Most people remember Laura-Leigh as the girl who cried in a group therapy session on Vanderpump Rules while Jax Taylor stared blankly at a wall. It was raw. It was uncomfortable. It was peak 2013 reality television. But if you’ve only ever seen her slinging goat cheese balls at SUR, you’ve basically missed the entire point of her career.
She wasn't just a "waitress who wanted to act." She was a Juilliard-trained powerhouse who used Bravo as a stepping stone to get exactly where she wanted to be. Honestly, she might be the only person in the history of that show who actually followed through on the "I’m leaving to do a movie" threat.
The Big Break: Leaving SUR for Jennifer Aniston
In the season one finale of Vanderpump Rules, Laura-Leigh famously told Lisa Vanderpump she was quitting to film a movie with Jennifer Aniston. The rest of the cast—mostly Jax and Stassi—snickered behind her back. They thought it was a bit part or a lie. It wasn't.
That movie was We’re the Millers (2013).
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She played Kymberly, a stripper with a "Boner Garage" tattoo who gets robbed by a group of tourists. It was a massive studio comedy that grossed over $270 million worldwide. While her former coworkers were still arguing about who slept with whom in Las Vegas, Laura-Leigh was sharing scenes with Jason Sudeikis and an A-lister. It’s one of the most satisfying "I told you so" moments in reality TV history.
Beyond the Reality TV Lens
Before she ever stepped foot in SUR, Laura-Leigh was already booking legitimate work. You can spot her in Gossip Girl (Season 2, Episode 5) as Amanda Lasher. She’s the girl Blair Waldorf tries to destroy because she’s dating Dan Humphrey. It’s a fun Easter egg for fans—seeing the "vulnerable" girl from Bravo playing a preppy Constance Billard student.
She also did the classic "New York Actor" rite of passage by appearing in Law & Order (2009) and Numb3rs. This wasn't someone who just got lucky; she had the technical training from one of the most prestigious drama schools in the world.
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Laura Leigh Movies and TV Shows: A Filmography of Range
If you look at the full list of Laura Leigh movies and tv shows, the diversity of her roles is actually kind of wild. She doesn't just stick to one lane.
- The Ward (2010): Before the fame, she played Zoey in this John Carpenter psychological horror. Starring alongside Amber Heard and Mamie Gummer, she proved she could handle heavy, atmospheric genre work.
- The Client List (2013): Right after her Bravo exit, she became a series regular in Season 2 of Jennifer Love Hewitt's Lifetime drama. She played Nikki Shannon, a fellow massage therapist. It was a total 180 from her reality persona.
- Tooken (2015): She leaned into her comedic side here, playing Kim Millers in this parody of the Taken franchise.
- Under the Silver Lake (2018): This is where she went full indie-cool. In this neo-noir thriller starring Andrew Garfield, she played Mae. The movie has a massive cult following now, and her involvement solidified her as more than just a "studio comedy" actress.
- Blue Bloods (2019): She popped up as Ruby in the episode "The Price You Pay," showing that she’s still a reliable presence for network procedurals.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
The biggest misconception is that her career ended when she stopped being a "Bravolebrity." In reality, her career started when she left. Most reality stars cling to their 15 minutes by doing every spinoff and podcast available. Laura-Leigh did the opposite. She vanished from the reality circuit to focus on being a working actor.
She isn't looking for clout; she’s looking for scripts.
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There's something deeply respectable about the way she handled her exit. She knew the "crazy girl" edit was coming, she clocked it, and she used the platform to get her SAG card and get out. While some of her former castmates are still arguing on camera ten years later, she’s been building a resume that includes names like John Carpenter and David Robert Mitchell.
The Juilliard Connection
A lot of people forget she graduated from Juilliard. That’s not a small feat. We’re talking about the same school that produced Adam Driver and Viola Davis. This explains why, even in her smallest roles, there’s a specific intensity to her performance. Whether she’s playing a barista in Numb3rs or a traumatized patient in The Ward, she brings a level of craft that you just don't see in typical reality-star-turned-actor attempts.
Where is she now?
As of 2026, Laura-Leigh keeps a relatively low profile. She isn't chasing the TikTok trend cycle. She’s living in New York, occasionally posting about her dog, Halo, and appearing in projects that interest her. She’s the ultimate proof that you can survive a "messy" reality TV stint and still have a dignified career in the arts.
If you’re looking to catch up on her work, I’d suggest starting with Under the Silver Lake. It’s weird, atmospheric, and shows off her ability to blend into a complex narrative. Then, go back and watch We’re the Millers just to appreciate the sheer hustle it took to jump from a West Hollywood restaurant to a major motion picture.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of her work, check out the 2011 film The Restaurante (alternatively known as The Restaurant), where she plays Rachel. It's one of her lesser-known roles that captures that early-career energy before she became a household name for Bravo fans.