channelPerky PAShort film2009Victoria DayMelanie2010LadeedaShort film 2012Old StockPattiRoomiesRoomies brief synopsis & credits at radiotimes.com, via web.archive.orgJenny RhodesShort film 2014Stage FrightLiz SilverBen's Girlfriend (voice)Short film2016Below Her MouthClaire2017Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the EndHannah Williams (voice)Animated feature film2018SoftcoreLilaShort film2020 The Broken Hearts GalleryBookstore Owner 2021 The ExchangeDianeSingle All the WayAshleigh 2024Mother Father Sister Brother FrankJolene JenningsMelanie Goodfellow, "Enrico Colantoni & Mindy Cohn Join Cast Of ‘Mother Father Sister Brother Frank’ As Ontario Shoot Kicks Off". Deadline Hollywood, March 7, 2023.Fight Another DayCal 2026 Relationship Goals Maya
Television