Personal details
- Birth Date: 1980-02-01
- Birth Location: Ohio, USA
- Professions: Director, Writer, Producer
Leigh Janiak, born February 1, 1980, out of Ohio—Mentor, to be specific—kind of grew up with movies in her DNA, thanks to her parents Karen and Nestor. She didn’t just tiptoe into the film world, either; she dove in headfirst with her feature debut, Honeymoon (2014). You might remember that one if you’re into creepy, atmospheric horror—Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones and Harry Treadaway (yep, Dr. Frankenstein from Penny Dreadful) starred in it. That film set her tone, honestly. Not one to mess around, Leigh caught everyone’s attention when news broke that she’d be co-writing and directing a sequel to the cult classic The Craft. That’s the 1996 one with all the witchy vibes that people still quote on the internet. People went wild—horror fans, especially. Besides that, she’s dipped her toes into TV, directing episodes of Scream: The TV Series (which, let’s be real, is a total nostalgia trip with a modern twist) and Outcast, which is based on the Robert Kirkman comic if you’re into supernatural stuff. Off set, she’s been married to Ross Duffer since December 2015. (Yes, that’s Duffer as in Stranger Things—the whole power couple situation.) Leigh’s style? She blends sharp storytelling with a real knack for tension, and she’s not afraid to get weird or dark. She’s one of those directors who keeps horror fresh, unpredictable, and a little bit dangerous.
Graduated from New York University? That’s one of those classic movie trivia nuggets people love to throw around, especially when talking about actors who suddenly popped off in a big film or directors that came out swinging. NYU’s got this rep, right, for cranking out super creative types—some of your favorite filmmakers and actors probably spent a few late nights cramming for finals in a dingy Manhattan apartment. Seriously, check the credits of any indie darling or Oscar contender, odds are good you’ll spot an NYU grad somewhere. And let’s be real, the city itself is like a character in half the movies these folks make, so it’s no shock they come out of school with stories nobody else could dream up. All in all, NYU is kind of a pipeline for Hollywood, whether it’s behind the camera or hogging the spotlight.
February 1, 1980
Konidela Ram Charan
Ohio, USA
45 years old