Lea Michele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lea Michele
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Michele in 2022
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| Born |
Lea Michele Sarfati
August 29, 1986 The Bronx, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Works
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| Spouse(s) |
Zandy Reich
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Columbia |
Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She started her career as a child actress on Broadway, performing in famous shows like Les Misérables (1995–1996) and Spring Awakening (2006–2008).
Lea Michele became very well-known for playing Rachel Berry on the TV show Glee (2009–2015). For this role, she was nominated for an Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. She also sang many songs for Glee, which became popular hits and earned her a Grammy Award nomination.
After Glee, Lea Michele starred in the TV series Scream Queens (2015–2016) and The Mayor (2017). She also released several music albums, including Louder (2014) and Places (2017). In 2022, she returned to Broadway to star as Fanny Brice in the musical Funny Girl, receiving great reviews for her performance.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lea Michele Sarfati was born in The Bronx, New York. She is the only child of Edith Thomasina, a retired nurse, and Mark David Sarfati, a real estate agent. Her mother is Italian American, and her father is a Sephardic Jew from Greece. Lea was raised in her mother's Catholic faith.
She started using her middle name, Michele, professionally at a young age. When she auditioned for Les Misérables, she used "Lea Michele" because she was teased about her last name. She went to support a friend but ended up getting the part of Young Cosette herself!
While growing up, Lea was homeschooled for a time. She also attended Tenafly High School, where she played volleyball, was on the debate team, and sang in the choir. In her teenage years, she worked part-time at a bat mitzvah dress shop and at her father's deli.
During the summers of 2000 to 2002, Lea attended Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts camp. She was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts but chose to keep working as an actress on stage instead.
Career Highlights
1995–2008: Starting on Stage
Lea Michele made her Broadway debut in 1995 at age eight. She played Young Cosette in Les Misérables. She also performed in the original Broadway cast of Ragtime in 1998. As a child, she voiced a character named Christina in the animated film Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night (1998).
In 2004, Lea played Shprintze in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Her next big role was Wendla Bergmann in the musical Spring Awakening. She performed in early workshops and Off-Broadway shows before starring in the Broadway production in 2006. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance.
In 2008, Lea played Éponine in a concert version of Les Misérables at the Hollywood Bowl. This show was directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.
2009–2012: Glee and Becoming Famous
From 2009 to 2015, Lea Michele starred in the Fox TV show Glee. She played Rachel Berry, the main singer and lead character. The show's co-creator, Ryan Murphy, wrote the role just for her!
Lea won several awards for playing Rachel, including a Satellite Award. She was also nominated for Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. In 2010, Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People In the World.
Many songs Lea sang on Glee became popular. Her cover of "Gives You Hell" reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She was the lead singer for many of Glee's best-selling songs. In 2011, she was nominated for two Grammy Awards for her work on Glee music.
In 2010 and 2011, Lea and the Glee cast went on a music tour called Glee Live! In Concert!. They performed in cities across the United States, England, and Ireland. The concerts were very popular.
In 2011, Lea performed "America the Beautiful" before Super Bowl XLV. She also starred in the romantic comedy film New Year's Eve, playing a back-up singer.
2013–2016: Louder and Scream Queens
In 2012, Lea Michele announced she was working on her first solo music album. Her debut single, "Cannonball", was released in December 2013. Her first album, Louder, came out in February 2014 and reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart.
Lea also voiced the main character, Dorothy Gale, in the animated movie Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014). She has also written two books: Brunette Ambition (2014) and You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life (2015). Both books became The New York Times Best Sellers.
From 2015 to 2016, Lea starred in the Fox horror-comedy series Scream Queens. She played Hester Ulrich, a quirky character. For this role, she was nominated for a People's Choice Award and two Teen Choice Awards.
2017–2021: More TV and Albums
Lea Michele released her second album, Places, in April 2017. She also went on a mini-tour called An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele to support the album.
In 2017, she appeared in the TV show Dimension 404 and played Valentina Barella in the ABC sitcom The Mayor. In 2018, Lea went on a co-headlining tour with her Glee co-star Darren Criss, called the LM/DC Tour.
Lea's third album, Christmas in the City, was released in October 2019. She also starred in a holiday TV movie called Same Time, Next Christmas. In 2021, she released her fourth album, Forever: A Lullaby Album.
2022–Present: Broadway Return
On July 11, 2022, it was announced that Lea Michele would return to Broadway in the musical Funny Girl. She took over the lead role of Fanny Brice on September 6, 2022. This was a big moment because her Glee character, Rachel Berry, also dreamed of playing Fanny Brice on Broadway!
Critics praised Lea's performance in Funny Girl. She received many standing ovations on opening night. The show had its final performance on September 3, 2023. In 2023, Time magazine again named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Artistry
Influences
One of Lea Michele's biggest role models is Barbra Streisand. Lea says her mother would play Streisand's films when she was a child. Lea even dedicated a chapter in her book Brunette Ambition to Streisand. She admires Streisand for building her career by focusing on what made her special.
Actress and singer Audra McDonald has also influenced Lea. Lea has said that much of her singing knowledge came from Audra, including how to warm up and take care of her voice. Recording artist Alanis Morissette and singer Celine Dion have also inspired Lea's career.
Voice
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Lea Michele has a soprano vocal range. Her voice has been praised many times. The Boston Globe described her voice as a "mighty soprano." Critics have noted that her live performances are very strong and emotional. For example, Billboard called her live performance of "Love Is Alive" an "emotional performance [that] showcased Michele's strong vocal ability."
Other Projects
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Lea Michele has supported many charities. She has performed for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which helps people with AIDS. She is also a strong supporter of animal rights. In 2008 and 2010, she appeared in PETA campaigns against animal cruelty.
She has also supported gay rights, performing at events for the Human Rights Campaign. In 2010, PETA honored Lea for her work with animals. She performed at a benefit concert for The Painted Turtle, a camp for children with serious illnesses.
Lea has also helped the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She has been an ambassador for L'Oréal's Women of Worth program, which celebrates women who help their communities. In 2013, she co-hosted an event for Feed America, which helps feed people in need. She continues to support organizations like Step Up, which helps girls achieve their goals.
Product Endorsements
Lea Michele has worked with several brands. In 2007, she was in a Gap Inc. marketing campaign with her Spring Awakening co-stars. In 2010, she became a spokesperson for Dove beauty products. She also appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Chevrolet in 2011.
In 2012, Lea became the spokesmodel for Candie's fashion brand. In September 2012, she signed a deal to be a spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris, appearing in their ads. She also collaborated with Pixelberry Studios for an update to their app, High School Story. She has worked with Old Navy, Lyft, and ZOLA (a wedding planning website).
Lea had a partnership with the meal kit delivery service HelloFresh. However, this partnership ended in 2020 due to accusations of bullying against Lea.
Personal Life
Lea Michele began working with actor Cory Monteith in 2008 on Glee, where they played love interests. They started dating in 2012 and remained together until his death in July 2013.
Lea Michele married businessman Zandy Reich on March 9, 2019, in Napa, California. They have two children: a son born in August 2020 and a daughter born in August 2024.
In 2019, Lea shared that she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a health condition. She was diagnosed around age 30 after experiencing symptoms like weight changes and skin issues.
Performances
Film and Television
- Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night (1998)
- Glee (2009–2015)
- Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)
- New Year's Eve (2011)
- Scream Queens (2015–2016)
- The Mayor (2017–2018)
Stage
- Les Misérables (1995–1996)
- Ragtime (1997–1999)
- Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005)
- Spring Awakening (2006–2008)
- Les Misérables (2008)
- The Rocky Horror Show (2010)
- Funny Girl (2022–2023)
Concert Tours and Shows
- Glee Live! In Concert! (2010–2011)
- An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele (2017)
- LM/DC Tour (with Darren Criss) (2018)
- Christmas in NYC: Live in Concert (2019)
Discography
- Louder (2014)
- Places (2017)
- Christmas in the City (2019)
- Forever (2021)
Soundtracks and Cast Recordings
- Ragtime original Broadway cast recording
- Fiddler on the Roof revival Broadway cast recording
- Spring Awakening original Broadway cast recording
- Glee soundtracks (16 albums, 6 compilations, 11 EP's)
- New Year's Eve soundtracks
- Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return soundtrack
- Funny Girl revival Broadway cast recording
Written Works
- Brunette Ambition (2014)
- You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life (2015)
See also
In Spanish: Lea Michele para niños
- List of songs in Glee
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