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Lea Michele

ActorBorn August 29, 1986 (38 years)
Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. A soprano with a multi-octave vocal range, she is known for her performances on both screen and stage. Michele has received various accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2010 and 2023.

Born and raised in New York City, Michele is of Italian and Sephardic Jewish descent. She began her career as a child actress on Broadway, appearing in productions of Les Misérables (1995–1996), Ragtime (1997–1999), Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005), and Spring Awakening (2006–2008). She rose to prominence portraying Rachel Berry, an ambitious high school student, on the Fox musical comedy-drama Glee (2009–2015). Her performance earned critical acclaim, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Along with the cast, Michele received three Grammy Award nominations for music from the series, which also produced multiple Billboard-charting singles.

Michele made her feature film debut in New Year’s Eve (2011) and signed with Columbia Records in 2012. She released her debut single, “Cannonball,” in 2013, followed by her first studio album Louder (2014), which debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. Her second album, Places (2017), debuted at number 28, followed by the holiday album Christmas in the City (2019), and her fourth studio album Forever (2021). She has also authored two books: Brunette Ambition (2014) and You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life (2015).

In 2022, Michele returned to Broadway to star as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl, earning widespread acclaim for her performance. She is set to return to the stage in 2025, starring as Florence in the first-ever Broadway revival of Chess, opposite Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

Known For

  • Glee
  • Scream Queens
  • Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
  • Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
  • Same Time, Next Christmas

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2019
    Same Time, Next Christmas · as Olivia Anderson
    2019
    2017
    2017
    The Mayor (2017) (TV Series) · as Valentina Barella
    2017
    Dimension 404 (TV Series) · as Amanda
    2015
    Scream Queens (TV Series) · as Hester Ulrich
    2013
    2011
    New Year's Eve · as Elise
    2011
    Glee: The 3D Concert Movie · as Rachel Berry
    2011
    Glee Encore · as Rachel Berry
    2010
    2009
    The Cleveland Show (TV Series)
    2009
    Glee (TV Series) · as Rachel Berry
    2009
    2008
    Sons of Anarchy (TV Series) · as Gertie
    2004
    The X Factor (TV Series) · as Rachel Berry
    1999
    Third Watch (TV Series) · as Sammi
    1998
    Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night · as Christina (voice)
    1989
    The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Sarah (voice)
    1987
    Biography (TV Series) · as Rachel Berry

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