Leah Jeffries

thumb Leah Sava Jeffries (born September 25, 2009) is an American actress. Jeffries made her acting debut on the American musical drama, Empire (2015) and later her feature film debut in the action-thriller Beast (2022). Quotes I think it’s her intelligence [that I’m most proud of], honestly, because a lot of characters, and I’m not saying that this is how it is now, obviously it’s a lot different in these generational years, but I feel like back then, people, just in general actually, not even in filming, I feel like they always made Black girls like the angry Black girl, the girl that was not smart enough or the really sassy one, I feel like for me to play Annabeth especially, since she has so much intelligence and she’s smart, she has a funniness to her, but it’s also a certain innocence as well, it’s not like, ‘Oh, Annabeth is known as that mean girl, and she’s Black, but she’s very furious, and she’s a bully.’ It’s like a presence that people find comfort in, and not something that they’re like, ‘Oh, Annabeth, she’s that girl because she’s always mean and she’s a bully.’ People that even aren’t Black can look up to her. I kind of like how I have braids because it’s giving both sides. I would love to have my own natural hair in here, too, but I like how I have braids because for girls who have straight hair, [they] can kind of relate, and then for girls who are Black, [they] can also relate because it’s braids, you know what I mean? So it’s like, I’m still showcasing both sides. Even though my skin color is not obviously white, it’s still showing that I can kind of play both sides. It’s like, oh, Annabeth struggles to put her hair up in a ponytail — both sides can do that because it’s straight hair, and it’s a lot, but it’s also, Black girls struggle to put their hair up in a ponytail because they have curly hair. It’s those little things that I feel like really help, and playing Annabeth, it’s like she’s an all-in-one, and I’m grateful that I get to play that because I kind of like to be that. I like to explore and do all things, so that’s the one thing that I really love playing about her. Leah Sava’ Jeffries on Bringing Annabeth to Life in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’;By Sophia Soto on February 6, 2026 My first two self-tapes were braids, and my third audition and chemistry read, I had my natural hair out. I feel really great when I film with my natural hair. It just makes me feel like I can play more of any character, especially strong characters. First, I have to say that my mother [has the greatest influence on me], because I am definitely a mini version of her. We have the same name “Leah” and I love her so much. She is the person who stays up late at night and wakes up early in the morning and does my hair, and she helps me with picking out my clothes, and everything. I’m definitely her mini-me, and people even say we sound alike. And, of course, my grandmother, because she taught my mother everything that she knows. And, my aunties, because when we are together, they share inspiration with me, and even help with my makeup. So, I stay pretty grounded. Leah Jeffries Talks 'Percy Jackson & The Olympians', Natural Hair, And Staying True To One's Self In Hollywood;By Lynnette Nicholas External links Category:Actresses from the United States Category:Living people Category:2009 births Category:Women born in the 2000s Category:African Americans