Trivia

In October 2016, Bracknell revealed that she was suffering from terminal lung cancer. A fundraising appeal to pay for treatment in Germany hit its target of £50,000 within three days. Bracknell has spoken publicly about how she has sought alternative therapies to treat her terminal condition. In the blog post, titled Cannabis and Me: Breaking the Law, she reveals she is making cannabis oil at home to slow the progress of the cancer, saying it is 'as easy as baking a cake'. As of October 2018, she already lived 14 months longer than doctors expected her to. In August 2019, Bracknell said she was in an immunotherapy clinical trial. She died in September 2019 at the age of 55, which was announced on 16 October.

She used an Anglicised form of her Chinese-Malaysian mother's name Li-Er as her stage name.

Daughter of David Bracknell

Mother, with ex-husband Lyle Watson, of daughters Lily Watson (b. July 1991) and Maya Watson (b. October 1995).

Her Emmerdale Farm (1972) character Zoe Tate became the 13th woman on the soap opera to give birth. Zoe had a daughter Jean (played by Megan Pearson), born on 24 January 2003.

First appeared in "Emmerdale Farm", now "Emmerdale" in 1989. She is one of its longest-serving cast members - and her character Zoe Tate is one of the longest-serving gay characters in a soap or serial.

Lives in Leeds, UK. (October 2005)

Whilst still taking the occasional acting role, since the late 2000s Leah trained as a yoga teacher and along with partner, local actor Jez Hughes, teaches Shamanic yoga in Worthing, Sussex. She also is qualified to practitioner level in Reiki and makes and markets her own jewellery.

Paternal granddaughter of Walter (1896-1972) and Eleanor (née Bush) Bracknell (1894-1974).

She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England whose alumni include Terence Stamp, Elizabeth Knowelden, Hugh Bonneville, Rupert Friend, Antony Sher, Daniel Hunt, Matthew Goode, Sue Johnston, Minnie Driver and Julian Fellowes.