Lea Michele

Acting

Biography

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 Movies

Acting

MOVIE

New Year's Eve

5.9(2.2K)

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

TIME100: The World's Most Influential People

Jennifer Coolidge hosts the gala, which features performances by Doja Cat and Lea Michele, honorary tributes from members of this year's list and remarks from TIME CEO Jessica Sibley.

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TIME100: The World's Most Influential People

Self - Performer

MOVIE

Glee: The Concert Movie

7.3(0.3K)

A concert documentary shot during the Glee Live! In Concert! summer 2011 tour, featuring song performances and fans' life stories and how the show influenced them.

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Glee: The Concert Movie

Rachel Berry

MOVIE

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

6.3(0.4K)

Dorothy wakes in post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try to save her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man, and Glinda, from a devious new villain, the Jester. New comrades Wiser the Owl, Marshal Mallow, China Princess, and Tugg the Tugboat join Dorothy on her latest magical journey through the colorful landscape of Oz to restore order and happiness to Emerald City.

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Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

Dorothy (voice)

MOVIE

Glee Encore

8.1(0.0K)

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to Gleek Out This full-length dvd features a set list of Season One's most sensational musical numbers - back to back so the party never has to end. The biggest appeal of GLEE is....the musical numbers Watching them without the storyline interruptions sounds like a good thing.

Spring Awakening: Those You've Known

7.2(0.0K)

Fifteen years after the smash, Tony-winning Broadway run of "Spring Awakening," the original cast and creative team reunite for a spectacular, one-night only reunion concert to benefit The Actors Fund. Chronicling their whirlwind journey back to the stage, this documentary follows the players as they reconnect and rediscover the beauty and timelessness of the hit musical.

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Spring Awakening: Those You've Known

Self - Wendla

MOVIE

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

5.6(0.0K)

On February 11, 2011, Barbra Streisand was honored as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year. At a gala event in Los Angeles, Barbra and an all-star cast of guests performed many of the songs she made famous throughout her illustrious career.

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A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

Self - Performer

MOVIE

Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night

6.0(0.0K)

Buster and Chauncey - the world's greatest Mouse-icians - have arrived in Oberndorf for their shot at the big time: performing for the queen at the annual Christmas Pageant! But on Christmas Eve, Burghermeister Huffenmeir finds all the preparations for the festivities destroyed and the treasure of Oberndorf missing. When he accuses Buster and Chauncey's friend Christina - an orphan in search of her long lost family - it seems certain that Christmas will be ruined. Now it's up to the Moustroes of Mistletoe to help Christina reveal the real culprits, return the treasure and show the town of Oberndorf the true meaning of Christmas.

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Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night

Christina (voice)

MOVIE

One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard

7.1(0.0K)

In 2009, in celebration of her new album Love Is the Answer, Barbra Streisand announced she would perform one special concert at the Village Vanguard in New York City, New York. Streisand was backed by a quartet consisting of Tamir Hendelman (piano), Jeff Carney (bass), Brian Koonin (guitar) and Ray Marchica (drums). The audience included special guests and celebrity friends of Streisand such as Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Sandy Gallin, Frank Rich, Donna Karan, Lea Michele, and Nicole Kidman, as well as 100 competition winners.

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One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard

Audience

MOVIE

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

7.2(0.0K)

Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great musical performances from the archives of the Tony Award® broadcasts. Legendary stars from legendary shows strut their stuff in 23 performances that have become part of Broadway history.

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Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

The Little Girl (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)