Shimmering Star Spotlight – Peyton Elizabeth Lee
Each month YAYOMG! selects a Shimmering Star to spotlight. Follow along as we shine a light on girls who represent kindness, positivity, empowerment, philanthropy, drive, and confidence. They’re sure to inspire you!
If you’re a Disney fan, you’ll recognize our Shimmering Star for October. She’s starred as the curious and creative Andi Mack, the fiercely independent Sam in Secret Society of Second Born Royals. Now, Peyton Elizabeth Lee is stepping into the shoes of a teenage doctor in the Disney+ reimagining. Doogie Howser, Doogie Kamealoha, M.D!
In our chat with Peyton, her passion for this character shined – it’s clear to us that she not only loves to play Lahela but deeply admires her fictional counterpart as well. It’s important to Peyton to take on empowering roles and tell inspiring stories, and Doogie Kamealoha is definitely the best of both!
The series is totally relatable, filled with heartwarming family moments, first crushes, and friendship feels woven throughout the high-stakes hospital drama. IRL, Peyton makes it her priority to be a kind, empathetic person and is living her dream through her acting career!
Get to know Peyton Elizabeth Lee as she dishes on all things Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., her passion for acting, and the advice she has for her fans and followers!
Get to Know Peyton Elizabeth Lee:
Tell us a little bit about YOU!
PEYTON ELIZABETH LEE: Acting is pretty much my whole life. I’ve always been really captivated by the idea of storytelling and by being able to connect with people miles and miles away that you may never meet.
I love dancing, listening to music, and shopping. I recently started making jewelry with my friends, which I love. Also, baking – I got really into baking during quarantine.
You star in the new Disney+ series, Doogie Kameahola, M.D. What can you share about the series?
PEYTON: I play Lahela Kamealoha, who is a sixteen-year-old doctor navigating her life as a teenager and the very universally human experience of growing up – having crushes, having friends, having relationships, and family dynamics. She also operates as a doctor in a hospital with these adult expectations and pressure, and responsibilities.
The series shows how she navigates those two worlds and finds herself along the way.
Tell us about your character, Lahela, aka Doogie! What’s she like, and what was it like getting to bring new life to the iconic Doogie Howser?
PEYTON: It was really exciting for me to be a part of this reimaging of Doogie Howser. I think there’s definitely pressure that comes from it since it’s such an iconic show with such a large fanbase. It was really important to me to keep the spirit of that alive, and hopefully, the original fans will like the new version of the show.
Kourtney Kang, our creator, really does an amazing job of reimagining the show and bringing it into the world we live in today. It was really cool to have that foundation that Doogie Howser built and then having this modernization on top of all that.
I love Lahela because she’s very strong, very smart, and incredibly confident. She leads with her head in the hospital and her heart in her personal life, and I think that’s so admirable!
Lahela is seriously passionate and talented, but she’s also a regular teen facing everyday teen struggles – what do you hope fans take away from her experiences as well as the show?
PEYTON: I think something really special about the show is that Lahela is a teenage doctor, but you don’t have to be a teenage doctor to relate to her and connect with her. I hope that audiences see our portrayal of Lahela and her experiencing her life and embracing what makes her unique and different, and hopefully people will want to do that themselves, really embrace who they are and their individuality.
How do you shine bright?
PEYTON: I think the most simple and most important way that one can shine is by doing their best to be a good person.
I’d say I try my best to do that every day. I try to be a kind, understanding human, and I think if everyone did that, the world would be a much better place.
The women who inspire me are…
PEYTON: My mom inspires me every day, she’s so hardworking and smart and caring. My grandma and older sister also inspire me. Also, Kathleen, who plays my mom on the show, she’s incredible and brilliant.
I’ve been very lucky to have a lot of strong, great female role models in my life that I’ve been able to look up to.
I am most passionate about…
PEYTON: I’m most passionate about acting and storytelling. This is my dream, and it’s been really exciting that I get to live it!
I feel most confident when…
PEYTON: I feel most confident around people I love and care about. I think with a support system that builds you up, you can do anything!
My biggest dream is…
PEYTON: Really, I’m living it! My biggest dream is to continue being given the opportunity to bring these strong female role models to life and to hopefully inspire young girls to follow their dreams.
The advice I want to share with other girls is…
PEYTON: I think as cheesy as this sounds, just be yourself and embrace the journey, the ups and the downs are all part of what makes you, you!
Can’t get enough of the amazing shows on Disney+? You’ll love catching up with our Shimmering Star from September, Diary of a Future President star, Tess Romero!
