Editing Leah Cairns

{{Cast Data
| image=LeahCairns2.jpg
| character=[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
| series=RDM
| born_month=06
| born_day=02
| born_year=1974
| nationality=CA
| site=http://leahcairns.com/
| site archive=y
| imdb=1489668
| sortkey=Cairns, Leah
|image2=Margaret_Edmondson.jpg}}

'''Leah Cairns''' (born June 2, 1974) is a Canadian film and television actress who portrayed [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] in the [[Re-imagined Series]].

Born in [[w:North Vancouver, British Columbia|North Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada, Cairns grew up in [[w:Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops, B.C.]], with dreams of becoming a professional dancer.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_main">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1489668/#:~:text=Leah%20Cairns%20was%20born%20on%202%20June%201974%20in%20North%20Vancouver|title=Leah Cairns|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She was named after a [[w:Roy Orbison|Roy Orbison]] song that her mother loved.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_name">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=my%20mom%20liked%20a%20song%20by%20Roy%20Orbison%20and%20named%20me%20after%20the%20song|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She began dancing at age 3 and trained intensively in ballet, jazz, and tap for 13 years, dancing six days a week until she was 16.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_dance_training">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20started%20dancing%20when%20I%20was%203%20years%20old%20and%20I%20took%20ballet,%20tap%20and%20jazz|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Those dreams were dashed when she broke her back in a car accident at age 16, when she was hit by a drunk driver on the highway in her hometown.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_accident">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=when%20I%20was%2016,%20I%20was%20in%20a%20car%20accident.%20I%20was%20hit%20by%20a%20drunk%20driver|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She spent a month in the hospital undergoing major back surgery, during which her back was wired and rods were placed in her spine, followed by three months in a brace.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_accident"/> Despite returning to dance for one final year, the pain ultimately forced her to quit.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_accident"/>

When her dance team went to the North American Championship for the first time ever in her graduating year, rather than stay at home while they competed, she headed off to [[w:Costa Rica|Costa Rica]] on an environmental research trip, starting an eight-year backpacking odyssey that took her to 36 countries.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_travel_eight_years">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=During%208%20years%20of%20travel%20I%20met%20every%20kind%20of%20person%20imaginable|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> The extensive travel experience profoundly influenced her acting approach, as she noted: "During 8 years of travel I met every kind of person imaginable... I've never come upon a character, that I've auditioned for or played, that I was like 'I don't understand that person' because I've met all kinds."<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_travel_eight_years"/> She spent significant time in [[w:India|India]], including volunteering at a children's orphanage in South India and working on building projects in [[w:Ladakh|Ladakh]].<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_travel">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20worked%20in%20a%20place%20called%20Secmol.%20I%20volunteered%20building%20a%20school|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> During her travels, she also worked as an English teacher in [[w:Japan|Japan]], where she developed programs for teaching toddlers and babies, and worked as a hostess to finance her travels.<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_other_jobs">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I%20worked%20in%20Japan%20as%20an%20English%20teacher|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> Between her travels, she completed just over two years of university credits at the [[w:University of Victoria|University of Victoria]], pursuing a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography before ultimately deciding her travel experiences were more educational than formal study.<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_university">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I%20was%20a%20student%20at%20the%20University%20of%20Victoria|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Prior to returning to Canada, she stumbled into an improv class at an [[w:ashram|ashram]] in India, where she began her acting career after being encouraged by the instructor who mistook her for a professional actress.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_ashram_acting_start">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=I%20showed%20up%20at%20the%20ashram|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She attended the improv night simply because it was the only activity on the ashram's bulletin board that she understood, with all other events being spiritual activities unfamiliar to her.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_ashram_acting_start"/> When she returned to Vancouver, she enrolled in an acting class "just for fun" and realized she was just as capable as the professionals, leading her to seek representation and begin working professionally.<ref group="commentary" name="hadrava_bsg_cz_acting_transition">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-BSG.CZ-exclusive-interview.html#:~:text=I%20enrolled%20in%20an%20acting%20class%20just%20for%20fun|title=Leah Cairns BSG.CZ exclusive interview|author=Lukáš Hadrava|publisher=BSG.CZ|date=February 28, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

== Career ==

Cairns earned her first on-screen credit for her work on ''[[w:The Chris Isaak Show|The Chris Isaak Show]]'' in 2002.<ref group="external" name="famous_birthdays_cairns_chris_isaak">{{cite web|url=https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/leah-cairns.html#:~:text=She%20earned%20her%20first%20on-screen%20credit%20for%20her%20work%20on%20The%20Chris%20Isaak%20Show%20in%202002|title=Leah Cairns - Age, Family, Bio|publisher=Famous Birthdays|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> Her first acting class had been only five years prior, with her very first audition taking place on September 11, 2001.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_career_start">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=My%20very%20first%20audition%20was%20September%2011th%20when%20New%20York%20went%20down|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> 

She has appeared in CTV's comedy series ''[[w:Robson Arms|Robson Arms]]'' and as a regular on the [[w:City (TV network)|CITY-TV]] comedy series ''[[w:Godiva's|Godiva's]]'' as Jenna, a waitress and dancer.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_godivas_role">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=I%20play%20a%20witch.%20My%20character%20is%20based%20upon%20the%20witches%20of%20MacBeth|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> The role was particularly relatable to Cairns, as she had worked in restaurants throughout her travels and continued serving tables in Vancouver while building her acting career, describing herself as "a fantastic waitress."<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_waitress">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I%20started%20serving%20when%20I%20was%2016%20and%20let%20me%20tell%20you%20I%20used%20to%20be%20a%20fantastic%20waitress|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> For her performance in ''Godiva's'', she received a Leo Award nomination in 2006 for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series.<ref group="external" name="wikipedia_cairns_leo_award">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Cairns#:~:text=she%20received%20a%20Leo%20Award%20nomination%20in%202006%20for%20Best%20Supporting%20Performance%20by%20a%20Female%20in%20a%20Dramatic%20Series|title=Leah Cairns - Wikipedia|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Moosehead_Commercial_feat._Allison_Warnyca_and_Leah_Cairns_c._2003.jpg|thumb|[[w:Moosehead Brewery|Moosehead Beer commercial]] airing in 2003 featuring Warnyca (left) and [[Leah Cairns]] (right).]]
She appeared in a [https://youtu.be/BCqZ2qELknQ?si=U1iJ1Nncb7aK7kRW&t=96 Moosehead beer commercial] alongside future ''Battlestar Galactica'' colleague [[Allison Warnyca]], which was filmed during Halloween in freezing conditions.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_warnyca_galactica_interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/allison-warnyca-galactica.tv-interview.html|title=Allison Warnyca GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 1, 2010|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> The commercial featured three women discovering a secret lake and preparing to swim, unaware that three men had the same idea from the opposite side.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_moosehead_commercial_details">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-in-Moosehead-beer-commercial.html#:~:text=three%20girls%20and%20they%20found%20this%20secret%20lake|title=Leah Cairns in Moosehead beer commercial|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=LeahCairns.com|date=March 11, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> The shoot proved extremely challenging, as it was filmed on Halloween day in temperatures around 1°C (-1°C), requiring the actors to pretend it was a hot summer day.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_moosehead_commercial_details" /> The cast had been sent to tanning salons beforehand to achieve a summer look, but Cairns ended up with sunburn, making the removal of tight clothing over exposed skin particularly painful in the freezing conditions.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_moosehead_commercial_details" /> The male actors had to repeatedly jump into the frigid lake with paramedics standing by due to hypothermia concerns, while the actresses had to endure having cold water thrown on them while nearly naked in sub-zero temperatures.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_moosehead_commercial_details" /> This commercial shoot marked the beginning of her friendship with Warnyca, and they later worked together again on ''[[w:I Want to Marry Ryan Banks|I Want to Marry Ryan Banks]]''.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_warnyca_galactica_interview" /> Warnyca described the commercial experience as "my worst acting experience ever" due to the extremely cold weather conditions, noting they were sent to a tanning salon beforehand which resulted in sunburn that made removing their clothes painful.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_warnyca_galactica_interview" />

In February 2003, Cairns starred in the music video "Taking My Life Away" by Canadian band [[w:Default (band)|Default]], which was filmed in a loft underneath the [[w:Granville Street Bridge|Granville Street Bridge]] in Vancouver.<ref group="external" name="damen_default_music_video">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-in-Default-Taking-My-Life-Away-music-video.html#:~:text=In%20February%202003%20Leah%20Cairns%20starred%20in%20the%20music%20video|title=Leah Cairns in Default - "Taking My Life Away" music video|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=LeahCairns.com|date=January 29, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> The song later won a SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers of Canada) Number One Award.<ref group="external" name="damen_default_music_video"/>

Cairns appeared opposite actor [[w:Al Pacino|Al Pacino]] in the feature film ''[[w:88 Minutes|88 Minutes]]'', as well as in a recurring role on the TNT television series ''[[w:Saved (TV series)|Saved]]''. She also appeared in the pilot for the web-based series ''[[w:Sanctuary (Canadian TV series)|Sanctuary]]'', as a character who became the basis of the witches of [[w:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[w:MacBeth|MacBeth]]''.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_sanctuary_macbeth">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=My%20character%20is%20based%20upon%20the%20witches%20of%20MacBeth|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She also starred as Emily Hollander in Season 2 of ''[[w:Kyle XY|Kyle XY]]''.<ref group="external" name="famous_birthdays_cairns_kyle_xy">{{cite web|url=https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/leah-cairns.html#:~:text=She%20appeared%20as%20the%20recurring%20character%20Emily%20Hollander%20on%20the%20Disney%20TV%20series%20Kyle%20XY|title=Leah Cairns - Age, Family, Bio|publisher=Famous Birthdays|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She noted the contrast of this role, joking that on ''Kyle XY'' she didn't "wear a helmet, a rubber flight suit or get naked so its a whole new world for me!"<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_kyle_xy">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I%20don't%20wear%20a%20helmet,%20a%20rubber%20flight%20suit%20or%20get%20naked|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Her most prominent role in film came in [[w:Christopher Nolan|Christopher Nolan]]'s ''[[w:Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014), where she appeared alongside [[w:Matthew McConaughey|Matthew McConaughey]] and [[w:Anne Hathaway|Anne Hathaway]].<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_main"/> She also had a significant role opposite [[w:Al Pacino|Al Pacino]] in ''[[w:88 Minutes|88 Minutes]]'', which included a memorable dance scene that she helped choreograph.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_88_minutes_dance">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=We%20had%20a%20dance%20scene%20that%20we%20had%20to%20do%20and%20that's%20of%20course%20one%20of%20my%20favorite%20things|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> Director [[w:Jon Avnet|Jon Avnet]] specifically sought her out for her dance background, and she essentially wrote her own scene during the audition process.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_88_minutes_audition">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=basically%20I%20wrote%20the%20scene%20for%20him|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Following ''Battlestar'', she appeared in the genre series ''[[w:Travelers (TV series)|Travelers]]'' as Kathryn "Kat" MacLaren over three seasons from 2016 to 2018.<ref group="external" name="wikipedia_cairns_travelers">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Cairns#:~:text=Cairns%20had%20a%20recurring%20role%20as%20Kathryn%20%22Kat%22%20MacLaren%20for%20the%20three%20seasons|title=Leah Cairns - Wikipedia|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She has also founded a production company called Arabesque Pictures with friend Orsolya Szabo, which has produced documentary films.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_production_company">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20have%20a%20production%20company,%20Arabesque%20Pictures%20and%20we%20just%20finished%20our%20first%20documentary|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She has expressed interest in making documentaries about life in India, stating "Pick one...any one.... they all fascinate me."<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_documentary_india">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I'd%20make%20a%20documentary%20about%20some%20aspect%20of%20life%20in%20India|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Cairns has been active in science fiction conventions, appearing at events such as FedCon XVII in [[w:Bonn|Bonn]], Germany in April 2008, where she appeared alongside fellow ''Battlestar Galactica'' cast members [[Mary McDonnell]], [[Jamie Bamber]], [[Nicki Clyne]], and [[Michelle Forbes]].<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_fedcon_xvii_convention">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-at-the-FedCon-XVII-Convention.html#:~:text=On%20April,%2018th%20-%2020th%20Leah%20Cairns%20was%20one%20of%20the%20%22Battlestar%20Galactica%22%20related%20guests|title=Leah Cairns at the FedCon XVII Convention|author=Mirco Neubauer|publisher=LeahCairns.com|date=April 29, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> During the convention, she conducted Q&A panels and shared behind-the-scenes stories, including anecdotes about cast pranks and the technical aspects of filming in the Raptor sets.<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_fedcon_xvii_convention"/>

=== ''Battlestar Galactica'' ===

Cairns was one of the many actresses who auditioned for the role of [[Number Six]]<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_six_audition">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=I%20auditioned%20for%20Six|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref>, which later went to [[Tricia Helfer]]. She expressed gratitude for not getting the Six role, stating "Thank god I didn't get it because I can't imagine anyone but Tricia playing Six."<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_six_audition"/> Her audition for the {{callsign|Racetrack}} role was particularly challenging, as she found science fiction difficult to perform without understanding the universe's context.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_scifi_difficulty">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20find%20performing%20for%20science%20fiction%20is%20really%20hard,%20because%20I%20don't%20watch%20a%20lot%20of%20science%20fiction|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> Her husband helped her prepare by showing her scenes from ''[[w:Top Gun|Top Gun]]'' to understand the pilot dialogue and aerial combat context.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_top_gun_prep">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=my%20husband%20said:%20%22Okay.%20Okay,%20just%20relax.%20You%20need%20to%20think%20of%20this%20in%20a%20different%20way.%22%20and%20he%20put%20in%20Top%20Gun|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> During the audition itself, she accidentally ran into a bathroom door and injured her eye, causing involuntary blinking and tears throughout her performance, yet still won the role.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_audition_accident">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20ran%20straight%20into%20the%20stall%20door%20and%20I%20knocked%20myself%20straight%20onto%20the%20ground|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

She first appeared as {{callsign|Racetrack}} in the [[Re-imagined Series]] season one episode "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]," initially intended as a one-episode character. However, the production team liked Cairns' performance so much that Racetrack became a recurring role throughout the series.<ref group="external" name="wikipedia_cairns_racetrack_recurring">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Cairns#:~:text=Joining%20the%20Battlestar%20cast%20as%20Raptor%20pilot/ECO%20Racetrack%20at%20the%20end%20of%20season%20one|title=Leah Cairns - Wikipedia|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> [[Edward James Olmos]] predicted her return after filming her first episode, telling her "See you next year!" when she insisted it was only a one-episode appearance.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_olmos_prediction">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=Eddie,%20Edward%20James%20Olmos%20actually%20filmed%20one%20of%20my%20scenes.%20He%20got%20behind%20the%20camera%20and%20did%20the%20camera%20work%20and%20he%20was%20like:%20%22Good%20job.%20We'll%20see%20you%20next%20year!%22|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Cairns has expressed a desire for Racetrack to become a viper pilot, noting "I definitely think the first thing I would do is make her a viper pilot. Definitely! I really want to fly vipers!"<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_viper_pilot_desire">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=I%20definitely%20think%20the%20first%20thing%20I%20would%20do%20is%20make%20her%20a%20viper%20pilot|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> She has speculated about her character's psychology, believing Racetrack's hard exterior hides pain, saying "My gut feeling is that she is hiding a huge amount of pain and that the crusty exterior is just her way of protecting herself."<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_viper_pilot_desire"/> Despite her desire for character development, she has expressed concerns about the show's tendency to kill off characters who receive more screen time, joking that she would prefer to stay alive and continue receiving scripts.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_character_development_concerns">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=when%20secondary%20characters%20get%20developed%20more%20they%20also%20get%20killed|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref>

Cairns developed her own backstory for Racetrack, later incorporating elements from fan fiction that she felt improved upon her original concept.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_backstory_fanfic">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=this%20fan%20wrote%20me%20some%20fanmail%20and%20she%20wrote%20this%20story%20about%20me%20and%20Helo,%20Racetrack%20and%20Helo.%20I%20thought%20her%20backstory%20was%20better%20than%20mine,%20so%20I%20used%20hers|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She confirmed that the "urban legend" about her reading Helo and Racetrack fan fiction and incorporating it into her performance was "absolutely true."<ref group="commentary" name="hadrava_bsg_cz_fanfiction_confirmation">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-BSG.CZ-exclusive-interview.html#:~:text=the%20urban%20legend%20is%20absolutely%20true|title=Leah Cairns BSG.CZ exclusive interview|author=Lukáš Hadrava|publisher=BSG.CZ|date=February 28, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She and [[Tahmoh Penikett]] worked to develop an implied romantic subplot between Racetrack and [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] through improvisation before and after scenes, though much of this material was edited out of the final episodes.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_helo_relationship">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=Tahmoh%20and%20I%20worked%20it%20into%20our%20storyline.%20Unfortunately,%20I%20don't%20think%20any%20of%20it%20really%20has%20been%20shown|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

Cairns became a devoted fan of the show, describing herself as "the hugest Battlestar Galactica fan" who refuses to miss the Sunday night broadcasts or watch episodes after everyone else has seen them.<ref group="commentary" name="nuytens_scifiworld_biggest_fan">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/leah_cairns_01.htm#:~:text=I'm%20the%20hugest%20Battlestar%20Galactica%20fan|title=The Scifi World: Leah Cairns interview|author=Gilles Nuytens|publisher=The SciFi World|date=March 21, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref>

== Personal Life ==

Cairns has been married to Kevin Hawryluk since July 24, 2004.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_main"/> She has one younger sister, Lindsay, who was a model.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_biography">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1489668/bio/#:~:text=Leah%20has%20one%20younger%20sister,%20Lindsay,%20who%20was%20a%20model|title=Leah Cairns - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> Her mother works with mentally challenged seniors and her father is a salesman.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_biography"/>

Cairns has traveled extensively, including multiple trips to [[w:Germany|Germany]]. She visited [[w:Berlin|Berlin]] in 1993 and [[w:Munich|Munich]] in 2006, expressing particular fondness for Berlin and interest in exploring the German countryside in future visits.<ref group="commentary" name="neubauer_glotz_caprica_city_germany">{{cite web|url=http://www.caprica-city.de/index.php?seite=artikel&aktion=show&ID=56#:~:text=I've%20been%20to%20Germany%20twice|title=Nice Ass: An Exclusive Interview with Leah Cairns|author=Mirco Neubauer & Peter Glotz|publisher=Caprica City|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> She also had a memorable experience visiting [[w:Prague|Prague]], where a visa mix-up at the border resulted in her and a friend being issued what turned out to be fake visas by border guards, leading to complications on both entry and exit from the [[w:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]].<ref group="commentary" name="hadrava_bsg_cz_prague_visa_story">{{cite web|url=http://www.leahcairns.com/Leah-Cairns-BSG.CZ-exclusive-interview.html#:~:text=No%20I%20didn't%20like%20Prague.%20I%20LOVED%20it|title=Leah Cairns BSG.CZ exclusive interview|author=Lukáš Hadrava|publisher=BSG.CZ|date=February 28, 2008|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref> Despite the bureaucratic difficulties, she "LOVED" Prague and described the architecture as the most beautiful she had ever seen.<ref group="commentary" name="hadrava_bsg_cz_prague_visa_story"/>
[[File:BTS - Leah Cairns with Godiva.jpg|thumb|Leah Cairns with her chihuahua, Godiva, during filming of the [[Re-imagined Series]].]]
Cairns' hobbies include scuba diving, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing and salsa dancing.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_biography"/> She owns a long-haired chihuahua named "Godiva," who appeared with Cairns in the film ''Coffee Diva'' and received an IMDb credit.<ref group="external" name="imdb_leah_cairns_trivia">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1489668/trivia/#:~:text=Leah%20owns%20a%20long-haired%20chihuahua%20named%20%22Godiva%22|title=Leah Cairns - Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=August 10, 2025}}</ref> The dog was named after her ''Godiva's'' role, as she received the pet and booked the show on the same day.<ref group="commentary" name="damen_cairns_galactica_interview_dog_naming">{{cite web|url=http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003-interviews/leah-cairns-galactica.tv-interview.html#:~:text=I%20booked%20the%20show,%20and%20got%20the%20dog%20hours%20apart,%20and%20my%20mom%20was%20so%20excited%20for%20me,%20that%20her%20daughter%20finally%20got%20a%20fulltime%20acting%20job|title=Leah Cairns GALACTICA.TV interview|author=Marcel Damen|publisher=Galactica.TV|date=August 27, 2007|accessdate=August 10, 2025|archive=Y}}</ref>

On February 9, 2020, she informed her fans of her fight with stage 3 breast cancer, which she had been diagnosed with after starting her first acting job since ''Travelers''. Attributing a supportive cast and crew on that production for helping her while undergoing chemotherapy, she was able to complete her work there. As of that announcement, she noted that she had finished 3 of the 8 chemotherapy treatments, which would segue into surgery, radiation treatment, and an additional 17 weeks of post-surgery treatments.<ref>{{cite_web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B8WsefhBNzL/?igshid=h08kdvagg10l|title=Leah Cairns Instagram Cancer Announcement|date=09 February 2020|accessdate=09 February 2020|last=Cairns|first=Leah}}</ref>

== References ==

=== External Sources ===
{{reflist|group=external}}

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
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== External Links ==

[[de:Leah Cairns]]