“The Equalizer” Actress Laya Deleon Hayes Has Filipino Roots – Her Mixed Ethnicity & Parents

Laya Deleon Hayes, at the age of 17, is proud of her Filipino and African ancestry as he embraces her mixed ethnicity.

She is already has an NAACP award on her bookshelves and a major role on the most popular television program.

Hayes is a mature woman beyond her years and a shining example of the Asian American and African communities, making her casting in The Equalizer ideal.

The voice of Doc McStuffins, the star of the animated children’s series nominated for a BAFTA, an Emmy, and a Peabody Award, was provided by Hayes. Hayes, who signed on for the role at the age of 9, has witnessed the show’s influence during its five seasons, which run from 2012 to 2020.

Quick Facts About Laya Deleon Hayes

“The Equalizer” Actress Laya Deleon Hayes Has Filipino Roots

Laya Deleon Hayes has Filipino roots from her mother’s side and  African American genes from her father. She identifies strongly with both cultures.

She acknowledges the significant role her parents played in helping her come to appreciate both aspects of her ethnic identity, and she speaks fondly of visiting her African ancestors in North Carolina and consuming traditional Filipino foods like babka and lumpia.

Her grandparents left the Philippines and moved to America. Her granddad was a former U.S. Navy veteran who passed away. He is from Mangaldan, while she is from Umingan, and both lolo and lola are from Pangasinan. In the 1970s, they emigrated to America.

Laya Deleon Hayes Grew Up In An Interracial Family

Growing up in a mixed-race home is something Laya said in an interview she is really proud of. Growing up, she was unaware of what it meant or how interracial relationships were perceived at the time because it seemed natural to her and still does, according to Laya.

“When you’re mixed, it can be difficult to know who you are or where you fit in,” she stated.

Being mixed has made it possible for her to embrace her two cultures, which together make her who she is, about which she is continually learning and very proud. She now has the chance to speak for others thanks to this new show.

She Is Very Proud To Depict Her Mixed Ethnicity In the Series

When asked how young girls, particularly Asian/Filipino American and colored girls, will perceive her in this role, she responded, “It means the world to me. I firmly feel that representation is important.”

True life and real tales should be shown in art. Laya doesn’t take it lightly, knowing that young Asian/Filipino or multiracial girls will glance at their screens and find someone who resembles them.

Laya mentioned that she wished there had been a character like Delilah when she was younger, one that was flawed and still needed to grow, while letting the audience know it was good to do so. There aren’t many parts for mixed females that portray a realistic teenage girl merely trying to mature. That is why she values her role so highly.

Laya uses her social media platforms as equal rights and social justice activists to raise awareness and advance the debate. She is also fervently committed to equality for all, body positivity, and women’s rights.

Laya Deleon Parents

Laya Deleon was born to mother Gina and father Kevin Hayes, who are third-generation Filipino and African, respectively. She spent her childhood summer vacations preparing lumpia and longganisa with her Filipino cousins and grandparents.

She would then spend Christmas with both her mother’s side and her father’s side of the family. The actress also revealed that, despite her celebrity stature, her parents kept her grounded.

She was interviewed on the purple carpet at the second annual “GR4CF” Fundraiser and Fashion Show, which was hosted at CBS Radford Studios in August 2016.

On April 8, 2021, the actress discussed her work in The Equalizer on GlitterMagazine. During the interview, she was questioned about whether she was similar to or different from her character, Delilah. She retorted that there were parallels as well as differences.

Even though Delilah and Hayes were both teenagers, Hayes emphasized that while they were similar in age, Delilah was more laid back. She continued by mentioning how special their bonds with their mothers were.

Delilah was very close to her mother, yet they had a strained relationship. She admitted that while she lived with her mother daily, she could not understand Delilah’s connection with her.

Laya Deleon plays Delilah In The Equalizer

It was the middle of the pilot season when Laya Deleon Hayes applied for The Equalizer in 2020, and she was just hoping to land a regular job. But she realized this was more than just another role when she read for the part of Delilah, the feisty daughter of Robyn, a former CIA agent who worked with Queen Latifah.

Given that she has been a fan of Queen Latifah and the rest of the cast since she was a small girl, Hayes calls working with them all an incredible experience.

Hayes is motivated by Latifah’s innovative actions—she is the first colored woman to serve as the franchise’s head. For her role on Doc McStuffins, the popular Disney animated series about an African American girl who runs a hospital for stuffed animals, the young actress received an NAACP Image Award in 2021.

The teenage daughter of Robyn, played by Hayes’ character Delilah, experiences her struggles in changing culture and plays a significant role in concentrating on her mother’s objectives.

Robyn observes Delilah’s drifting away from her childhood pal in one episode. Delilah confronts her mother and explains that, unlike her ex-friend, she doesn’t think it’s worth coming to a demonstration only to post about it online.

In one episode, Delilah meets with a city official after using social media to petition the city to patch a pothole, only to discover that the city was more concerned with maintaining its image than really fixing the issue. An interesting perspective on the domestic sphere is acknowledging performative activism and the struggles that communities of color face.

Some FAQs

Is Laya Deleon Hayes filipino?

Laya Deleon Hayes has filipino roots from her mothers side.

Who are Laya Deleon Hayes’s parents?

Laya Deleon Hayes’s parents are Gina and Kevin Hayes.

What is Laya Deleon Hayes ethnicity?

Laya Deleon Hayes hails from a interracial family with a mixed ethnicity.

Was Laya DeLeon Hayes on GREY’s anatomy?

In the Grey’s Anatomy episode Thriller from season ten, Laya DeLeon Hayes portrayed Taryn Davis.