KLS is a nice lady but something of a smooth operator...
over time she's engineered her association with the series and in particular josette dupres into slightly more than it actually was.
depending on the time period and storyline "leading lady" status was granted to alexandra moltke, joan bennett, grayson hall or lara parker. at it's best it was never KLS with the possible exception of the three months she played josette as an actual flash-and-blood character during the 1795 period. there it could be argued she was the "lead".
true she did receive an elevation in status when moltke left the program and maggie was brought in as collinwood governess, junior sophisticate and resident ingenue-in-distress. but otherwise it was strictly supporting.
but like i said she worked her time on the series into a very profitable business.