Lea Michele

Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986), known by her stage name Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working as a child actress on Broadway in shows like Ragtime and Les Misérables. She was the first person to play the character Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and now plays Rachel Berry in the Fox television series Glee.

 Early life 
Michele was born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1986. Her mother is Edith Sarfati, a nurse, and her father is Marc Sarfati, a deli owner. Michele's mother is Italian American and Roman Catholic, while her father is a Spanish Sephardic Jew. Michele grew up in New York City and Tenafly, New Jersey. She went to Rockland County Day School  for elementary school in New York and then Tenafly High School. Michele was home schooled one year while working in Toronto Canada on Ragtime. She went to Stagedoor Manor in the Catskills, a performing arts training center. She was then later accepted to the CAP21 program at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but instead continued working on stage.

 Career 
At eight years old, Michele went with a friend to an open casting call for a musical. She decided on a whim she wanted to try out. She was offered the part and made her debut on Broadway in 1995 as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in the New York City showing of Les Misérables. Then, in 1998, she played Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the original Broadway cast of Ragtime. In 2004, Michele played Shprintze and Chava in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. She also sang on the 2003 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 to Off-Broadway and finally playing the role in the Broadway production 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 decided to remain with Spring Awakening, which debuted on Broadway in December 2006. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her acting 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 co-star Jonathan Groff. She acted 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, 23 June 2008. From August 8–August 10, 2008, she played Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert. She sings on the original Broadway cast recordings of Ragtime and Spring Awakening.

Michele stars in the Fox television series Glee, where she plays the star singer of a high school glee club, Rachel Berry. The pilot debuted on May 19, 2009. She has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding ensemble performance and the 2009 Satellite Award for best actress. 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. Her cover of The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached the top 40 on the US Billboard 200."'Glee Cover Takes Top Spot In Ireland", digitalspy.com Michele is the lead singer in 14 of the top 20 selling Glee songs as of 2010.  

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 #7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List, which was the highest ranking for a new entry on the list that year.Lea Michele – FHM #7 , gleehab.com, 3 June 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.

Before Super Bowl XLV, on February 6, 2011, she performed "America the Beautiful" with the Air Force Tops In Blue. 

In 2011, Michele made her feature film debut in Garry Marshall’s romantic comedy movie, New Year’s Eve. In 2013, she starred in the animated movie Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, voicing the lead role of Dorothy Gale. 

On September 18, 2012, it was announced that Michele would work on her first solo album. On November 27, 2013, it was announced that the first single from her debut album Louder would be "Cannonball", which was released on December 10, 2013.  "Cannonball" debuted at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Michele became the first main Glee cast member to have a song chart as a lead soloist.  The single sold over 51,000 copies in its first week of sale. Michele then released four promotional singles in the lead-up to the album: "Battlefield",  "Louder", "What Is Love?", and "You're Mine".  Louder was released on February 28, 2014 and debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 4 selling over 62,000 copies in its first week.  The second single from the album, "On My Way", was released on May 4, 2014.

In May 2013, it was announced that she had signed a deal with Harmony Books and Random House to write a part memoir, part how-to book titled Brunette Ambition  and the book was published on May 20, 2014. Michele released a second book, You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life, on September 22, 2015, which was also published by Random House. 

From 2015 to 2016, Michele starred in the Fox horror-comedy series Scream Queens, portraying the character Hester Ulrich. She was nominated for the People's Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series,  and two Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actress: Comedy and Choice TV: Villain for her performance in the role. 

In 2017, Michele had more television roles in Hulu's Dimension 404, a science fiction anthology series, and ABC's sitcom The Mayor.On October 8, 2017, Michele performed as a headlining act at the third annual Elsie Fest held in Central Park founded by her Glee co-star Darren Criss.  In April 2018, it was announced that she and Criss would co-headline a tour (the LM/DC Tour). It included shows in several North American cities in May and June 2018 and had stops in the United Kingdom and Ireland from October to December 2018.

Michele's third studio album, Christmas in the City, was released on October 25, 2019.  She starred as the lead in Same Time, Next Christmas, a film for ABC. From December 19, 2019, Lea Michele performed live in a series of shows at Adler Hall on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Michele released her cover album, Forever: A Lullaby Album, on November 5, 2021.

On July 11, 2022, it was announced that Michele would return to Broadway in the stage musical production of Funny Girl. Michele replaced Beanie Feldstein in the leading role of Fanny Brice on September 6, 2022, after Feldstein announced that she was leaving the production two months earlier than originally planned. Michele starred opposite Ramin Karimloo who played the role of Nick Arnstein. She was scheduled to perform seven shows a week, excluding Thursday evenings.

On September 11, 2022, four days into her run as Fanny Brice, Michele announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19, requiring her to be in isolation for at least 10 days. She returned to the stage on September 20, 2022.

On opening night, Michele received seven standing ovations for her performance, which had been highly anticipated.  The show had its final performance on September 3, 2023.  Michele was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2023.

In May, 2025 Michele was cast as Florence Vassy in the 2025 Broadway revival of Chess opposite Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, starting on October 15, 2025 at the Imperial Theatre.

Filmography
+FilmsYearTitleRoleNotes1998Buster & a Chauncey's Silent NightChristinaEnglish dub, voice role2011Glee: The 3D Concert MovieRachel BerryConcert filmNew Year's EveElise2014Legends of Oz: Dorothy's ReturnDorothy GaleEnglish dub, voice role

+TelevisionYearTitleRoleNotes2000Third WatchSammiEpisode: "Spring Forward Fall Back"2009–2015GleeRachel BerryMain role, 118 episodes2010The SimpsonsSarah (voice)Episode: "Elementary School Musical"2011The Cleveland ShowRachel Berry (voice)Episode: "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?"2012The Glee ProjectHerselfGuest mentor 2014Sons of AnarchyGertieEpisode: "Smoke 'em If You Got 'em"2015–2016Scream QueensHester "Chanel #6" UlrichMain role, 22 episodes2017Dimension 404AmandaEpisode: "Matchmaker"2017–2018The MayorValentina BarellaMain role, 13 episodes2018–2019American IdolHerselfGuest mentor2019Same Time, Next ChristmasOlivia HendersonTelevision film

Advocacy
Michele is active in charities for gay rights and animal rights, as well as in numerous other charities. In 2008, Michele was a part of the PETA ad campaign "Buck Cruelty! Say No to Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides"., 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. Radar In addition to working with PETA, Michele is also a vegan.

In support of gay rights, Michele performed at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner in November 2009. broadwayworld.com, November 24, 2009"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 sang in the 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 Tower Orphan Fund. Michele has also been active with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For Broadway Cares, Michele has participated in Broadway Barks, Broadway Bares, Easter Bonnet Competition and The Flea Market and Grand Auction. In October 2010, Michele performed at a benefit concert for the Painted Turtle, a camp for children with illnesses. 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 Grammy's MusiCares Benefit in Los Angeles, California. Money earned by the event go to help musicians in need. Playbill

 Awards and nominations 
 Year Award Category Result Notes 2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical  Spring Awakening Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical  Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance  Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jonathan Groff)  2008Grammy Award for 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 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Breakout Star  Glee Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series  2010 Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical  Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series  NewNowNext Award Brink of Fame: Actor  Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress: Comedy  Choice Music: Group (with Glee Cast)  Gold Derby TV Award Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series  Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series  PETA's 30th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards Award Honor    Billboard's Women in Music Triple Threat Award Honor    Glamour Woman of the Year Award US TV Actress of the Year     Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series  Glee 2011 Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical  Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series  Grammy Award Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Don't Stop Believin")  Grammy Award Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media 

 References 

Other websites




Category:1986 births
Category:Living people
Category:Actors from New York City
Category:American animal rights activists
Category:American LGBT rights activists
Category:American musical theatre actors
Category:American television actors
Category:American Grammy Award winners
Category:Screen Actors Guild Award winners