Leslie Louise Bibb was born on November 17, 1974, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and raised in Nelson County, Virginia. She moved with her mother to Richmond, Virginia, after her father’s death when she was three years old. She attended an all-girls private school, Saint Gertrude High School. In 1990, she won a nationwide modeling search on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which led to a modeling contract with Elite Agency.
Bibb briefly attended the University of Virginia before moving to New York City to pursue her modeling career. She later studied acting at William Esper Studio for three years. Her early television work included appearances in shows like Pacific Blue and Home Improvement in 1996. She had recurring roles in ER and Suddenly Susan.
Bibb landed her first leading television role in 1999 in the NBC series Popular, where she played Brooke McQueen. This role brought her significant recognition and a Teen Choice Award nomination. After Popular ended, she appeared in several television series, including Line of Fire and Crossing Jordan.
Bibb’s film career began with supporting roles in films like Private Parts (1997). She gained more prominent roles in films such as The Skulls (2000) and See Spot Run (2001). She has since appeared in a variety of film genres, from comedies to action films.