Topzle Topzle

Leslye Headland

Updated: Wikipedia source

Leslye Headland

Leslye Headland (born November 26, 1980) is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and playwright. She directed the comedic films Bachelorette (2012), and Sleeping with Other People (2015). She co-created the Netflix series Russian Doll (2019–2022) which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. She served as the creator and showrunner on the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte (2024). As a playwright, she has written a string of plays based on the Seven Deadly Sins which include Assistance and Cult of Love, the later of which marked her debut as a playwright on Broadway in 2024.

Infobox

Born
(1980-11-26) November 26, 1980 (age 44)Maryland, U.S.
Occupation
Playwright, screenwriter, director
Years active
2007–present
Spouse
mw- Rebecca Henderson (m. 2016)

Tables

· Works › Film
2012
Bachelorette
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
2014
About Last Night
Role(s)
No
Notes
Yes
2015
Sleeping with Other People
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
Year
Title
Director
Writer
Producer
2012
Bachelorette
Yes
Yes
Co-producer
2014
About Last Night
No
Yes
No
2015
Sleeping with Other People
Yes
Yes
Co-executive
· Works › Television
2010
Terriers
Role(s)
No
Notes
No
2016
Blunt Talk
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
2017
SMILF
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
2018
Heathers
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
2019
Black Monday
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
Almost Family
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
2019–22
Role(s)
Russian Doll
Notes
Yes
2022–23
Role(s)
Single Drunk Female
Notes
Yes
2024
The Acolyte
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
2025
Dying for Sex
Role(s)
No
Notes
Yes
Year
Title
Director
Executiveproducer
Writer
Notes
2010
Terriers
No
No
Yes
2 episodes
2016
Blunt Talk
Yes
No
No
2 episodes
2017
SMILF
Yes
No
No
3 episodes
2018
Heathers
Yes
Yes
No
Executive produced pilot only, directed 4 episodes
2019
Black Monday
Yes
No
No
2 episodes
Almost Family
Yes
Yes
No
Directed: "Pilot"
2019–22
Russian Doll
Yes
Yes
Yes
Co-creator, wrote 3 episodes and directed 4 episodes
2022–23
Single Drunk Female
Yes
Yes
No
2 episodes
2024
The Acolyte
Yes
Yes
Yes
Creator, wrote 2 episodes and directed 2 episodes
2025
Dying for Sex
No
Yes
No
· Works › Theater
2007
Cinephillia
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2008
Bachelorette
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
Assistance
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
Surfer Girl
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2009
Reverb
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2010
Bachelorette
Role(s)
Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway
The Accidental Blonde
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2011
Reverb
Role(s)
Goodman Theater, Chicago
2012
Assistance
Role(s)
Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
2016
The Layover
Role(s)
Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway
2018
Surfer Girl
Role(s)
Foley Gallery, Off-Broadway
Cult of Love
Role(s)
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2024
Cult of Love
Role(s)
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA
Cult of Love
Role(s)
Second Stage's Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway
Year
Title
Premiered Venue
Ref.
2007
Cinephillia
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2008
Bachelorette
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2008
Assistance
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2008
Surfer Girl
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2009
Reverb
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2010
Bachelorette
Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway
2010
The Accidental Blonde
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2011
Reverb
Goodman Theater, Chicago
2012
Assistance
Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
2016
The Layover
Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway
2018
Surfer Girl
Foley Gallery, Off-Broadway
2018
Cult of Love
IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles
2024
Cult of Love
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA
2024
Cult of Love
Second Stage's Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway
· Awards and nominations
2012
Locarno International Film Festival Awards
Role(s)
Variety Piazza Grande Award
Notes
Bachelorette
2015
Nantucket Film Festival
Role(s)
New Voices in Screenwriting Award
Notes
Won
Tribeca Film Festival Awards
Role(s)
Audience Award, Narrative
Notes
Sleeping with Other People
2019
Primetime Emmy Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Notes
Russian Doll
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Role(s)
Russian Doll (for "Nothing in This World Is Easy")
Notes
Nominated
Gotham Awards
Role(s)
Breakthrough Series – Short Form
Notes
Russian Doll
2020
Hugo Awards
Role(s)
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
Notes
Nominated
Nebula Awards
Role(s)
Ray Bradbury Award
Notes
Russian Doll (for "The Way Out")
Writers Guild of America Awards
Role(s)
Comedy Series
Notes
Russian Doll
New Series
Role(s)
Nominated
2025
Primetime Emmy Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Notes
Dying for Sex
Year
Award
Category
Work
Result
Ref.
2012
Locarno International Film Festival Awards
Variety Piazza Grande Award
Bachelorette
Nominated
2015
Nantucket Film Festival
New Voices in Screenwriting Award
Won
Tribeca Film Festival Awards
Audience Award, Narrative
Sleeping with Other People
Nominated
2019
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
Russian Doll
Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Russian Doll (for "Nothing in This World Is Easy")
Nominated
2019
Gotham Awards
Breakthrough Series – Short Form
Russian Doll
Nominated
2020
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
Nominated
Nebula Awards
Ray Bradbury Award
Russian Doll (for "The Way Out")
Nominated
2020
Writers Guild of America Awards
Comedy Series
Russian Doll
Nominated
New Series
Nominated
2025
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Dying for Sex
Nominated

References

  1. Lizzy Goodman: Leslye Headland Is Now Gunning for Our Sex Lives. elle.com, July 29, 2015
    https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/interviews/a29547/leslye-headland-interview/
  2. The Ringer
    https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/2/2/18206883/leslye-headland-russian-doll-bachelorette
  3. Bustle
    https://www.bustle.com/p/for-russian-doll-co-creator-leslye-headland-comedys-next-frontier-is-the-question-of-life-death-15914927
  4. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/theater/18headland.html
  5. Primary Stages
    https://primarystages.org/espa/instructors/leslye-headland
  6. Playwrights Horizons
    https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/players/leslye-headland/
  7. Vulture
    https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/russian-doll-leslye-headland-interview.html
  8. American Theatre
    https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/05/30/leslye-headland-on-sin-certainty-and-harvey-weinstein/
  9. Entertainment Weekly
    https://ew.com/article/2012/02/28/harvey-weinsteins-former-personal-assistant-writes-tell-all-play-sorta/
  10. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/theater/reviews/assistance-by-leslye-headland-revolves-around-absent-boss.html
  11. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Careers/russian-doll-creator-leslye-headland-shows-success-female/story?id=65436427
  12. Elle
    https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/interviews/a19817/leslye-headland-interview-women-in-film/
  13. Playbill.com
    https://playbill.com/article/bachelorette-with-keenan-bolger-waterston-and-herlihy-begins-off-broadway-july-12-com-169933
  14. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bachelorette-sundance-film-review-284486
  15. Assistance
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130222024936/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/175153-Krysten-Ritter-Will-Star-in-NBC-Adaptation-of-Leslye-Headlands-Assistance-Seth-Numrich-in-Talks-for-AMC-Pilot
  16. Dramatists Play Service
    https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=4434
  17. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/leslye-headland-meet-the-new-queen-of-raunch-comedy-59020/
  18. TV Guide
    https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/leslye-headland/credits/379761/
  19. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2019/02/leslye-headland-will-ferrell-fifa-scandal-soccer-chuck-blazer-american-huckster-hbo-1202562999/
  20. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2017/09/netflix-comedy-natasha-lyonne-leslye-headland-amy-poehler-1202173835/
  21. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2019/01/russian-doll-trailer-netflix-natasha-lyonne-amy-poehler-leslye-headland-1202531787/
  22. Variety
    https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/russian-doll-female-driven-narratives-1203124674/
  23. IndieWire
    https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/natasha-lyonne-russian-doll-season-2-interview-1234717686/
  24. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2018/10/netflix-sugar23-anonymous-content-leslye-headland-tell-me-everything-1202480210/
  25. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2019/02/fox-drama-pilot-fannie-weisman-jason-katims-based-on-australian-series-sisters-1202556668/
  26. Variety
    https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/russian-doll-creator-leslye-headland-fox-21-television-studios-overall-deal-1203446063/
  27. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2023/06/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-leslye-headland-1235426302/
  28. Variety
    https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/star-wars-series-leslye-headland-disney-plus-1234587493/
  29. StarWars.com
    https://www.starwars.com/news/taika-waititi-announce
  30. StarWars.com
    https://www.starwars.com/news/future-lucasfilm-projects-revealed
  31. New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/arts/television/leslye-headland-the-acolyte.html
  32. Slate
    https://slate.com/culture/2024/06/star-wars-the-acolyte-sith-jedi-disney-series-visuals.html
  33. Slash
    https://www.slashfilm.com/1675482/the-acolyte-star-wars-series-cancellation-reason/
  34. The Daily Beast
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-acolyte-review-dollar180-million-star-wars-prequel-is-waste-of-time/
  35. www.rottentomatoes.com
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/star_wars_the_acolyte
  36. Luminate Data
    https://luminatedata.com/blog/star-wars-struggles/
  37. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-acolyte-canceled-star-wars-1235978593/
  38. ComingSoon.net
    https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1753318-star-wars-the-acolyte-review-bombed-metacritic-rotten-tomatoes-reviews
  39. Wired
    https://www.wired.com/story/the-acolyte-and-the-long-awaited-death-of-review-bombing/
  40. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2024/08/the-acolyte-canceled-no-season-2-star-wars-disney-plus-1236044233/
  41. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinereid/2025/09/25/cost-of-star-wars-show-the-acolyte-surges-to-quarter-of-a-billion-d
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinereid/2025/09/25/cost-of-star-wars-show-the-acolyte-surges-to-quarter-of-a-billion-dollars/
  42. Television Academy
    https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/dying-for-sex
  43. "Leslye Headland"
    http://iamatheatre.com/?page_id=248
  44. The Interval
    https://www.theintervalny.com/interviews/2018/04/leslye-headland-on-writing-directing-and-creating/
  45. IAMA
    http://www.iamatheatre.com/past-productions-1/2018/9/5/cult-of-love
  46. Variety
    https://variety.com/2016/legit/reviews/the-layover-review-play-1201843799/
  47. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/layover-leslye-headland-explores-one-921504
  48. BroadwayWorld.com
    https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Trip-Cullman-Will-Direct-Leslye-Headlands-CULT-OF-LOVE-on-Broadway-as-Part-of-Second-Stages-Fall-Season-20240625
  49. The Film Experience
    http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2012/8/25/growing-up-cinephile-by-leslye-headland.html
  50. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/theater/look-out-playwright-leslye-headland-has-her-eye-on-you.html?_r=0
  51. The Cut
    https://www.thecut.com/2017/11/real-wedding-album-leslye-headland-and-rebecca-henderson.html
  52. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2023/11/michelle-williams-dying-for-sex-fx-series-liz-meriwether-leslye-headland-podcast-1235644867/
  53. American Theatre
    https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/05/30/leslye-headland-on-sin-certainty-and-harvey-weinstein/
  54. American Theatre
    https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/05/30/leslye-headland-on-sin-certainty-and-harvey-weinstein/
  55. Nantucket Film Festival
    https://static1.squarespace.com/static/563125eee4b0f4d3fd4bec3f/t/58406424be6594762f5c4f5e/1480614948563/NFF2015+-+Signature+Program+Release+5.13.15+-+FINAL.pdf
  56. Television Academy
    https://www.emmys.com/bios/leslye-headland
  57. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/gotham-award-winners-2019-list-full-1258785
  58. Science Fiction Awards Database
    http://www.sfadb.com/Ray_Bradbury_Award_2020
  59. Television Academy
    https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/dying-for-sex
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.