Laura Leighton SaysProducers Were ‘Disappointed’ She ‘Wasn’t Actually a Wackadoo’ Like HerMelrose PlaceCharacter

Mar. 15, 2025

Laura Leighton as Sydney on ‘Melrose Place’ in the ’90s (left); Laura Leighton in 2024 (right).Photo:Courtesy Everett Collection; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

MELROSE PLACE, 1992-1999. Laura Leighton; Laura Leighton attends the Capital One presentation of KIIS FM’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024

Courtesy Everett Collection; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Laura Leighton made her mark onMelrose Placeas Sydney — but she might have left too much of a lasting impression.On the Jan. 6 episode of theStill Here Hollywood Podcastwith Steve Kmetko, the 56-year-old opened up about how her breakout role as Sydney Andrews onMelrose Placeended up boxing her in later in her career — and even affected her personal life.She remembered that years ago, her husband andMelrose PlacecostarDoug Savanthad ankle surgery.The nurse was afraid Leighton would “hurt him”because of her character. “Like, she was so confused on reality versus the character that I played, and it was so funny to us,” Leighton said. “But people really bought it. People really bought me as Sydney, I guess.”From left: Josie Bissett and Laura Leighton on ‘Melrose Place’ in 1994.Paramount Television/ Courtesy Everett CollectionLeighton said it was “gratifying” in a way, because “what I set out to do is be convincing as that character, and I knew that I wasn’t actually that character. So being able to be so different or and separate from it, that is something I feel proud of,” she said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It’s also something you end up having to fight for in a weird way,” she explained. “Like, I remember on the other hand afterMelrosehaving meetings with people who were interested in, you know, a project or whatever. And coming out of that meeting, I would hear from my agents that people were disappointed because I wasn’t actually a wackadoo like Sydney.”“They were like, you know, we were expecting Sydney, and it was just, like, a normal person,” she remembered. “And I thought, oh, that’s weird. I don’t know that I need to go into meetings and act a certain way … I can play other characters, but some people don’t have that imagination, I guess.”Leighton’s role as Sydney was her first major acting job. She began as a guest star in season 1 and became a full-time cast member over time. She appeared in 125 episodes from 1993 to 1997 and caused lots of mischief and mayhem on the nighttime soap. In 1994, she and her costars Heather Locklear and Andrew Shueshared a PEOPLE cover.Even though the show has been off the air since 1999, Leighton said the series is still “top of mind” for people, and strangers often recognize her for it.Laura Leighton for ‘Melrose Place’ in the ’90s.RGR Collection / Alamy Stock PhotoLeighton also reflected on the challenge of aging in Hollywood. “It’s a different business for middle-aged women than it is for someone in their 20s,” she said. But thePretty Little Liarsalumna noted that her career “drive” is also different now.“I had a lot of enthusiasm for being that actor when I was in my 20s, and now I just want to make a living and have a nice life and support a family,” she said. “The reasons for what I want have changed, and how I look at things. But it’s definitely the opportunities are fewer and far between.”In July, Leighton and herMelrose Placecostars Courtney Thorne-Smith and Daphne Zunigalaunched their own rewatch podcast,Still the Place, for the series. Leighton told PEOPLE at the time, “We have the fun of having a show in the ’90s — which was such an iconic decade, anyway — and so we’re watching it, talking about it and talking about how much hairspray there was and the outfits.”A series revivalis also in development.

Laura Leighton made her mark onMelrose Placeas Sydney — but she might have left too much of a lasting impression.

On the Jan. 6 episode of theStill Here Hollywood Podcastwith Steve Kmetko, the 56-year-old opened up about how her breakout role as Sydney Andrews onMelrose Placeended up boxing her in later in her career — and even affected her personal life.

She remembered that years ago, her husband andMelrose PlacecostarDoug Savanthad ankle surgery.The nurse was afraid Leighton would “hurt him”because of her character. “Like, she was so confused on reality versus the character that I played, and it was so funny to us,” Leighton said. “But people really bought it. People really bought me as Sydney, I guess.”

From left: Josie Bissett and Laura Leighton on ‘Melrose Place’ in 1994.Paramount Television/ Courtesy Everett Collection

MELROSE PLACE, from left: Josie Bissett, Laura Leighton, Season 2, February, 1994.

Paramount Television/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Leighton said it was “gratifying” in a way, because “what I set out to do is be convincing as that character, and I knew that I wasn’t actually that character. So being able to be so different or and separate from it, that is something I feel proud of,” she said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“It’s also something you end up having to fight for in a weird way,” she explained. “Like, I remember on the other hand afterMelrosehaving meetings with people who were interested in, you know, a project or whatever. And coming out of that meeting, I would hear from my agents that people were disappointed because I wasn’t actually a wackadoo like Sydney.”

“They were like, you know, we were expecting Sydney, and it was just, like, a normal person,” she remembered. “And I thought, oh, that’s weird. I don’t know that I need to go into meetings and act a certain way … I can play other characters, but some people don’t have that imagination, I guess.”

Leighton’s role as Sydney was her first major acting job. She began as a guest star in season 1 and became a full-time cast member over time. She appeared in 125 episodes from 1993 to 1997 and caused lots of mischief and mayhem on the nighttime soap. In 1994, she and her costars Heather Locklear and Andrew Shueshared a PEOPLE cover.

Even though the show has been off the air since 1999, Leighton said the series is still “top of mind” for people, and strangers often recognize her for it.

Laura Leighton for ‘Melrose Place’ in the ’90s.RGR Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

MELROSE PLACE LAURA LEIGHTON

RGR Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

Leighton also reflected on the challenge of aging in Hollywood. “It’s a different business for middle-aged women than it is for someone in their 20s,” she said. But thePretty Little Liarsalumna noted that her career “drive” is also different now.

“I had a lot of enthusiasm for being that actor when I was in my 20s, and now I just want to make a living and have a nice life and support a family,” she said. “The reasons for what I want have changed, and how I look at things. But it’s definitely the opportunities are fewer and far between.”

In July, Leighton and herMelrose Placecostars Courtney Thorne-Smith and Daphne Zunigalaunched their own rewatch podcast,Still the Place, for the series. Leighton told PEOPLE at the time, “We have the fun of having a show in the ’90s — which was such an iconic decade, anyway — and so we’re watching it, talking about it and talking about how much hairspray there was and the outfits.”A series revivalis also in development.

source: people.com