My aunt, Debra Leigh… my dad’s sister… has been living in LA, doing voiceover work and trying to pick up some small acting roles (or big ones!) Her latest gig was with Criminal Minds, playing a churchgoer doing the reading in the opening sequence of this week’s episode. She got pulled from the crowd of extras to do the speaking role because See edited note below! – she can do a great Rhode Island accent, having been married to a Rhode Islander for many years when she was younger.
Viewers can hear her voice in the first interior scene, from :20 to about :30, followed by a long shot of her at the lectern from :30 to :35. That’s it, but it was fun seeing her and hearing her voice… unmistakable in any accent!
You can watch the entire opening sequence, but it’s pretty gory from 1:30 onward.
She next appears at the end of an episode of Cold Case, on March 15th. Go Aunt De!
Edited to add: Correction! This was an auditioned-for role… casting directors had seen her at a workshop and contacted her agent to have her read for the part. The accent was optional, and doing the accent well might have been what prompted her hiring for the part. Also, the script ended with the reading, but my aunt added the “The Word of the Lord,” to which one the casting folks responded, “Thanks be to God.” Pretty funny!
In Cold Case, she’ll be playing the part of Mrs. Billingsly, a very angry mother. No lines, but a fierce mean face. For her, that’s real acting!
