Back on the small screen, Leal was a regular on the post-Civil War-set Southern drama series "Legacy", playing Marita Peters, the kind and captivating young woman who has won the heart of industrious aspiring politician Sean Logan (Grayson McCouch) though their taboo interracial romance could ruin his career. Leal's luminous beauty, innocent charm and bright smile were put to good use in her role as idealistic educator Marilyn Sudor on "Boston Public". Putting concern for her students above all and often paying the price for her naivete, Marilyn was among the most sympathetic and relatable characters on the often over-the-top series and was well-liked by her fictional students as well, who not surprisingly voted her most attractive teacher in an extracurricular poll. When "Boston Public" was picked up for a second season following its 2000-2001 freshman run, fans of Leal were pleased to be able to continue to watch the actress work weekly.
In features, Leal co-starred in "Face the Music" (2001), a romantic comedy chronicling the ridiculous lengths a band will go to in order to make it in the music industry. Luckily for singer-actress Leal, and thanks in no small part to her talent and perseverance, her own career seemed to be far from such desperate days,