Lesli Kay was born and raised in Charleston, WV. Her mother was a therapist and director for the Resolve Family Abuse program at the YWCA in Charleston. Her late father, Dr. Jack Pushkin, was the chief of orthopedics for the Charleston Area Medical Center.

Kay began modeling at age 15 and took an internship at MTV when she was 18. She attended Colorado State University, where she earned a B.A. in theater and speech communications.

She made her daytime debut as Molly Conlan on AS THE WORLD TURNS and earned a Daytime Emmy® Award for Best Supporting Actress. Kay married her love interest on ATWT Keith Coulouris. Kay popped up a few months later to recast the popular, brassy character of Lois Cerullo on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

She then joined BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL as Felicia Forrester and earned her 2nd Daytime Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.