Lea Michele
Known for: Acting
Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. Recognized for her powerful soprano voice, emotional performances, and extensive Broadway background, she has built a career spanning theater, television, film, and music. Michele has received numerous accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and multiple Grammy Awards. In 2010 and 2023, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Born and raised in New York City, Michele is of Italian and Sephardic Jewish descent. She began performing professionally as a child actress on Broadway, appearing in productions of Les Misérables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof, and later originating the role of Wendla Bergmann in Spring Awakening alongside Jonathan Groff. Michele rose to international prominence for her portrayal of ambitious high school performer Rachel Berry on the Fox musical comedy-drama Glee (2009–2015). Her performance became one of the defining portrayals of musical television in the 2010s and earned widespread critical acclaim, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Through the show’s music releases, Michele also received multiple Grammy Award nominations and contributed to numerous Billboard-charting singles and albums, helping reintroduce musical television to mainstream global audiences. Following the success of Glee, Michele expanded into film and music. She made her feature film debut in New Year's Eve and signed with Columbia Records in 2012. Her debut single, Cannonball, was released in 2013, followed by her first studio album Louder (2014), which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. She later released the albums Places (2017), Christmas in the City (2019), and Forever (2021). Her music combines Broadway theatricality with contemporary pop influences and is often noted for its vocal intensity and emotional delivery. Outside of performance, Michele has authored two books: Brunette Ambition (2014) and You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life (2015). In 2022, Michele returned to Broadway as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl, delivering a critically acclaimed performance that revitalized the production and became one of the most commercially successful Broadway runs of the decade. Her renditions of songs such as “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “My Man” received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. In 2025, she stars as Florence Vassy in the Broadway revival of Chess opposite Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. Widely regarded as one of the leading Broadway performers of her generation, Michele continues to maintain a prominent presence across theater, music, and screen.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Sarah (voice)
1989
Series
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
2014
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest / Musical Guest
2014
Series
The Daily Show
Self
1996
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self - Musical Guest
2019
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
Conan
Self
2010
Series
Sons of Anarchy
Gertie
2008
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Series
Glee
Rachel Berry
2009
Series
Third Watch
Sammi
1999
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Series
The Drew Barrymore Show
Self
2020
Series
Chelsea Lately
Self
2007
Series
The Cleveland Show
2009
Series
Chelsea
Self
2016
Series
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Self
2019
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self - Presenter
1975
Series
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self
2017
Series
American Idol
Self - Special Guest
2018
Series
American Idol
Self
2018
Series
Scream Queens
Hester Ulrich
2015
Series
The Dr. Oz Show
Self
2009
Series
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self
2010
Series
Dimension 404
Amanda
2017
Series
Therapuss
Self
2024
Film
New Year's Eve
Elise
2011
Series
The Glee Project
Self
2011
Series
The Mayor
Valentina Barella
2017
Film
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Dorothy (voice)
2014
Series
LadyGang
Self
2018
Film
Glee: The Concert Movie
Rachel Berry
2011
Series
Teen Choice Awards
Self
1999
Series
Teen Choice Awards
Self - Presenter
1999
Film
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
The Little Girl (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)
2005
Film
Glee Encore
Rachel Berry
2011
Film
One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard
Audience
2010
Film
Same Time, Next Christmas
Olivia Anderson
2019
Film
Glee: Keep on Believin'
Self
2012
Film
Ragtime, The Musical: All-Star Reunion Concert
Special Guest
2024
Film
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night
Christina (voice)
1998
Film
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
2017
Film
Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
Self - Wendla
2022
Film
TIME100: The World's Most Influential People
Self - Performer
2023
Film
MISCAST26
2026
Film
A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
Self - Performer
2011
Film
Creating Ragtime
The Little Girl
1998