Lesli Margherita

An Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in Zorro the Musical, Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of Randy Skinner's Dames at Sea.  Lesli later returned to the role she originated to close out the Broadway run of Matilda. 

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This past winter, Lesli was seen off-Broadway starring as Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force Who's Holiday.  Her hilarious show-stopping performance earned her critical acclaim as well as a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Lortel nomination  for Outstanding Solo Show and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination  for Best Solo Performance. 

 

Lesli  most recently starred opposite Yvette Nicole Brown in the ABC sitcom pilot "Most Likely To".  She currently recurs on three television dramas: "Homeland" (Showtime), "Instinct" (CBS), and "Seven Seconds" (Netflix).   Last fall Lesli starred opposite Topher Grace, Taye Diggs & JC Chasez in the feature film "Opening Night" available on Netflix and iTunes. 

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Born and raised in California, Lesli trained at UCLA and was soon after chosen to star in MGM's television series "Fame LA" directed by Kenny Ortega.  She has gone on to star and recur on numerous television shows and films including  "Elementary", "Donny!", "The Good Wife", "Major Crimes",  and "NYPD Blue".

 

Film credits include  "Lucky Stiff" with Jason Alexander, Joel Schumacher's "The Number 23," and the Sam Raimi produced "Boogeyman 2." Lesli's voice can also be heard on several animated films and  shows including Disney's "Cinderella 3" and Nickelodeon's "Sponge Bob SquarePants." 

 

Regional stage credits include Adelaide in Guys & Dolls (Bucks County Playhouse), Signora Psyche Zinobia in A Scythe of Time (NYMF; Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role), Esmeralda in Hunchback of Notre Dame (Sacramento Music Circus), Lilli / Kate in Kiss Me Kate (Reprise; Ovation Award - Best Actress), The Gronholm Method (The Falcon ; Ovation nom. - Best Ensemble), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha opposite Davis Gaines (MTW; Ovation nom.  & LADCC nom - Best Actress), Julie in Showboat (Goodspeed Opera), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (La Mirada), and Lady of the Lake in Spamalot opposite Gary Beach (Sacramento Music Circus).

 

Lesli is a published author with two books currently available on iTunes and Amazon: NECK PUNCH and CARRY ON: Advice from the "Queen", a series of 'inspirational' messages inspired from her Twitter feed (debuted at #1 on the Humor charts) and BLU!, about a unique lobster who teaches us that we are all special. 

 

She is the creator/star of  "Looks Not Books"  and "Ship Happens" the popular backstage vlogs commissioned by Broadway.com which can also be seen on YouTube. 

 

Lesli's critically acclaimed solo shows continue to play to crowds across the country. Her debut live album Rule Your Kingdom is currently in stores and available on all digital platforms.