Leah Remini

Leah Remini is an actress, author, producer, and activist whose career spans more than three decades in Hollywood. Remini gained early exposure through various television appearances before her breakthrough role in "The King of Queens," which established her as a household name. She starred as Carrie Heffernan on the long-running CBS comedy series and later co-hosted "The Talk." Remini also reunited with co-star Kevin James in CBS's "Kevin Can Wait" as Vanessa Cellucci. In 2026, she joined the cast of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Remini's involvement with the Church of Scientology began in childhood through her mother and continued for more than three decades until her public departure. Following her exit, Remini became a vocal ex-member, alleging systemic abuses, financial exploitation, and disconnection policies that severed family ties. She released "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," a memoir about her experience with Scientology and her reasons for leaving. The book reached number one on The New York Times bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction.

As creator and executive producer of the A&E Network nonfiction docuseries "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," Remini investigated the Church of Scientology. The show became the highest-rated premiere for A&E in two years and received multiple awards across its three seasons, including two Emmy Awards, the Critics' Choice Real TV Impact Award, the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming, the Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television, and the IDA Truth to Power Award. The documentary series highlighted Remini's transition from actress to activist and contributed to public conversations about accountability and healing within religious organizations.

Remini has continued her advocacy work beyond "Scientology and the Aftermath," speaking out about abuse and harassment and supporting the Time's Up movement. She also hosted the podcast "Scientology: Fair Game," which further extended her platform for exposing alleged abuses within the organization. Remini filed a lawsuit alleging harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation by Scientology leaders. The lawsuit for harassment and defamation has survived legal challenges and continues to move through the courts. Remini's work in television, publishing, and advocacy has contributed to ongoing discussions about institutional accountability and the entertainment industry's role in social change.