Merit Leighton

from The Daily Shuffle: February 2020

Stephen Oyoung

A fan favorite on Netflix’s Alexa & Katie, Merit Leighton delivers both hilarious and heartfelt moments. We caught up with the actress to talk about the latest season, future goals and more!

words by VANESSA SALLES photos by GLITTERGURU hair & make up by JAMI COX

Tell us about season three of Alexa & Katie! What should fans be expecting to see this season? The girls are officially in their Junior year! It’s so much fun to watch these characters grow up and get into some crazy, funny situations! Look out for the episode with the play, it’s my favorite!

Any memorable moments from set that you can share with us? It’s a big family vibe! Being on A&K this season was like my second home! I turned 17 on set this year, and to celebrate, the show got me a dairy-free gluten-free cake that tasted amazing. I had a blast hanging with my bestie Finn Carr who plays Jack every day; our families are really close.

What kind of storylines do you want to see be explored for Hannah? Oh, I could see all sorts of things happening. I think it would be great if Hannah got glasses (because I wear glasses and that would be easier lol). If she got to babysit Jack regularly, that would mean more scenes with Finn, which would be fantastic.

If you could have anyone guest-star on the show, who would it be, and what kind of role would they have? I’d say it’s a tie between Baekhyun from EXO and IU. They are both very talented idols and actors. Baekhyun could guest star as a Korean teacher, and IU would make a great rich and overly eager friend to Jennifer. The show definitely showcases the power of friendship; how would you describe the power and importance of friendship during difficult times? Friendship during difficult times is a test. If the friendship survives it, then you are fortunate. Having people that stand by your side through sickness and health are hard to find, and I have been disappointed when people I thought were true friends turned out not to be when I needed them most. This is one of the reasons why this show is so important. When someone is battling an illness or having hard times, they need so much love and support to get through. So I hope that when the audience watches this show and sees what it means to be a true friend, then maybe more real-life Alexa and Katie friendships will exist. That would make the world a kinder place.

Any big things on your 2020 bucket list? To focus on health and relaxation and, hopefully, do a LOT of voice-over work. Voicing Frosta on She-ra and The Princesses of Power has been a magical experience, and I can’t wait to do more, so that’s a big goal. Also, starting a regularly scheduled Twitch channel is on the list too!

Any special message to your fans? Take care of yourself, eat well, stay warm, and be happy. Thank you so much for supporting my dreams. I am so grateful to each one and every one of you, sending virtual hugs to all.