Lea Michele | |
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| Born | Lea Michele Sarfati (1986-08-29)August 29, 1986 (age 38) The Bronx,New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, dancer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | Cory Monteith ( January 2010 - February 2013)Zandy Reich (2019-present) |
Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986),[1] known by herstage nameLea Michele, is anAmericanactress andsinger. Michele began working as a child actress onBroadway in shows likeRagtime andLes Misérables. She was the first person to play the character Wendla in the musicalSpring Awakening and now playsRachel Berry in theFox television seriesGlee.
Michele was born in theBronx,New York City, in 1986. Her mother is Edith Sarfati, a nurse, and her father is Marc Sarfati, adeli owner.[1] Michele's mother isItalian American andRoman Catholic, while her father is aSpanishSephardic Jew.[2][3] Michele grew up inNew York City andTenafly, New Jersey. She went to Rockland County Day School[4] forelementary school in New York and then TenaflyHigh School.[5] Michele washome schooled one year while working inTorontoCanada onRagtime. She went to Stagedoor Manor in the Catskills, a performing arts training center.[6] She was then later accepted to the CAP21 program at the Tisch School of the Arts atNew York University, but instead continued working on stage.[7][8]
At eight years old, Michele went with a friend to an opencasting call for amusical. 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 ofLes Misérables. Then, in 1998, she played Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the originalBroadway cast ofRagtime. In 2004, Michele played Shprintze and Chava in the Broadway revival of the musicalFiddler on the Roof. She also sang on the 2003 Broadway revival cast recording ofFiddler on the Roof.
She played the role of Wendla inSteven Sater andDuncan Sheik's musical version ofSpring Awakening, starring in early workshops toOff-Broadway and finally playing the role in the Broadway production at the age of 20.[9] Around the same time that the show was set to go to Broadway, she was offered the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival ofLes Misérables.[10] She decided to remain withSpring Awakening, which debuted on Broadway in December 2006. She was nominated for aDrama Desk Award for her acting inSpring Awakening in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[11]
On May 18, 2008, Michele leftSpring Awakening with co-starJonathan Groff. She acted in a reading of Sheik and Sater's new musical,Nero, in July 2008 atVassar College.[12] From August 8–August 10, 2008, she played Eponine in theHollywood Bowl'sLes Misérables concert. She sings on the original Broadway cast recordings ofRagtime andSpring Awakening.
Michele stars in theFox television seriesGlee, where she plays the star singer of a high schoolglee club,Rachel Berry. Thepilot debuted on May 19, 2009. She has won aScreen Actors Guild Award for outstanding ensemble performance and the 2009Satellite Award for best actress. She also received nominations for anEmmy Award, two nominations for aGolden Globe Award, andTeen Choice Award for her performance in the role. Her cover ofThe All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached the top 40 on theUS Billboard 200.[13] Michele is the lead singer in 14 of the top 20 sellingGlee songs as of 2010.[14]
Michele was included inTime magazine's 2010 list of the100 Most Influential People In the World.[15]FHM named her #7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List, which was the highest ranking for a new entry on the list that year.[16] Michele was named toPeople Magazine's Best Dressed List of 2010 as "The Newbie"[17] and she was voted "2010 Most Stylish Star" by E! Online.[18]
In 2010, Michele joined the cast of theanimated movieDorothy of Oz,[19] voicing the lead role ofDorothy Gale.[20] That same year, she joined the cast ofGarry Marshall'sromantic comedyNew Year's Eve.[21]
BeforeSuper Bowl XLV, on February 6, 2011, she performed "America the Beautiful" with theAir ForceTops In Blue.[22]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Buster & a Chauncey's Silent Night | Christina | English dub, voice role |
| 2011 | Glee: The 3D Concert Movie | Rachel Berry | Concert film |
| New Year's Eve | Elise | ||
| 2014 | Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return | Dorothy Gale | English dub, voice role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Third Watch | Sammi | Episode: "Spring Forward Fall Back" |
| 2009–2015 | Glee | Rachel Berry | Main role, 118 episodes |
| 2010 | The Simpsons | Sarah (voice) | Episode: "Elementary School Musical" |
| 2011 | The Cleveland Show | Rachel Berry (voice) | Episode: "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?" |
| 2012 | The Glee Project | Herself | Guest mentor |
| 2014 | Sons of Anarchy | Gertie | Episode: "Smoke 'em If You Got 'em" |
| 2015–2016 | Scream Queens | Hester "Chanel #6" Ulrich | Main role, 22 episodes |
| 2017 | Dimension 404 | Amanda | Episode: "Matchmaker" |
| 2017–2018 | The Mayor | Valentina Barella | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | American Idol | Herself | Guest mentor |
| 2019 | Same Time, Next Christmas | Olivia Henderson | Television film |
Michele is active incharities forgay rights andanimal rights, as well as in numerous other charities. In 2008, Michele was a part of thePETA ad campaign "Buck Cruelty! Say No to Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides".[23] In April 2010, Michele appeared in aPSA for PETA speaking out againstfur clothing.[24] In September 2010, Michele was honored by PETA for her work for animals.[25] In addition to working with PETA, Michele is also avegan.[26]
In support of gay rights, Michele performed at theHuman Rights Campaign Dinner in November 2009.[27][28] In the same month, Michele andJonathan Groff sang in the True Colors Cabaret, afundraiser in support ofgay,lesbian,bisexual andtransgender equality.[29]
In 2008, Michele performed at a benefit concert, "Alive in the World",[30] to aid theTwin Tower Orphan Fund. Michele has also been active withBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For Broadway Cares, Michele has participated in Broadway Barks, Broadway Bares,Easter Bonnet Competition and TheFlea Market and GrandAuction. 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 ofThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Michele playing the lead role of Janet Weiss for the benefit.[31] In February 2011 she performed forThe Grammy's MusiCares Benefit inLos Angeles,California. Money earned by the event go to helpmusicians in need.[32]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | Spring Awakening |
| Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical | Won | ||
| Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance | Won | |||
| Favorite Onstage Pair(with Jonathan Groff) | Won | |||
| 2008 | Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album | Original Broadway Cast, including Lea Michele | Won | Spring Awakening |
| 2009 | New York Television Festival Award | Best Nonscripted Host or Star | Won | Around the Block |
| Teen Choice Award | Choice TV Breakout Star | Nominated | Glee | |
| Satellite Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series | Won | ||
| 2010 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
| NewNowNext Award | Brink of Fame: Actor | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Award | Choice TV Actress: Comedy | Nominated | ||
| Choice Music: Group(with Glee Cast) | Nominated | |||
| Gold Derby TV Award | Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| PETA's 30th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards Award | Honor | Won | ||
| Billboard's Women in Music Triple Threat Award | Honor | Won | ||
| Glamour Woman of the Year Award | US TV Actress of the Year | Won | ||
| Satellite Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series | Nominated | Glee | |
| 2011 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Grammy Award | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Don't Stop Believin") | Nominated | ||
| Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media | Nominated |
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