She attended Immaculate Heart High School and Hollywood High School in Los Angeles. Skye grew up primarily in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and also spent time in Connecticut. Skye's parents were separated at the time of her birth, and she was raised by her mother, having little to no contact with her father. She is the younger sister of Camp Freddy singer Donovan Leitch. Her second name comes from the Isle of Skye.
Her mother is an American who was raised in the Bronx, New York City, and is Jewish. Her father is Scottish born with some Irish ancestry, and grew up in England. Skye was born Ione Skye Leitch in Hampstead, London, the daughter of folk singer-songwriter Donovan and model Enid Karl (née Stulberger). In 2006, VH1 ranked her number 84 on its list of the 100 Greatest Teen Stars. In addition to acting, Skye also works as a painter, and has authored several children's books.
She is also featured in the NBC series La Brea (2021). Skye also guest-starred on several television series, including The Twilight Zone (2002), Private Practice, and a recurring role on Arrested Development. Other film credits include the comedy Fever Pitch (2005) and an uncredited role in Zodiac (2007). She continued to appear in films throughout the 1990s, with notable roles in Gas Food Lodging (1992), Wayne's World (1992) and One Night Stand (1997).
She made her film debut in the thriller River's Edge (1986) before gaining mainstream exposure for her starring role in Cameron Crowe's Say Anything. Ione Skye Lee ( / aɪ ˈ oʊ n i/ née Ione Skye Leitch born September 4, 1970) is a British-born American actress, author, and painter.