Leighton Alexander Williams

Leighton Alexander Williams is an award-winning actor, writer, and director based in Brampton, Ontario. He's a graduate of Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School, and of York University's acting conservatory (BFA 2015). Since leaving theatre school Leighton has performed on some of the biggest stages across Canada and the U.S. His most notable achievements in the theatre industry were winning the esteemed Emerging Artist of the Year Award for acting, writing, and directing his play "Judas Noir" (Obsidian Theatre/BDB Production). His breakout performance as "Satan" also led to his first Dora Mavor Moore Nomination, Toro​nto Critics Pick Nomination, and critical acclaim.

Beyond his accomplishments in acting, Leighton is also a co-founder of BDB Productions Inc. As a writer, his debut film "Residue" gained significant attention as it delved into the aftermath of police brutality. The movie received media coverage on Breakfast Television and CHCH News during its successful festival run. Subsequently, CBC swiftly licensed "Residue", making it available on demand via CBC Gem. As a director, Leighton worked on season 2 of the groundbreaking series: "21 Black Futures", which featured 63 of Canada's top black artists (21 actors, 21 directors, and 21 Writers). This series won 4 Canadian Screen Awards, including "Best Digital Series", and he was nominated for a Pauline McGibbon Award for his work.

Leighton is a recent graduate of the prestigious Canadian Film Center's CBC Actors Conservatory.

Since graduating, he has starred in a plethora of award-winning series and feature films. His short film "Queenie and Alpha" was well received at its TIFF BellLightbox debut, and led him to being offered his first series regular role, as Jarod in the upcoming comedy "Settle Down" – coming to OutTV/AppleTV in 2025.

For a comprehensive list o​f Leighton Alexander Williams's credits, you can refer to his IMDb page, or follow him on instagram @livingwithlaw.​​​

Adrian Walters, Guest panelist for the Mock Audition

Adrian Walters is an actor and artist, and Brampton native. His passion for storytelling was ignited by the inspiration found in Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in "Blood Diamond" as well as Denzel Washington's performance in "John Q". Studying at the prestigious RAW Studio and LB Acting Studio, he honed his craft, leading to his breakthrough role as Dexter Grant on CBC's "Private Eyes," directed by Charles Officer. Adrian's stage debut as Jesus in Obsidian Theatre's and BDB's "Judas Noir" earned him praise and a Dora Mavor Moore Awards nomination.

His journey continued with series recurring roles in acclaimed shows like "The Handmaid's Tale", Ben Stiller's "In The Dark" for the CW, the USA/Netflix/NBC Universal crime series "Dare Me" and the hit Paramount+ "Star Trek: New Discovery". Adrian can also be seen in CBC's "The Porter"; a series that went on to win twelve Canadian Screen Awards, including "Best Drama Series". On the film front, Adrian portrays the leading role in a film titled "It Comes In Waves". He will be seen as Akai, a teenage boy burdened with caring for his little sister, after their mother's tragic death. Marking his feature film debut, followed by "Out Standing", directed by Melanie Charbonneau, that he co-leads as Daniel Colin. Both films are set to start their festival run in the fall of 2025.

Adrian's commitment to meaningful storytelling earned him a "Best Actor" nomination at the Actra Toronto Awards. With a goal to connect with audiences and serve their highest good, Adrian's work on screen and stage resonates with authenticity, heart, and purpose.

When not acting, Adrian is a co-founder of the award-nominated production company BDB Productions Inc.​​​

"I never expected it to be so exciting. I am inspired. The most valuable parts were watching the talent, followed by the redirects/modifications suggested by the mentor and the improving upon it after the feedback. A great way of trying something new that you never dreamt of before." - Aswani

"There was a lot of information that I didn't realize was important in auditioning. It definitely helped me. The most valuable parts were how to enter and exit an audition room, resumes and agencies, calming your nerves and redirections. It really opens your eyes to the audition process in the industry. It made me more aware of how I present myself." - Braya

"It was an amazing workshop. Really got to learn a lot from Leighton. All the tips and techniques taught will surely guide us in the future. The most valuable parts were the tricks to calm our nerves, the exercises suggested before any auditions, and the experience of mock audition in the end was remarkable, giving us actual exposure to perform in front of such great panelists." - Participant

"The program exceeded my expectations. It was a very well-organized intensive that brought me from a beginner to feeling confident about auditioning for a production in the future. The intensive really helped me better understand how to breakdown the monologue and perform it effectively. The most valuable parts were Leighton's coaching. He has a natural gift for giving supportive and constructive advice while maintaining a safe and comfortable environment. I also found it valuable working in a class with people performing different styles of monologues because the coaching and notes they received were beneficial to me as well. I left the intensive feeling more self-assured and confident in my newfound skillset." - Natasha​