Pop Culture Unplugged • Cast Interviews

Jordan Leftwich Talks Coven Academy, Sasha’s Shocking Family Twist and Her Season 2 Hopes

The actress opens up about finding the heart beneath Sasha’s guarded exterior, building her supernatural powers and the reveal that could reshape her future.

By Elias | Pop Culture Unplugged

Spoiler warning: This article and interview discuss major storylines and reveals from Coven Academy Season 1.

For Jordan Leftwich, playing Sasha in Coven Academy meant looking beyond the character’s fierce first impression. Underneath the rules, loyalty and caution is someone trying to protect the stability she has fought to hold onto.

Joining Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged, Leftwich discussed the audition that led her to Sasha, the cast’s growing chemistry and the family revelation that leaves her character with some difficult choices ahead. She also shared how her own life experiences shaped her determination to pursue a career in entertainment.

The Audition That Took an Unexpected Turn

Leftwich’s road to Sasha began with an audition for Brier. After chemistry reads and callbacks, the team asked her to try a different character—and the name immediately got her thinking about who Sasha might be.

She recalled dressing for the part and posting a manifestation TikTok before eventually landing the role. Once filming began, her understanding of Sasha kept evolving as more of the story came into view.

“Sasha started to build with me and I started to build Sasha.”

Rather than having every detail settled at the beginning, Leftwich found pieces of the character along the way, even considering Sasha’s zodiac sign as she developed her performance.

Why Sasha’s Guarded Exterior Matters

One of Leftwich’s priorities was making sure Sasha’s caution had emotional weight. Her parents’ divorce and the possible loss of her brother inform the way she approaches friendship, rules and the coven.

“I wanted to make sure that people didn’t view Sasha as a mean girl.”

That perspective also helps explain Sasha’s changing relationship with Brier. Learning more about Brier’s experiences gives Sasha a reason to move past suspicion and offer support. Leftwich sees their connection growing as the characters begin to understand each other’s pain.

Bringing Sasha’s Powers to Life

Sasha’s mind-reading and ability to influence others gave Leftwich another part of the character to help shape. During the pilot, she worked on gestures that could communicate a connection from one mind to another, while the visual effects would add another layer to the performance.

She described being asked to hold a long blink before opening her eyes into a stare. Seeing the visual possibilities made the moment even more exciting—and brought Storm to mind as a reference.

The Brother Reveal That Changes the Stakes

Finding out that Sasha’s brother is a vampire was a major moment for Leftwich, too. Because scripts arrived as filming progressed, she recalled asking the team who would play her brother while waiting for more details.

The reveal challenges the foundation of Sasha’s earlier choices. If an event helped make her so committed to following the rules, discovering that she did not understand the full truth could change how she moves forward.

Asked what she would want from a possible second season, Leftwich hoped Sasha and Mason could have an honest conversation and work out their next step together. Sasha’s search for the Elixir of Life adds another question: who would she ultimately choose to help?

“I’m really curious because there’s a lot of ways I can go.”

At the time of the interview, Leftwich said she was unaware of a Season 2 announcement. Her comments reflect what she hopes to explore if the show returns.

Finding a Rhythm With the Cast

As the season progressed, Leftwich said working with her fellow cast members became increasingly instinctive. The performers learned what each other needed in a scene, developing a rhythm that helped their on-screen relationships feel connected.

She also described the experience of working alongside someone with more television experience as a chance to grow. Bouncing off another actor made both the performance and the connection stronger.

Support extended beyond the scenes themselves. Leftwich credited Tiffany with sharing advice and spoke warmly about the women directing the episodes after the pilot, describing a set where encouragement could make a difference on a difficult day.

The Quiet Scene She’s Proud Of

When asked to choose a Sasha moment that meant something to her, Leftwich pointed to searching through a book for the Elixir of Life. During a busy filming day, she was asked to deliver a brief, emotionally intense insert.

Her memory of the scene centered on a single tear beginning to form just before the cut. For a character who often stays quiet and observes, that small expression offered a glimpse of what Sasha was carrying inside.

A Personal Drive to Keep Going

Leftwich’s interest in acting began while watching shows such as Jessie and Good Luck Charlie. Already modeling at a young age, she remembered telling her mother that she wanted to be on television.

She also shared that living with Crohn’s disease—and experiencing a flare-up that led to roughly a month in the hospital when she was younger—changed the way she thought about her ambitions.

“I really want to live my life to the fullest.”

That determination carries into both acting and modeling. Near the end of the conversation, Leftwich also shared her excitement about a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show opportunity, describing it as something she had dreamed about since childhood.

Sasha’s loyalty and her family ties now leave plenty for fans to debate. Would she put saving her brother first, or would her commitment to the coven guide her decision?