She is best known for playing the roles of Dr. Casey Reed on The Young and the Restless (1978 to 1981, return appearances from 1984 to 1998), Shirley Pickett on General Hospital (1983), and Ginger Dawson on Days of Our Lives (1991 to 1992).
She appeared in stage productions of The Taming of the Shrew, Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
[3] Leighton guest starred on The Blue Knight, Baretta, Barnaby Jones, Switch, and Rosetti and Ryan.
[7][8] She played Shirley Pickett, a love interest for Luke (Anthony Geary) on the ABC soap opera General Hospital in 1983.
[1] She met actor Corey Young through their mutual publicist and they began a relationship after he escorted her to a charity ball.