Born in Charlotte, North Carolina and raised in Virginia Beach and Miami Beach, Chyler Leigh began her career in front of the camera at age twelve, modeling for magazines and catalogues. Her success in print later led to national commercials for Coca Cola and Wendy's, among others.

By age 16, Leigh had already completed several pilots (ABC's Wilder Days and the WB's Saving Graces). Aaron Spelling confirmed the young actress' talent when he hired her a few years later as a series regular in the WB series Safe Harbour. She also guest-starred on 7th Heaven in a powerful three-story arc as Frankie, a young, inept mother who adversely influenced the family.

Leigh made her film debut in the Columbia/Tri-Star hit comedy spoof, Not Another Teen Movie, in 2001. By January of 2002 she'd landed a series role on the comedy That '80s Show (from the producers of That '70s Show). After its short-lived run, she was immediately brought to executive producer David E. Kelley and hired as lead in his new series, Girls Club.

After only two episodes of Girls Club had aired, Leigh received a personal phone call from Kelley informing her of the show's cancellation and of his desire to bring her forward to his already established series, The Practice. With only a matter of weeks between shows, she was at work on the set of ABC's The Practice as Claire Wyatt, a new series regular for the 2002-03 season.

Leigh went on to star in the half hour comedy pilot Lucky Us and the drama pilot Rocky Point, opposite Billy Campbell. She also guest starred on the drama The North Shore and, in 2005, starred as Carla Noll in the critically-acclaimed Reunion.
Leigh is married to fellow actor Nathan West. She and West have two children.