Actress Tika Sumpter originated the role of Layla Williamson onscreen July 15, 2005, playing the role regularly through September 14, 2010. Sumpter reappeared in the role November 9–10, 2010, and January 21 and 24, 2011.
Character history
When Sumpter originates the role in 2005, Layla arrives in fictional Llanview to live with her sister, then-Assistant District AttorneyEvangeline "Vange" Williamson after pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. She quickly gets a job as a waitress at Capricorn nightclub, then-owned by Antonio Vega. Antonio and Layla become friends, and Layla moves in with Antonio while he was engaged in a custody battle for his daughter Jamie Vega with her maternal grandfather R. J. Gannon. Layla pretends to be Antonio's girlfriend, and the two gain him full custody of her. Layla takes a secretarial job at Buchanan Enterprises, soon dating suave boxing promoterVincent Jones. Vincent manages Cristian "Cris" Vega, later fixing a fight for Cris to lose. Layla eventually finds out and she dumps Vincent. In 2007, Layla co-founds the Exposed fashion line alongside Adriana Cramer. They soon hire attractive former baseball playerTate Harmon to model the male underwear line. Layla is devastated when Evangeline falls into a coma following a deadly hate crime instigated by Tate. Tate eventually holds Layla and Vincent, Adriana and Rex Balsom hostage on the rooftop of the Palace Hotel. They were, however, rescued by police officer Talia Sahid. Layla and Vincent renewed their romance briefly before she breaks up with him again and Vincent leaves Llanview. In 2007, Layla and Talia moved in together after Evangeline's condition remained unchanged, along with Sarah Roberts. By 2009, Sarah leaves town and Talia dies in a police-involved shooting, leading friend Cristian and police officer Oliver "Fish" Fish to move in to offset Layla's housing costs. After a one-night stand, Layla begins to date Fish but begins believe him to be gay. While at the gym, Layla encounters Kyle Lewis, she begins to suspect Fish and Kyle had a romantic relationship. When Layla shares her suspicion with fellow roommate Cristian, Cristian tells Layla he encountered the two kissing outside of the gym. At the apartment, Fish arrives home with a bottle of wine ready to celebrate their relationship. But, Layla rebuffs his advances and the two end their brief romance. In June 2010, Cristian and Layla engage to marry, and in July, plan to visit Layla's mother Lisa Williamson to share the news. They travel to Maryland to visit Lisa and face tragedy when Evangeline falls ill. Layla and her mother, after a final eulogizing testimonial to her comatose sister, remove Evangeline with her from life support and she dies. In the late fall of 2010, Layla and Cris are forced to postpone their engagement as Layla gets an offer to work inParis with her good friend, Adriana Cramer. Layla and Cris struggle with their long distance romance and in her absence, Cris connects with Gigi Morasco. While in Paris on an art business meeting, Cris and Layla are reunited, but after a brief resumption of their romance decide to call their engagement off with Layla remaining in Paris.
