Merit was born in Glendale, CA, she started her acting career at the age of five. Best known for voicing the recurring guest star character Lucinda The Witch on Disney's "Sofia The First." Leighton also lends her voice to other characters on the show for apps, games and toys. Merit is also the singing voice of Lucinda and her track "The Good Little Witch" available on CD and iTunes.
She has just played young Natasha in the Channel101 #1 web series Natasha, and appeared as a series regular in the web series "40's and Failing" portraying Ally, a depressed goth teenager, and as Olivia in the TV pilot "Dad Dudes". Last year she starred as Doreen Portman in the film "A Tigers Tail" with Greg Grunberg and has also appeared on the television shows NBC's "The New Normal" and "The Pete Holmes Show" on TBS. Some of her other roles include, "The Lost Medallion" "RA Resident Advisor" and "Monster Slayer" for USA network, costarring Alicia Goranson and Timm Sharp.
Most recently Leighton has started modeling, signing with the highly regarded agency ZURI Models LA/NYC. She has appeared in 14 national commercials including Purina, Poptarts, Legal Shield, Yopliat, Target and more.
Merit is a professional singer, having most recently lent her vocals as a backup singer for Capitol Records recording artist Halsey on "New Americana." She had the honor of being chosen to perform with a full orchestra, conducted by Lorne Balfe on the SPIKE Video Game Awards, singing "The Drunken Whaler" as a tribute to the game "Dishonored." As a session singer and has worked on the projects "Funsize", "Saige paints The Sky", "Despicable Me 2", AnchorMan 2, and "The World Cup Song".
She was honored with CARE (Child Actor Recognition Event) Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and was nominated for a 2012 Young Artist Award for her performance as Bea in "Monster Slayer"
