Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986),[1] 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.[2]
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.[1] Her mother is Italian American and Roman Catholic, while her father is a Spanish Sephardic Jew.[3][4] Michele was raised Catholic, and has stated that her father "gladly" attends church with her and her mother.[5][6] She grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. She attended Rockland Country Day School[7] for elementary school in New York and then Tenafly High School.[5][8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]
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.[12]
Career[]
Stage roles[]
Michele made her Broadway debut in 1995, as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in Les Misérables.[13][14] This was followed by the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of Ragtime.[14][15] In 2004 (during her Senior Year of High School), Michele played Sphritze in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.[14][16] She also sang on the 2004 Broadway revival cast recording of Fiddler on the Roof.[17]
Michele at the Glee premiere party, May 2009
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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]
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.[21] She portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert in August 2008.[22]
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[23] and the 2009 Satellite Award for best actress.[24] Michele received the People's Choice award of Best Actress in a Comedy in 2012.[25] She also received nominations for an Emmy Award,[26] two nominations for a Golden Globe Award, and Teen Choice Award for her performance in the role.[27] In December 2010 Lea Michele received Billboard's First-Ever Triple Threat Award.[28] 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.[28]
Michele was included in TIME magazine's 2010 list of the 100 Most Influential People In the World.[29] FHM named her No.7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List.[30] Michele was named to People Magazine's Best Dressed List of 2010 as "The Newbie"[31] and she was voted "2010 Most Stylish Star" by E! Online.[32] She was ranked 28th on the Maxim 2011 Hot 100.[33] She was number 10 on the AfterEllen hot 100 list for 2011.[34] Michele ranked 14th on the 2012 Maxim Hot 100.[35] Women's Health Magazine placed Lea Michele as the 3rd Best 2012 Summer Bodies.[36]
In 2010, Michele joined the cast of the animated film Dorothy of Oz,[37] voicing the lead role of Dorothy Gale.[38] She filmed a role in Garry Marshall's romantic comedy New Year's Eve, which was released in 2011.[39]
Before Super Bowl XLV, on February 6, 2011, she performed "America the Beautiful" with the Air Force Tops In Blue.[40]
Candie's announced in 2012 that Lea will be the new spokesperson for their clothing/footwear brand.[41]
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".[42] In April 2010, Michele appeared in a PSA for PETA speaking out against fur clothing.[43] In September 2010, Michele was honored by PETA for her work for animals.[44]
In the support of gay rights, Michele performed at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner in November 2009.[45][46] In the same month, Michele and Jonathan Groff performed for True Colors Cabaret, a fundraiser in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.[47]
In 2008, Michele performed at a benefit concert, "Alive in the World",[48] 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.[49]
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.[50] In February 2011, she performed for The Grammys' MusiCares Benefit in Los Angeles CA.[51] In April 2012 performs for The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) at UCLA, 17th annual signature fundraiser, Taste for a Cure.[52]
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.[53]
Credits[]
Michele at the 38th People's Choice Awards, Red Carpet 2012
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)[54]
- Nero as Octavia (July 2008)[55]
- Samson and Delilah as Delilah[56]
- King as Anisette[56]
- Wuthering Heights as Lucy[56]
- Hot and Sweet as Naleen (September 2006)[57]
- Spring Awakening as Wendla – Roundabout Theatre Company (2000 and June 2001)[58]
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)[59]
- Alive in the World, benefit concert – as Phoebe (January 2008)[48]
- "Broadway Eastern Bonnet" 2008 benefit performance as Wendla (with cast of Spring Awakening)
- Feinstein's (February, April and June 2008)[60]
- Flopz n' cutz Concert with Landon Beard, Joe's Pub (April 2008)[61]
- Les Misérables Concert as Eponine at the Hollywood Bowl (August 2008)[56]
- Upright Cabaret (August 2008)[62]
- Broadway Chance Style: Up Close & Personal (September 2008)[63]
- Spring Awakening Holiday Benefit Concert – Joe's Pub (December 2008)[64]
- Human Rights Campaign Dinner, performer (November 2009).[45]
- True Colors Benefit with Jonathan Groff (November 2009)[47]
- 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)[65]
- Super Bowl XLV – as performer ("America the Beautiful") Dallas, Texas (February 2011)[66]
- MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Barbra Streisand, performer, Los Angeles (February 2011)[51]
- 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[52]
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)[67]
- Spring Awakening as Wendla, Atlantic Theatre Company, off Broadway (May–August 2006)
- Dove commercials as spokesperson (2010)[68]
- Chevrolet commercial, as Rachel Berry: Glee Super Bowl commercial (February 2011)[69]
- Nike workout application as spokesperson (2011)[70]
- HP TouchPad commercial (2011)[71]
- Candies as spokesperson (2012)[72]
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 | Template:Sortname | Sarah (voice) | "Elementary School Musical" (Season 22, episode 1) |
| 2011 | Template:Sortname | 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 | Template:Nom | Spring Awakening |
| Broadway.com Audience Award | Favorite Leading Actress in a Broadway Musical | Template:Won | ||
| Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance | Template:Won | |||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jonathan Groff) | Template:Won | |||
| 2008 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Show Album (Original Broadway Cast, including Lea Michele) | Template:Won | |
| 2009 | New York Television Festival Award | Best Nonscripted Host or Star | Template:Won | Around the Block |
| Teen Choice Award | Choice TV Breakout Star | Template:Nom | Glee | |
| Satellite Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series | Template:Won | ||
| 2010 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Template:Nom | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Template:Won | ||
| Gay People's Choice Awards | Favorite Breakout Actress | Template:Won | ||
| NewNowNext Award | Brink of Fame: Actor | Template:Won | ||
| Teen Choice Award | Choice TV Actress: Comedy | Template:Nom | ||
| Choice Music: Group (with Glee Cast) | Template:Nom | |||
| Gold Derby TV Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Template:Nom | ||
| Satellite Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series | Template:Nominated | ||
| Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Template:Nom | ||
| PETA's 30th Anniversary Gala | Humanitarian Awards Award – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| Time Magazine | 100 most influential people 2010 – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| Billboard's Women in Music | Triple Threat Award – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| Victoria's Secret Sexiest 2010 | Sexiest Smile – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| 2011 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical | Template:Nom | Glee |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Template:Nom | ||
| Grammy Award | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Don't Stop BelievinTemplate:' ") | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Glee: The Music, Volume 1) | Template:Nom | |||
| Variety Power of Women Award | 2011 Lifetime Impact Honoree – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| US Glamour Women of the Year Award The Diva Next door | The Diva Next door – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| UK Glamour Woman of the Year Award 2011 | US TV Actress of the Year | Template:Won | ||
| DoSomething.org's list of Top 20 Celebs Gone Good of 2011 | Advocate for animal rights – Honor | Template:Won | ||
| 2012 | People's Choice Award | Favorite Actress in a Comedy – TV | Template:Won | Glee |
| Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (Glee: The Music, Volume 4) | Template:Nom | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Template:Nom | ||
| UK Glamour Woman of the Year Award 2012 | US TV Actress of the Year | Template:Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards 2012 | Best Actress in a Comedy | Template:Won | ||
| Movie Scene Stealer - New Year's Eve | Template:Nominated | New's Year Eve | ||
| DoSomething.org's Awards | Advocate for animal rights | Template:Pending |
Discography[]
- Main article: Glee Cast 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[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Glee Star Lea Michele's Childhood Photos" May 21, 2010, Radar Online
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Waterman, Lauren."High School Musical: Glee's Lea Michele" teenvogue.com, October 12, 2009
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Lea Michelle listing Internet Broadway Database, accessed October 8, 2011
- ↑ Viagas, Robert."Entire Toronto 'Ragtime' Cast Headed for B'way" playbill.com, May 8, 1997
- ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Not Your Zayde's 'Fiddler on the Roof': Leveaux's Fresh Revival Opens on Broadway Feb. 26" playbill.com, February 26, 2004
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Diva Talk: Chatting With 'Spring Awakening'/'Les-Mizs' Lea Michele Plus News of Ebersole Eder" playbill.com
- ↑ D. Rooney."Musicals pose Tony voting crunch", Variety.com, April 26, 2007
- ↑ Bacalzo, Dan. "Arden, Carlson, Menzel, Michele, Robbins, et al. Set for Sater and Sheik's Nero", theatermania.com, June 23, 2008.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew."A World About to Dawn: 'Les Misérables' Arrives at the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 8" playbill.com, August 8, 2008
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Lea Michele Dedicates 2012 People’s Choice Award to Fans, Family & Her ‘Glee Club’" January 12, 2012, Celebuzz
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Teen Choice Awards 2010: Check out the nominees" August 8, 2010, On The Red Carpet
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Glee Legacy at Billboard.com
- ↑ Lea Michele – The 2010 TIME 100, Time Magazine
- ↑ Lea Michele – FHM #7, gleehab.com, June 3, 2010.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ "Top 10 Stylish Stars of 2010" 1. Lea Michele, E Online
- ↑ "2011 Hot 100" May 3, 2011, Maxim
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ [1] May 2012, Maxim.
- ↑ [2] May 2012, Women's Health.
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Lea Michele is Candie's new girl", 3news.co.nz, January 13, 2012
- ↑ "Spring Awakening Actress Lea Michele Joins PETA Campaign" Broadway World
- ↑ "Lea Michele Says No to Fur in PETA Ad" eonline.com
- ↑ "Lea Michele And Alec Baldwin Team Up For The Animals" September 01, 2010, Radar Online
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 "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.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Glikas, Bruce. "Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff Reunite Onstage at True Colors Cabaret", BroadwayWorld.com, November 30, 2009
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Bundy, Groff and Ziemba Among Easter Bonnet Hosts; Esparza to Sing" 20 April 2007, Playbill
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 "Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele Honor Streisand at Feb. 11 MusiCares Gala" 11 Feb 2011, Playbill
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Taste for a Cure" April 20, This Week In Beverly Hills
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "Idina Menzel and Lea Michele Bring Nero to Vassar" Broadway World
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 "Photo Flash: Lea Michele Makes Her Sold Out LA Upright Cabaret Debut" BroadwayWorld.com
- ↑ "Katie Finneran, Lea Michele Complete Cast of NYMF’s Hot and Sweet" 9 August 2006, Playbill
- ↑ "Spring Awakening Workshopped at Roundabout Theatre Company" 13 July 2001, Playbill
- ↑ "BC/EF Hosts 'Unsung: 'Tis the Season to be Naughty' Dec.10", Broadwayworld.com, December 9, 2007.
- ↑ "Spring Awakening Star Lea Michele Shines at Feinstein's", Broadwayworld.com
- ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Cody, von Essen, Michele, McCartney, Rapp and More Set for Flopz n' Cutz 4", Playbill.com, March 4, 2008.
- ↑ "Lea Michele To Make Hollywood Cabaret Debut 8/15-8/16", Broadwayworld.com, June 20, 2008.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Broadway Chance Style Benefit, with Bundy, Michele, Espinosa, Cusick, Presented Sept. 27, Playbill, September 27, 2008.
- ↑ "Photo Coverage: SPRING AWAKENING Holiday Concert at Joe's Pub", BroadwayWorld.com, December 16, 2008.
- ↑ Benigno, Anthony. "Halloween gets the star treatment: Lea Michele, Jack Nicholson headline 'Rocky Horror' tribute show", New York Daily News, October 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Lea Michele to Sing at Super Bowl" January 28, 2011, New York Magazine
- ↑ Lyon, Tracy. "Washington D.C.", TalkingBroadway.com.
- ↑ Lea Michele's Dove Commercial YouTube
- ↑ Chevoret Super Bowl ad YouTube
- ↑ "Lea Michele's Nike Training Club App (VIDEO)" 24 March 2011, Huffington Post
- ↑ "New HP TouchPad Ad Stars Glee’s Lea Michele" 21 July 2011, by Dan Ramirez, webOSroundup
- ↑ [4] "Glee's Lea Michele Is a Candie's Girl! Stylish Star Named New Spokeswoman"] January 12, 2012, E Online
External links[]
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