About Leila

Tall and angular, Gorstein has fun bending herself through her repertoire of right angles and yet her work also comes with the rhetorical rush of a Sarah Silverman-like standup. Most Second City performers are either most adept at physical comedy or at the kind of verbosity that could also work behind a "Weekend Update" desk. Gorstein, who can focus the audience, stoned or otherwise, with just the raising of one eyebrow, can do both.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Leila Gorstein may be one of the most versatile comedians in Chicago today, with a remarkable knack for blending guilelessness and mischievousness in her characters.
— ChicagoOnStage
Gorstein is, for me, the big new e.t.c talent...She’s vulnerable on stage, too, a crucial quality in comedy and one that has been in short supply here in recent years
— Chicago Tribune

Leila Gorstein is an actor, writer, and Scorpio based in Chicago. She grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and was proudly one of four Jewish people there. Leila trained at The Second City, iO Theater, and Annoyance for many years and has performed all over Chicago. In addition, Leila was an actor, writer, and producer on the morning TV show Toon in with Me on MeTV. Leila co-wrote and co-starred in a hallmark parody film called Love Dump with her writing partner and co-star, Jesse Kendall, which was an official 2023 Slamdance Film Festival selection and winner of the audience award at Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. Leila performed aboard the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship with The Second City, toured with The Second City National Touring Company, and wrote and performed in the ETC 47th Revue, Oh The Places You'll Glow, where Leila received a nomination for the Jeff award "Best Featured Performer." When Leila isn't performing, you might find her biking around town or eating plantain chips from Trader Joe's.