Layla Hamilton is a central character in the anime Kaleido Star. She serves as the top star of the Kaleido Stage at the beginning of the series and is widely regarded as an accomplished, seasoned, and highly disciplined performer. Her background includes being the daughter of a wealthy hotel chain owner, who wants her to pursue a career as a Broadway actress rather than a circus performer. Layla joined the Kaleido Stage at the age of fourteen because the shows there remind her of her deceased mother, who loved attending the circus. She is initially presented as a stubborn, cold-hearted, and antagonistic figure, refusing to accept new talent like the protagonist Sora Naegino and demanding perfection from everyone around her. However, beneath this haughty exterior, Layla is deeply driven by a desire to finish everything she begins and a reluctance to rely on others, stemming from the emotional trauma of losing her mother at a young age. She hates crying and tries to handle everything on her own. Her central motivation is to honor her mother's memory through her performances and to prove her own worth, often clashing with her father over her choice of profession. Layla's key relationships include her rivalry and eventual deep friendship with Sora, whom she first rejects but later partners with for the Legendary Great Maneuver. She also has a strained relationship with her father, which she eventually resolves by standing up to him and rejoining the circus. Her development is marked by a significant change from aloof rival to mentor and friend, as she learns to open her heart and accept help from others. After seriously injuring her shoulder performing the Great Mystical Act, she retires from the Kaleido Stage and moves to Broadway, following her father's wishes. In the second season, she returns to challenge Sora for the role of Odette in Swan Lake, ultimately rediscovering herself and returning to Off Broadway. Her notable abilities include mastering several signature circus acts, such as the Golden Phoenix, the Legendary Great Maneuver, and the Fire Phoenix, and she is known for her unwavering determination and powerful stage presence. Her final major performance, the Legend of Phoenix, symbolizes her personal rebirth.