Leslie hails from the New York City neighborhood of Spanish Harlem,
also known as El Barrio and East Harlem. She attended the prestigious
Hunter College High School where actress: Cynthia Nixon,
producer/writer: Adam Horowitz, and singer: Angela Bofill were also
students.
It just so happens that Leslie attended 3 colleges: Adelphi University
where she was a classmate of composer/playwright/producer: Jonathan
Larson, Temple University and Hunter College where she graduated. She
is listed in Outstanding Young Women of America.
After college, Leslie won a NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)
acting scholarship to study at Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Her
dedication and commitment led to further study with a scholarship from
Marlo Thomas.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, she appeared in numerous plays, most
notably: The Sunshine Boys with Dick Van Patten and the late, Frank
Gorshin at the Falcon Theatre. Leslie made her film debut in: What's
Love Got To Do With It.