SPOILER ALERT! This article contains Grey's Anatomy spoilers.
Recently renewed for its seventeenth season, Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running medical drama in TV history. The show’s devotion to exploring weighty topics, such as OCD, mental health, and abortion, has made it a ground-breaking soap of its time. The Emmy-winning series has launched several acting careers for several series regulars, such as Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Chyler Leigh, and many more.
After seventeen seasons, only three actors of the original cast remain on the show. Chyler Leigh, who joined the cast in 2007 and left in 2012, made a recent appearance on the show in 2021. In season 17, Leigh’s character, Dr. Lexie Grey, visits Ellen Pompeo’s character in a long anticipated quasi-reunion episode. Leigh’s reappearance, along with several former Grey’s Anatomy characters, struck an emotional chord with fans, who were overjoyed to see her return. To celebrate her small comeback on the show, here are 10 interesting facts about the former Grey’s Anatomy Actress, Chyler Leigh.
10 Chyler Leigh Stars In 'Supergirl'
Grey’s Anatomy fans were delighted to see Chyler Leigh reprise her role as “baby grey” Lexie in season seventeen’s reunion episode. After her departure from Grey’s Anatomy in 2012, Leigh took a role on the CW’s DC series, Supergirl. Leigh plays a character named Alex Danvers, the half-sister of Supergirl, who’s portrayed by Melissa Benoist. In the second season, Leigh’s character comes out as gay. She later told TV Insider that she received an “overwhelming amount of positive responses” from the LGBTQ+ community.
9 She’s From North Carolina
Chyler Leigh was born and raised in Virginia Beach, North Carolina. However, as a Hollywood actress, she doesn’t get the chance visit her home state as often as she'd like. Leigh told Winston Salem Journal, ”There’s a very, very magical quality to being on the East Coast, and being in greenery, seeing lightning bugs at the end of the night, and running out and going to catch them with your kids, and thunderstorms, and all that fun stuff.”
8 Her Brother Is Also An Actor
Chyler Leigh’s older brother, Christopher Khayman Lee, is also an actor. He’s dedicated much of his career to playing the Red Power Ranger in the Power Ranger franchise. He was inducted into the Red Power Ranger role in 1999’s Power Ranger In Space TV series. His latest Red Ranger role was in the 2021 mini-series, Bloodline Of The Grid.
7 She Got Her Start As A Model
Chyler Leigh grew up in front of the camera, initially working as a young model. She recently posted on Instagram a throwback photo of her days as a child model, writing, “I’ll be honest, I hated modeling. I hated anything that brought attention to myself because I didn’t feel worthy of the attention. I didn’t like people seeing me. I didn’t feel worthy of anything.”
6 She Was A Child Actress
Along with modelling, Leigh was also a child actor. Her success in print magazines led her to book national commercials for Coca Cola, Wendy’s, and many more. At the age of 15, she starred in 1997’s Kickboxing Academy. The martial arts action movie was her very first film debut.
5 She Has Bipolar Disorder
In 2019, Chyler Leigh revealed that she was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. In an interview with People magazine, Leigh divulged that her mother was also diagnosed with it. “At the time they were calling it manic depression — and I saw such an extreme version.” Leigh is now a partner with Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, an organization that advocates for mental health to be discussed openly and honestly.
4 She Has A Tattoo
Interestingly, Dr. Lexie Grey has a couple of tattoos. Leigh has a large lower back tattoo depicting a starry night sky with a couple of cosmic looking creatures. She also has a tattoo on her right foot containing four Chinese symbols. The characters ostensibly read, “Family.”
3 Both Her And Her Husband Overcame Addiction
In their 20s, Leigh and her husband, Nathan West, battled a serious drug addiction. She revealed to People magazine, “We did everything but LSD and shooting up.” Leigh and West were eventually able to seek recovery and support from their nondenominational Christian Church. “I realized there was so much more to life, “ she shared with People.
2 She Was In 2001’s 'Not Another Teen Movie'
Outside of Grey’s Anatomy, Leigh’s most famous role was as Janey Briggs in the 2001 spoof Not Another Teen Movie. The film was a box-office success, lampooning romantic comedies targeted for teen audiences. Leigh’s character is based on the unpopular-yet-beautiful female protagonist in She’s All That.
1 She Appeared In Marilyn Manson’s Cover Of 'Tainted Love'
While filming Not Another Teen Movie, Leigh, along with most of the NATM cast, appeared in a Marilyn Manson music video. Originally composed by Ed Cobb, Marilyn Manson performed a cover of the song “Tainted Love.” Manson’s version of the song was actually released as a single from the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack.