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Laya DeLeon Hayes talks "The Equalizer", growing up in the industry, her new film "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster", and the time a casting director left the room in the middle of her scene!\nAbout Laya:\nLaya DeLeon Hayes currently stars opposite Queen Latifah on the CBS series \u201cThe Equalizer,\u201d and is perhaps best known for voicing the titular role in the BAFTA, Emmy\xae and Peabody Award-nominated animated series, \u201cDoc McStuffins,\u201d which earned her a NAACP Image Award nomination. Hayes was just 9 years old when she booked the landmark role as the first Black animated character on Disney Junior. Laya recently won a BAFTA for her Supporting Role of Angrboda in Sony\u2019s God of War Ragnar\xf6k.\nHaye's additional television credits include \u201cJust Add Magic,\u201d \u201cLiv & Maddie\u201d and \u201cRaven's Home,\u201d in addition to guest-starring roles in \u201cCougar Town,\u201d \u201cGrey's Anatomy,\u201d \u201cQuantico\u201d and \u201cCode Black.\u201d Hayes has established a successful voiceover career, garnering roles in \u201cKung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny,\u201d \u201cHey Arnold: The Jungle Movie,\u201d and most recently, she voiced the Iron Maiden in the popular video game series League of Legends.\nUpcoming films include the lead role in "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" and a starring role in the independent film \u201cA Southern Haunting\u201d as Hany, the youngest sister in a family of recently freed slaves, opposite Imani Hakim. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas, Hayes participated in school plays and talent shows, which powered her passion to perform. She trained at Hart and Soul studio in Dallas prior to moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.\nHayes is an equal rights and social justice advocate and utilizes her social media platforms to spread awareness and to help propel conversation forward. Also, she is passionate about women's rights, body positivity and equality for all. Hayes has volunteered at the Indianapolis Children's Hospital to read to children and has helped feed the homeless at the Los Angeles Mission. She's participated in several anti-bullying campaigns, including Say-NO Bullying and Free2Luv, and walked the runway in the Grace Rose Foundation annual fashion show to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis.\nIn 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. In the future, she hopes to develop, write, direct and produce her own projects.\nFollow the show on social media!\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\nInstagram: https://instagram.com/thanksforcominginpodcast/\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/tfci_podcast\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\nFacebook: http://facebook.com/thanksforcominginpodcast/\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\nPatreon: patreon.com/thanksforcomingin\nYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXj8Rb1bEmhufSBFSCyp4JQ\nTheme Music by Andrew Skrabutenas\nProducers: Jillian Clare & Susan Bernhardt\nChannel: Realm\nFor more information, go to thanksforcominginpodcast.com\xa0\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices