Laya DeLeon Hayes joins Shelf

Laya DeLeon Hayes is the kind of talent Hollywood needs more of

You’ve seen her holding her own opposite Queen Latifah in CBS’s The Equalizer, but long before that, Laya DeLeon Hayes made history as the first Black animated character on Disney Junior, voicing the beloved Doc McStuffins. At just nine years old, Hayes didn’t just book a role—she became the voice of a generation, earning an NAACP Image Award nomination and helping Doc McStuffins land BAFTA, Emmy, and Peabody nods. And her résumé doesn’t stop there: she’s lit up screens in Just Add Magic, Raven’s Home, Grey’s Anatomy, and Quantico.

Hayes isn’t just making waves on-screen—she’s building community off-screen, too. Enter LAYA’s LADIES NIGHT, a dinner series she created to carve out space for women of color to connect, share, and celebrate themselves in an industry where genuine sisterhood can feel rare. Smart, stylish, and deeply intentional, Hayes is redefining what it means to be a young powerhouse in Hollywood, and today we’re lucky enough to unpack some of the media that’s shaped her into the star we love.

ShelfMAG:  What was your childhood comfort show—and what does it reveal about your emotional damage today

@layadeleonhayes: My childhood comfort show was definitely Victorious on Nickelodeon. Honorable mention is Glee (which i was probably too young to be watching). Both of those shows awakened my inner theater kid which I think says enough. 

ShelfMAG: A movie that always makes you cry without fail?

@layadeleonhayes: When Harry Met Sally. Billy Crystal’s famous monologue to Meg Ryan at the New Year’s party always makes me cry no matter how many times I watch it. It’s a classic for a reason! And Paris, Texas which makes me sob like a baby. It’s just so beautiful.

ShelfMAG: A book you wish you could read again for the first time?

@layadeleonhayes: If Beale St Could Talk. It’s a perfect book. I love James Baldwin’s writing. By the time I finished it, my jaw was on the floor. 

ShelfMAG: What song would wake you up if you were in a coma?

@layadeleonhayes: “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. The moment I hear it, I’m UP and on the dance floor immediately!!!!!

ShelfMAG: The item on your shelf most likely to stay there forever?

@layadeleonhayes: Probably Fleabag because it’s my favorite show of all time. I’m jealous of anyone who gets to watch it for the first time. 

Curious about what else Laya is into? Get real-time updates at shelf.im/layadeleonhayes