is a multi-talented American actor, singer, and writer. She started out on Broadway as a child star, performing in shows like Les Misérables (1995–1996), Ragtime (1997–1999), Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005), and Spring Awakening (2005). (2006–2008). Michele gained recognition for her role as Rachel Berry on the Fox series Glee (2009-2015), for which she was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes and won four People’s Choice Awards, three Teen Choice Awards, and a Satellite Award. Michele and the rest of the Glee cast have received several nominations and awards for their work on the show,
including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and three Grammy Award nominations for songs created for the series. After then, Michele became known for her roles as Hester Ulrich on Scream Queens (Fox, 2015–2016) and Valentina Barella on The Mayor (ABC, 2003–present) (2017).
Early Life
Lea Michele (Sarfati) was born August 29, 1986 in The Bronx, New York City, New York. She is the sole offspring of real estate agent father Mark David Sarfati and retired nursing mother Edith. At the tender age of eight, Michele began her professional acting career on Broadway, appearing in shows including Les Misérables, Ragtime, and Fiddler on the Roof.
She was homeschooling in Toronto when Ragtime was performing there. While in high school, Lea participated in volleyball, debate, and choir, and she also worked part-time as a sales associate in a bat mitzvah garment boutique. She had to take a break from performing in order to concentrate on her schoolwork, but she spent her summers at the Stagedoor Manor performing arts camp in the Catskills. Michele got accepted to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts but chose a professional theatre career instead.
Early Career
Michele’s fortunes improved dramatically after she appeared in the 2006 Broadway rock musical Spring Awakening, written by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik. She was considered for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her work in the production. Upon leaving the show in 2008, she relocated to Los Angeles in search of film and television roles. While in Hollywood, she performed at Mark’s Upright Cabaret in between auditions and bit parts.
Glee
Lea starred as Rachel Berry on “Glee” (on Fox) from 2009 until 2015. The show’s co-creator, Ryan Murphy, created the part for Michele. Michele’s rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl,” originally performed by Barbra Streisand, was a highlight of her time on “Glee.” After being performed in one episode, the cast’s cover of “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey quickly became the most-downloaded song on iTunes. Several soundtrack albums have been made, and in 2010, Michele and other cast members performed at a number of concerts across the country to celebrate the success of the show’s music.
After Glee
Michele has been working on “Glee,” and she also voiced Dorothy in an animated “Wizard of Oz” movie. In September 2012, Lea revealed that she was recording her debut solo effort. On the Billboard Hot 100, her first single “Cannonball” peaked at number 75 when it was released on December 10, 2013. Her album, “Louder,” was published in January 2014, and it featured four additional hits.
The Billboard 200 charted it at No. 4. Lea featured in the Fox horror comedy “Scream Queens” for two seasons, 2015 and 2016. Co-starring with the first scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis. The White House’s #62MillionGirls campaign and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn programme benefited from Michele’s performance on the charity single “This Is for My Girls,” released in March 2016.
Lea’s second album, titled “Places,” was released in April of 2017. The Billboard 200 list placed it at #28 upon its release. In the same month, Michele made her debut on Hulu’s “Dimension 404” as Amanda. Later, she appeared on ABC’s “The Mayor” as political advisor Valentina Barella. The Ellen DeGeneres Network announced in 2019 that Lea Michele would be hosting a wellness and health digital series named “Well, Well, Well with Lea Michele.” Lea’s third album, “Christmas in the City,” was published on October 25, 2019, and she starred in an ABC Christmas film titled “Same Time, Next Christmas.”
Books
On May 20, 2014, Lea published her debut novel, titled Brunette Ambition. She did a lot of book signings in different cities all across the US. It entered the New York Times bestseller list at position #3. You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life, her second book, came out on September 22, 20145.
Accolades
Michele received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress—Television Series Musical or Comedy for her role as Rachel on “Glee” in 2010 and 2011, as well as an Emmy Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010. In addition to a Screen Actors Guild Award and three straight People’s Choice Awards, she took home a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. Lea was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series and two Teen Choice Awards for her role in “Scream Queens.”
https://twitter.com/LeaBRCom/status/1565299220327931907?s=20&t=4vC4qhG_4Flx8grNtRd1KQ
Personal Life
After being paired opposite each other on Glee in October 2008, Lea Michele and Canadian actor Cory Monteith began dating and remained together until his death on July 13, 2013. Cory Monteith overdosed on a “combination” of drugs. In March of 2019, Lea wed Zandy Reich. During May of 2020, she shared the news that she was expecting the couple’s first child.
Michele is active with many different nonprofits, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Human Rights Campaign, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity. She frequently visits children’s hospitals all around the country, where she performs in benefit concerts for the benefit of the patients.
The media often refers to Michele as a “fashion icon.” E! Online named her the 2010 Most Stylish Star, while People Magazine named her The Newbie on their Best Dressed List.
Leave a Reply