Lea Michele

Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986), known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays Rachel Berry in the Fox television series Glee and made her film debut in New Year's Eve starring alongside Ashton Kutcher. Michele performs in the soprano range.
== Early life ==
Michele was born in the Bronx, New York City. She is the only daughter of Edith, a nurse, and Marc Sarfati, a delicatessen owner. Her mother is Italian American and Roman Catholic, while her father is a Spanish Sephardic Jew. Michele was raised Catholic, and has stated that her father "gladly" attends church with her and her mother.Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2012. Starting at the 9:40 mark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyfCHFy8r-k"Glee Club Glory" Jvibe.com She grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. She attended Rockland Country Day School"EXCLUSIVE: Glee Star Lea Michele's Childhood Photos" May 21, 2010, Radar Online for elementary school in New York and then Tenafly High School. Michele was home schooled one year while working in Toronto, Ontario on Ragtime. She attended Stagedoor Manor in the Catskills, a center for performing arts training. She was then later accepted to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but opted instead to continue working professionally on the stage.
Michele adopted her stage name at an early age; when she went on her first audition, she gave her name as "Lea Michele," and has used it ever since. She has stated that she changed it because she was teased about the pronunciation of her last name.
== Career ==
===Stage roles===
Michele made her Broadway debut in 1995, as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in Les Misérables.Waterman, Lauren."High School Musical: Glee's Lea Michele" teenvogue.com, October 12, 2009"Lea Michelle listing Internet Broadway Database, accessed October 8, 2011 This was followed by the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of Ragtime.Viagas, Robert."Entire Toronto 'Ragtime' Cast Headed for B'way" playbill.com, May 8, 1997 In 2004 (during her Senior Year of High School), Michele played Sphritze in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.Jones, Kenneth."Not Your Zayde's 'Fiddler on the Roof': Leveaux's Fresh Revival Opens on Broadway Feb. 26" playbill.com, February 26, 2004 She also sang on the 2004 Broadway revival cast recording of Fiddler on the Roof.
She played the role of Wendla in Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical version of Spring Awakening, starring in early workshops and Off-Broadway and finally originating the role in the Broadway production in 2006 at the age of 20. Around the same time that the show was set to go to Broadway, she was offered the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables."Diva Talk: Chatting With 'Spring Awakening'/'Les-Mizs' Lea Michele Plus News of Ebersole Eder" playbill.com She elected to remain with Spring Awakening, which debuted on Broadway in December 2006. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Spring Awakening in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Musical.D. Rooney."Musicals pose Tony voting crunch", Variety.com, April 26, 2007
On May 18, 2008, Michele left Spring Awakening with her co-star Jonathan Groff, where they were both replaced the next day by Michele's understudy Alexandra Socha and newcomer Kyle Riabko. She performed in a reading of Sheik and Sater's new musical, Nero, in July 2008 at Vassar College.Bacalzo, Dan. "Arden, Carlson, Menzel, Michele, Robbins, et al. Set for Sater and Sheik's Nero", theatermania.com, June 23, 2008. She portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert in August 2008.Gans, Andrew."A World About to Dawn: 'Les Misérables' Arrives at the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 8" playbill.com, August 8, 2008
===Film, television, and other work===
Michele stars in the Fox television series Glee, where she plays the star singer of a high school glee club, Rachel Berry. She has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for an outstanding ensemble performance and the 2009 Satellite Award for best actress. Michele received the People's Choice award of Best Actress in a Comedy in 2012."Lea Michele Dedicates 2012 People’s Choice Award to Fans, Family & Her ‘Glee Club’" January 12, 2012, Celebuzz She also received nominations for an Emmy Award, two nominations for a Golden Globe Award, and Teen Choice Award for her performance in the role."Teen Choice Awards 2010: Check out the nominees" August 8, 2010, On The Red Carpet In December 2010 Lea Michele received Billboard's First-Ever Triple Threat Award.Glee Legacy at Billboard.com Several of her solo covers have reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Gives You Hell" by The All-American Rejects, "The Only Exception" by Paramore, "Firework" by Katy Perry, "Without You" by David Guetta feat. Usher, and the original song "Get It Right". Michele is the featured lead singer in 14 of the top 25 selling Glee songs as of Feb. 2012. Also as of Feb. 2012, over 70 songs featuring Michele as a lead have reached the Billboard charts, more than any other cast member.
Michele was included in TIME magazine's 2010 list of the 100 Most Influential People In the World.Lea Michele – The 2010 TIME 100, Time Magazine FHM named her No.7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List.Lea Michele – FHM #7, gleehab.com, June 3, 2010. Michele was named to People Magazine's Best Dressed List of 2010 as "The Newbie" and she was voted "2010 Most Stylish Star" by E! Online."Top 10 Stylish Stars of 2010" 1. Lea Michele, E Online She was ranked 28th on the Maxim 2011 Hot 100."2011 Hot 100" May 3, 2011, Maxim She was number 10 on the AfterEllen hot 100 list for 2011. Michele ranked 14th on the 2012 Maxim Hot 100. May 2012, Maxim. Women's Health Magazine placed Lea Michele as the 3rd Best 2012 Summer Bodies. May 2012, Women's Health.
In 2010, Michele joined the cast of the animated film Dorothy of Oz, voicing the lead role of Dorothy Gale. She filmed a role in Garry Marshall's romantic comedy New Year's Eve, which was released in 2011.
Before Super Bowl XLV, on February 6, 2011, she performed "America the Beautiful" with the Air Force Tops In Blue.
Candie's announced in 2012 that Lea will be the new spokesperson for their clothing/footwear brand. "Lea Michele is Candie's new girl", 3news.co.nz, January 13, 2012
==Charities==
Michele is active in charities for gay rights and animal rights. In 2008, Michele was a part of the PETA ad campaign "Buck Cruelty! Say No to Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides"."Spring Awakening Actress Lea Michele Joins PETA Campaign" Broadway World In April 2010, Michele appeared in a PSA for PETA speaking out against fur clothing."Lea Michele Says No to Fur in PETA Ad" eonline.com In September 2010, Michele was honored by PETA for her work for animals."Lea Michele And Alec Baldwin Team Up For The Animals" September 01, 2010, Radar Online
In the support of gay rights, Michele performed at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner in November 2009."Lea Michele Sings 'On My Own' at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner" November 24, 2009, Broadwayworld.com"STAGE TUBE: Lea Michele Sings 'On My Own' at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner", broadwayworld.com, November 29, 2009. In the same month, Michele and Jonathan Groff performed for True Colors Cabaret, a fundraiser in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.Glikas, Bruce. "Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff Reunite Onstage at True Colors Cabaret", BroadwayWorld.com, November 30, 2009
In 2008, Michele performed at a benefit concert, "Alive in the World", to aid the Twin Towers Orphan Fund. Michele has also been active with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For Broadway Cares, Michele has participated in Broadway Barks, Broadway Bares, The Easter Bonnet Competition and The Flea Market and Grand Auction."Bundy, Groff and Ziemba Among Easter Bonnet Hosts; Esparza to Sing" 20 April 2007, Playbill
In October 2010, Michele performed at a benefit concert for The Painted Turtle. The concert celebrated the 35th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Michele playing the lead role of Janet Weiss for the benefit. In February 2011, she performed for The Grammys' MusiCares Benefit in Los Angeles CA."Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele Honor Streisand at Feb. 11 MusiCares Gala" 11 Feb 2011, Playbill In April 2012 performs for The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) at UCLA, 17th annual signature fundraiser, Taste for a Cure."Taste for a Cure" April 20, This Week In Beverly Hills
In July 2012, Michele donated a signed hand print to Valspar Hands for Habitat which was then auctioned off at a charity auction. Money raised from the auction benefits Habitat for Humanity’s disaster response programs, which provide immediate and long-term response and solutions to natural disasters such as the recent tornados in the Midwest and Southeast which damaged and destroyed the homes of thousands. In a statement she said:
“I am honoured to be partnering with Valspar Paint and Habitat for Humanity to help support those who need our support following natural disasters to get on the pathway to recovery,” Lea shared in a statement. “Everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live and it’s a great feeling to know that through Valspar Hands for Habitat, we are bringing hope and comfort to families in need.
== Credits ==
Broadway
* Les Misérables as Young Cosette (1995–96)
* Ragtime as the Little Girl (1998–99)
* Fiddler on the Roof as Shprintze and Chava (2004–05)
* Spring Awakening as Wendla (2006–08)
Readings and workshops
* Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater collaboration (November 2009)
* Nero as Octavia (July 2008)"Idina Menzel and Lea Michele Bring Nero to Vassar" Broadway World
* Samson and Delilah as Delilah"Photo Flash: Lea Michele Makes Her Sold Out LA Upright Cabaret Debut" BroadwayWorld.com
* King as Anisette
* Wuthering Heights as Lucy
* Hot and Sweet as Naleen (September 2006)"Katie Finneran, Lea Michele Complete Cast of NYMF’s Hot and Sweet" 9 August 2006, Playbill
* Spring Awakening as Wendla – Roundabout Theatre Company (2000 and June 2001)"Spring Awakening Workshopped at Roundabout Theatre Company" 13 July 2001, Playbill
Concerts and events
* "Broadway Eastern Bonnet" 2004 benefit performance as Sphrintze (with casts of Avenue Q and Fiddler on the Roof)
* Spring Awakening as Wendla – Lincoln Center (February 2005)
* Unsung 2007: 'Tis The Season To Be Naughty – Lucille Lortel Theater, New York (December 2007)"BC/EF Hosts 'Unsung: 'Tis the Season to be Naughty' Dec.10", Broadwayworld.com, December 9, 2007.
* Alive in the World, benefit concert – as Phoebe (January 2008)
* "Broadway Eastern Bonnet" 2008 benefit performance as Wendla (with cast of Spring Awakening)
* Feinstein's (February, April and June 2008)"Spring Awakening Star Lea Michele Shines at Feinstein's", Broadwayworld.com
* Flopz n' cutz Concert with Landon Beard, Joe's Pub (April 2008)Gans, Andrew. "Cody, von Essen, Michele, McCartney, Rapp and More Set for Flopz n' Cutz 4", Playbill.com, March 4, 2008.
* Les Misérables Concert as Eponine at the Hollywood Bowl (August 2008)
* Upright Cabaret (August 2008)"Lea Michele To Make Hollywood Cabaret Debut 8/15-8/16", Broadwayworld.com, June 20, 2008.
* Broadway Chance Style: Up Close & Personal (September 2008)Gans, Andrew. "Broadway Chance Style Benefit, with Bundy, Michele, Espinosa, Cusick, Presented Sept. 27, Playbill, September 27, 2008.
* Spring Awakening Holiday Benefit Concert – Joe's Pub (December 2008)"Photo Coverage: SPRING AWAKENING Holiday Concert at Joe's Pub", BroadwayWorld.com, December 16, 2008.
*Human Rights Campaign Dinner, performer (November 2009).
* True Colors Benefit with Jonathan Groff (November 2009)
* Glee Live! In Concert! as Rachel Berry; Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City (May 2010)
* Glee TV Academy Event at the Music Box, Los Angeles (July 27, 2010)
* Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary To Benefit The Painted Turtle, as Janet Weiss, Los Angeles (October 2010)Benigno, Anthony. "Halloween gets the star treatment: Lea Michele, Jack Nicholson headline 'Rocky Horror' tribute show", New York Daily News, October 29, 2010.
* Super Bowl XLV – as performer ("America the Beautiful") Dallas, Texas (February 2011)"Lea Michele to Sing at Super Bowl" January 28, 2011, New York Magazine
* MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Barbra Streisand, performer, Los Angeles (February 2011)
* Glee Live! In Concert! as Rachel Berry; 22 cities, 40 shows, 4 countries: US, Canada, England, Ireland (May–July 2011)
* The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) at UCLA, 17th annual signature fundraiser, Taste for a Cure. April 2012
Other projects
* Ragtime as Little Girl, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Toronto, Ontario (1997)
* The Diary of Anne Frank as Anne Frank, Washington, D.C. (2005)Lyon, Tracy. "Washington D.C.", TalkingBroadway.com.
* Spring Awakening as Wendla, Atlantic Theatre Company, off Broadway (May–August 2006)
* Dove commercials as spokesperson (2010)Lea Michele's Dove Commercial YouTube
* Chevrolet commercial, as Rachel Berry: Glee Super Bowl commercial (February 2011)Chevoret Super Bowl ad YouTube
* Nike workout application as spokesperson (2011)"Lea Michele's Nike Training Club App (VIDEO)" 24 March 2011, Huffington Post
* HP TouchPad commercial (2011)"New HP TouchPad Ad Stars Glee’s Lea Michele" 21 July 2011, by Dan Ramirez, webOSroundup
* Candies as spokesperson (2012) "Glee's Lea Michele Is a Candie's Girl! Stylish Star Named New Spokeswoman"] January 12, 2012, E Online
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1998	Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night	Voice for various characters	
2011	Glee: The 3D Concert Movie 	Rachel Berry/Herself 	Concert movie
2011	New Year's Eve 	Elise 	Film debut
2012	Dorothy of Oz 	Dorothy Gale 	Lead role
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
2000 	Third Watch 	Sammi 	"Spring Forward Fall Back" (Season 1, episode 19)
2008 	Around the Block	Herself 	Pilot
2009–present	Glee 	Rachel Berry 	Lead role
2010 	 	Sarah (voice) 	"Elementary School Musical" (Season 22, episode 1)
2011 	 	Rachel Berry (voice)	"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?" (Season 2, episode 11)
2012 	The Glee Project	Herself 	Guest Star (Season 2, episode 1 "Individuality")
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Result	Notes
2007	Drama Desk Award 	Outstanding Actress in a Musical 	 	Spring Awakening
2007	Broadway.com Audience Award 	Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical 	 	Spring Awakening
2007	Broadway.com Audience Award 	Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance 	 	Spring Awakening
2007	Broadway.com Audience Award 	Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jonathan Groff) 	 	Spring Awakening
2008	Grammy Award 	Best Musical Show Album (Original Broadway Cast, including Lea Michele) 	 	Spring Awakening
2009	New York Television Festival Award 	Best Nonscripted Host or Star 	 	Around the Block
2009	Teen Choice Award 	Choice TV Breakout Star 	 	Glee
2009	Satellite Award 	Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series 	 	Glee
2010	Golden Globe Award 	Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical 	 	Glee
2010	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	 	Glee
2010	Gay People's Choice Awards 	Favorite Breakout Actress 	 	Glee
2010	NewNowNext Award 	Brink of Fame: Actor 	 	Glee
2010	Teen Choice Award 	Choice TV Actress: Comedy 	 	Glee
2010	Teen Choice Award 	Choice Music: Group (with Glee Cast) 	 	Glee
2010	Gold Derby TV Award 	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 	 	Glee
2010	Satellite Award 	Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series 	 	Glee
2010	Emmy Award 	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 	 	Glee
2010	PETA's 30th Anniversary Gala 	Humanitarian Awards Award – Honor 	 	
2010	Time Magazine 	100 most influential people 2010 – Honor 	 	
2010	Billboard's Women in Music 	Triple Threat Award – Honor 	 	
2010	Victoria's Secret Sexiest 2010 	Sexiest Smile – Honor 	 	
2011	Golden Globe Award 	Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical 	 	Glee
2011	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	 	Glee
2011	Grammy Award 	Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Don't Stop Believin) 	 	Glee
2011	Grammy Award 	Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Glee: The Music, Volume 1)	 	Glee
2011	Variety Power of Women Award 	2011 Lifetime Impact Honoree – Honor 	 	Glee
2011	US Glamour Women of the Year Award The Diva Next door 	The Diva Next door – Honor 	 	
2011	UK Glamour Woman of the Year Award 2011 	US TV Actress of the Year 	 	
2011	DoSomething.org's list of Top 20 Celebs Gone Good of 2011	Advocate for animal rights – Honor 	 	
2012	People's Choice Award 	Favorite Actress in a Comedy – TV 	 	Glee
2012	Grammy Award 	Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (Glee: The Music, Volume 4) 	 	Glee
2012	Screen Actors Guild Awards 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	 	Glee
2012	UK Glamour Woman of the Year Award 2012 	US TV Actress of the Year 	 	Glee
2012	Teen Choice Awards 2012 	Best Actress in a Comedy 	 	Glee
2012	Teen Choice Awards 2012 	Movie Scene Stealer - New Year's Eve 	 	New's Year Eve
2012	DoSomething.org's Awards 	Advocate for animal rights 	 	
== Discography ==
* Ragtime: Original Cast Recording (1998)
* Fiddler on the Roof: Revival Cast Recording (2004)
* Spring Awakening: Original Cast Recording Grammy Award winner – Best Cast Recording (2006)
== References ==
== External links ==
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Category:1986 births
Category:Actors from New Jersey 
Category:Actors from New York
Category:American child actors
Category:American child singers
Category:American female singers
Category:American musical theatre actors
Category:American musicians of Italian descent
Category:American musicians of Spanish descent
Category:American people of Jewish descent
Category:American Roman Catholics
Category:American sopranos
Category:American television actors
Category:American vegans
Category:American voice actors
Category:Animal rights advocates
Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from New Jersey 
Category:Musicians from New York City
Category:Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:People from Rockland County, New York
Category:People from Tenafly, New Jersey
Category:People from the Bronx
cs:Lea Michele
da:Lea Michele
de:Lea Michele
es:Lea Michele
fa:لی میشل
fr:Lea Michele
ko:레아 미첼
hr:Lea Michele
id:Lea Michele
it:Lea Michele
he:ליאה מישל
ka:ლია მიშელი
lv:Lija Mišela
hu:Lea Michele
nl:Lea Michele
ja:リア・ミシェル
no:Lea Michele
pl:Lea Michele
pt:Lea Michele
ru:Мишель, Лиа
simple:Lea Michele
sk:Lea Michele
sh:Lea Michele
fi:Lea Michele
sv:Lea Michele
tr:Lea Michele
zh:麗婭·米歇爾
Category:1986 births
Category:Actors from New Jersey
Category:Actors from New York
Category:American child actors
Category:American child singers
Category:American female singers
Category:American musical theatre actors
Category:American musicians of Italian descent
Category:American musicians of Spanish descent
Category:American people of Jewish descent
Category:American Roman Catholics
Category:American sopranos
Category:American television actors
Category:American vegans
Category:American voice actors
Category:Animal rights advocates
Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from New Jersey
Category:Musicians from New York City
Category:Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:People from Rockland County, New York
Category:People from Tenafly, New Jersey
Category:People from the Bronx