Biography
- 1994
Broadway Beginnings
At 8, Michele accompanies a friend to an open casting call for Broadway's Les Misérables, where she lands the role of Young Cosette. "I didn't know I could sing until I auditioned for Les Misérables," she tells Glamour. "My mother was like, 'You can't sing.' I'd never tried!" When she outgrows the role, the budding stage star follows up her debut with Ragtime in 1998 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2004.
- 2006
Leading Lady
Michele matures from child actor to stage ingénue with the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening. The coming-of-age rock musical, costarring Jonathan Groff, earns rave reviews and a Tony Award for best musical in 2007 – a year before Michele exits the show to pursue work in Hollywood.
- 2009
A Glee-ful Start
Michele jumps from stage to TV, playing neurotic glee club diva Rachel Berry in the FOX musical hit, Glee. "It was written for her," co-creator Ryan Murphy says of the role. "We had the prototype, which was a Reese Witherspoon Election-esque Broadway baby that was a mix of Barbra Streisand and Patti LuPone. I really believed in Lea's talent because her talent was once in a lifetime."
Calling All Gleeks
With Glee's soundtrack racing up the charts, Michele and costars Cory Monteith and Matthew Morrison land the cover of EW. "I keep getting e-mails and phone calls and running into people at parties just telling me the show makes them feel happy," co-creator Brad Falchuck tells the mag.
Award Worthy
Glee is a standout during its inaugural awards season, earning Michele a Golden Globe nomination for best comedic actress. "It is such an honor, something I never thought I would be lucky enough to have happen to me in my life," she says before taking home a SAG Award for best TV comedy ensemble in January.
- 2010
Caught Kissing
Despite reports linking her to costar Cory Monteith, rumors of a Glee romance are put to rest when Michele steps out with Broadway star Theo Stockman at Time magazine's 100 Most Influential gala. "I'm a relationship girl. I would rather be long-distance with him than not have a relationship at all," she says of Stockman, whom she dates until 2011.
Too Hot for TV
After appearing semi-topless in Marie Claire, Michele poses for a series of racy photos in GQ with Glee costars Monteith and Dianna Agron. After the Parents Television Council criticizes the sexy shoot (the group says the photos "borders on pedophilia"), Agron apologizes, while Michele says, "We were just having fun and obviously never intended to upset or offend anybody."
- 2011
A Star-Studded Debut
Michele jumps from the tube to the big screen in the romantic comedy New Year's Eve, opposite Ashton Kutcher and a gaggle of A-listers, including Halle Berry and Hilary Swank. Though the film is critically panned, it soars to No. 1 at the box office.
- 2012
Gleefully in Love
After splitting with Theo Stockman, Michele is caught kissing Glee costar Cory Monteith during an NHL game. Days later, the new couple continue to spread their affections for one another publicly in the Big Apple, and Michele goes as far as referring to Monteith as "really hot" on her Twitter account.
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Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Joan Marcus; Courtesy Jeffrey Richards Associates; Carin Baer/FOX; Larry Busacca/Wireimage; Patrick McMullan/SIPA; Courtesy GQ; John Shearer/Getty; James Devaney/WireImage
- Name
- Lea Michele
- Real Name
- Lea Michele Sarfati
- Date of Birth
- August 29, 1986
- Birth Place
- New York, N.Y.
- Relationships
-
Cory Monteith, boyfriend (2012 to present)
Theo Stockman, ex-boyfriend (2010 to 2011)
