She began her career on television during the s before making her film breakthrough in the teen film Fast Times at Ridgemont High Parker and the Vicious Circle Leigh starred in a film written by her mother, screenwriter Barbara Turner , titled Georgia. Leigh starred in the crime drama Road to Perdition and the family drama Margot at the Wedding She had a recurring role on the Showtime comedy-drama series Weeds — and received critical acclaim for her voice work in Charlie Kaufman 's Anomalisa From to , she starred in the Netflix comedy-drama series Atypical , while featuring in the science fiction films Annihilation and Possessor She has since starred in the fifth season of the crime drama series Fargo Her Broadway debut occurred in , when she became the replacement for the role of Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret.
Leigh was born in Los Angeles , California. She changed her surname early in her acting career, taking the middle name "Jason" in honor of actor Jason Robards , a family friend. Leigh's parents were Jewish ; her father's family was from Russia and her mother's from Austria. Leigh is the younger of two daughters. Her older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow, who was credited as a "technical advisor" on her film Georgia , died in Badie acted alongside Leigh in The Anniversary Party.
Leigh had a nonspeaking role in her film debut Death of a Stranger The Execution Afterwards, she landed a role in the film The Young Runaways She also appeared in an episode of Baretta and an episode of The Waltons.
Several television films followed, including a portrayal of an anorexic teenager in The Best Little Girl in the World , for which Leigh dropped to 86 pounds 39 kg under medical supervision. She made her film debut, as a blind, deaf and mute rape victim in the slasher film Eyes of a Stranger. She left school to star in the film. In , Leigh played a pregnant teenager in Amy Heckerling 's high school film Fast Times at Ridgemont High , which served as a launching pad for several of its young stars.
While decrying the writing as sexist and exploitative, film critic Roger Ebert was enthusiastic about the acting, singling out Leigh and writing, "Don't they know they have a star on their hands? She played a virginal princess kidnapped and raped by mercenaries in Flesh and Blood , an innocent waitress pursued by the psychopathic title character in The Hitcher both films pitting her alongside Rutger Hauer , a mentally-disturbed, child-like young woman on the threshold of sexual awakening in the Southern Gothic film Sister, Sister , and a young woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown in Heart of Midnight Roger Ebert included Last Exit in his list of Best Movies of , calling Leigh's performance brave, [ 16 ] though his review of Miami Blues was much less sympathetic, simultaneously criticizing Leigh's ability to play dumb roles and praising her ability to play smart roles.
