Laya Deleon Hayes is a talented actress and voiceover artist, currently starring in the CBS series "The Equalizer" alongside Queen Latifah.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas, Hayes developed a passion for performing through her participation in school plays and talent shows.
She trained at Hart and Soul studio in Dallas before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, booking her breakout role as the titular character in the BAFTA, Emmy, and Peabody Award-nominated animated series "Doc McStuffins" at just nine years old.
Hayes' impressive television credits include "Just Add Magic," "Liv & Maddie," and "Raven's Home," as well as guest-starring roles in "Cougar Town," "Grey's Anatomy," "Quantico," and "Code Black."
In addition to her on-screen work, Hayes has established a successful voiceover career, lending her voice to projects such as "Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny," "Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie," and the popular video game series League of Legends, in which she voiced the Iron Maiden.
Upcoming films include the lead role in "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" and a starring role in the independent film "40," opposite Imani Hakim.
Hayes is an advocate for equal rights and social justice, using her social media platforms to raise awareness and propel conversation forward on issues such as women's rights, body positivity, and equality for all.
She has volunteered at the Indianapolis Children's Hospital, read to children, and helped feed the homeless at the Los Angeles Mission. Hayes has also participated in anti-bullying campaigns, including Say-NO Bullying and Free2Luv, and has walked the runway in the Grace Rose Foundation annual fashion show to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis.
In her free time, Hayes enjoys rollerblading, baking with her friends and family, fashion, singing, traveling, and sketch drawing. She loves theater, watching movies, and creating films and videos, and hopes to develop, write, direct, and produce her own projects in the future.
