Lea Michele

LeaMichele2

Lea Michele (born August 29, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for her role as Rachel Berry on the Fox television series Glee. Michele has also appeared in various Broadway productions, including Les Misérables, Ragtime, and Spring Awakening.

Early Life

Lea Michele was born Lea Michele Sarfati in The Bronx, New York City. She is the only child of Edith Thomasina (née Porcelli), a retired nurse, and Mark David Sarfati, a real estate agent and former delicatessen owner. Michele's mother is of Italian descent, while her father is of Sephardic Jewish ancestry. She was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and attended Tenafly High School.

Career

Broadway

Michele began her career as a child actress on Broadway, making her debut in 1995 as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in Les Misérables. She went on to appear in the original Broadway cast of Ragtime in 1998 and later starred as Wendla Bergmann in the musical Spring Awakening from 2006 to 2008.

Glee

In 2009, Michele was cast as Rachel Berry in the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. Her performance earned her critical acclaim and several awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination. Michele's character was known for her powerful singing voice and ambitious personality.

Music

In addition to her acting career, Michele has released several solo albums. Her debut album, Louder, was released in 2014 and included the single "Cannonball". She followed up with her second album, Places, in 2017.

Writing

Michele has also authored two books. Her first book, Brunette Ambition, was released in 2014 and became a New York Times Best Seller. Her second book, You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life, was published in 2015.

Personal Life

Michele has been open about her personal struggles and triumphs. She was in a relationship with her Glee co-star Cory Monteith until his death in 2013. In 2019, she married Zandy Reich, a businessman.

Filmography

Film

• New Year's Eve (2011)
• Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2013)

Television

• Glee (2009–2015)
• Scream Queens (2015–2016)
• The Mayor (2017)

Discography

• Louder (2014)
• Places (2017)
• Christmas in the City (2019)

Awards and Nominations

Michele has received numerous awards and nominations for her work in television and music, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a People's Choice Award, and multiple Teen Choice Awards.

See Also

• Glee (TV series)
• Spring Awakening
• Rachel Berry