Leah Lewis
Quick Facts
Biography
Leah Lewis (born December 9, 1996) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Georgia "George" Fan in The CW series adaptation of Nancy Drew (2019–2023) and Ellie Chu in the Netflix comedy-drama film The Half of It (2020). She also has starred in her voice lead role as Ember Lumen in the Pixar animated film Elemental (2023).
Early life and education
Lewis was adopted from an orphanage in Shanghai when she was eight months old and raised in Windermere, Florida. Her younger, non-biologically related sister, Lydia, was later adopted from the same orphanage. Their parents, Frederick and Lorraine Lewis, are both realtors.
Leah discovered performing arts at Crenshaw School in Orlando, Florida. She also attended Thornebrooke Elementary School in Ocoee, Florida; she also attended Southwest Middle School in Orlando, Florida as well as Gotha Middle School. She and her mother moved back and forth between Los Angeles and Orlando during her teen years. At 17, she went back to Orlando to finish high school at Olympia High School and then moved back to Los Angeles by herself at 20.
Career
At a young age, Lewis started acting in commercials. Once her family moved to Los Angeles, she acted in the 2012 Nickelodeon film, Fred 3: Camp Fred as the character Spoon.
In 2013, she auditioned for the fourth season of The Voice, singing "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood. None of the coaches turned their chairs, meaning that she did not make it onto the show.
In 2015 and 2016, she was featured in the Disney shows Best Friends Whenever and Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything. She also was a main character on season 2 of the Michelle Trachtenberg-produced Go90 web series, Guidance.
Once she moved back to Los Angeles after graduating from high school, she began booking roles in TV shows like Station 19 and The Good Doctor.
Lewis had a recurring role in The CW series Charmed. She then later joined the main cast of another The CW show, a 2019 TV adaptation of Nancy Drew on which she plays Georgia "George" Fan, based on the original character George Fayne.
Her first major film role was as the lead character, Ellie Chu, in the 2020 Netflix film, The Half of It. Lewis has starred alongside Mamoudou Athie in the 2023 Pixar animated film Elemental directed by Peter Sohn, which she voiced the character Ember Lumen in her main role of the film. She also has joined the cast in the 2024 Paramount animated film The Tiger's Apprentice, where she voiced Räv.
Personal life
Beyond acting, Lewis sings, plays guitar, and does photography. In May 2016, she began dating singer and actor Payson Lewis. The couple coincidentally share the same last name.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Nanking | Banner Girl | |
2020 | The Half of It | Ellie Chu | |
How to Deter a Robber | Heather Williams | ||
2023 | Elemental | Ember Lumen (voice) | |
2024 | The Tiger's Apprentice | Räv (voice) |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Tess | Episode: "The Passion of the Christine" |
Paloozaville | Leah | ||
2012 | Fred 3: Camp Fred | Spoon | Television film |
Madison High | Peyton Hall | Pilot | |
2013 | The Voice | Herself - Contestant | Blind Auditions |
2015–2016 | Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything | Lika | 2 episodes |
2016 | Best Friends Whenever | Alex | Episode: "Girl Code" |
2018 | Light as a Feather | Gabby Darwish | Episode: "Innocent as a Lamb" |
The Good Doctor | Katherine "Kitty" Kwon | Episode: "Tough Titmouse" | |
Charmed | Angela Wu | 3 episodes | |
2018–2019 | Station 19 | Shannon | 2 episodes |
2019 | The Gifted | Young Clarice | Episode: "home" |
2019–2023 | Nancy Drew | Georgia "George" Fan | Main role |
2021 | It's Pony | Max (voice) | 2 episodes |
2022–present | Batwheels | Cassandra Cain / Batgirl (voice) | Main role |
Web
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Sing It! | Sophie Chu | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
Teens React | Herself | 2 episodes | |
Guidance | Liddy | Main role (season 2) | |
2018 | My Dead Ex | Amber | Episode: "The Z Word" |
Music videos
Song | Year | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
"Love Generation" | 2005 | Bob Sinclar featuring Gary Pine |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, Special or Pilot - Leading Actress | Fred 3: Camp Fred | Nominated | |
2016 | Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Actress | Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything | Nominated | ||
Young Entertainer Awards | Best Guest Starring Young Actress - Television Series | Best Friends Whenever | Nominated |