Lesleh Donaldson

Lesleh Donaldson (born April 7, 1964) is a Canadian actress who has worked in stage and film. After making her film debut in the drama Running, she would appear in several horror films in the early 1980s, which earned her the title of "scream queen" among genre fans. These films include: Funeral Home (1980), Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Curtains (1983), and Deadly Eyes (1982). She also had a featured guest appearance on the Friday the 13th: The Series (1987).

Early life Donaldson was born in Toronto, Ontario. As a child, she studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and appeared in early television commercials for Ford automobiles, as well as print ads for Sears.

Her first theatrical film appearance was in Running (1979) starring Michael Douglas. She then starred in a number of theatrically released horror movies, including William Fruet's Funeral Home (also known as Cries in the Night) (1980), J. Lee Thompson's Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Deadly Eyes (1982) and Curtains (1983).

In 1982 Lesleh was nominated for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Genie Award for her performance in Funeral Home. She also appeared in an episode of the television horror series Friday the 13th: The Series.

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes 1979 Running Andrea Andropolis 1980 Funeral Home Heather 1981 Happy Birthday to Me Bernadette O'Hara 1982 Deadly Eyes Martha 1983 Thanks for the Ride Short Curtains Christie Burns 1987 Hearts of Fire Penny 1992 Hurt Penguins Norma 1994 You Love Me I Hate You Mother Short 2010 What the F*ck Doug E. Doug? Woman in park 2011 Octoberfeast Heather Video 2014 Fall to Rise Melanie The Night Before Easter Janice Sykes Tales of Poe Evelyn Dyck / Woman in black In the Future Love Will Also Multiple (Voice) Short Behind Bars Nancy Short 2017 Swamp Freak Professor Belinda Southworth Voice Role 2017 Witness Protection Eleanor Television film 2018 Abnormal Attraction Anne 2018 A Simple Favor Bus Tourist

Television

YearTitleRole Notes 1979 Hot Wheels TV Short 1983 The Littlest Hobo Natalie Wilson 1 Episode, Second Sight 1984 Special People Robin TV movie 1985 The Undergrads Kim Barrett TV movie Star Wars: Droids Kea Moll 13 episodes 1986 Adderly Dale 1 Episode, Brotherly Love Ewoks 13 episodes 1987 Friday the 13th: The Series Lyla 1 Episode, The Great Montarro 1988 Night Heat Janet Crossleigh 1 Episode, Woof Chasing Rainbows TV mini-series 1994 Street Legal Carol Murphy 1 Episode, The Firm 2011 Joe Zaso's Cafe Himbo Guest Star 2015 High Falls Lulu 3 episodes 2018 The Handmaid's Tale Neighbouring Martha #2 1 Episode, The Word 2019 Jett Sweeney's Sister 1 Episode, "Frank Sweeney"

Stage credits TitleVenue The Diary of Anne Frank Manitoba Theatre Centre Criminals in Love The Factory Theatre The Moundbuilders Equity Showcase Theatre You Can't Take It With You Manitoba Theatre Centre Burn This Manitoba Theatre Centre How Could You, Mrs. Dick Winter Garden & Tivoli Wonderful Tennessee Sanford Meisner Theatre