Leisha Hailey was born on July 11, 1971 in Okinawa, Japan to Robert and Jane Hailey. She grew up in Bellevue, Nebraska. As a teenager she came out as a lesbian and moved to New York City, later graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1991. Leisha formed the rock duo The Murmurs with her former classmate at the academy Heather Grody and played gigs in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and East Village. During the 1990s the band moved to Los Angeles, released several albums and toured with Lilith Fair. Their biggest album Blender included a collaboration with Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Gos; in addition, several of the songs were produced by k.d. lang, Hailey’s significant other for several years.

By 2001 Hailey and Grody changed the name of their duo to Gush. As an actress, she was an extra in the 1997 coming out episode of Ellen. She also appeared in the 1997 film All Over Me and had a recurring role in television commercials for Yoplait . She made her television series debut on Showtime’s The L Word.