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.

TIME100: The World's Most Influential People
Self - Performer
2023

Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
Self - Wendla
2022

The Drew Barrymore Show
Self · (1 episode)
2020

Same Time, Next Christmas
Olivia Anderson
2019

A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Self · (1 episode)
2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)
2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2019

LadyGang
Self · (1 episode)
2018

American Idol
Self - Special Guest · (1 episode)
2018

American Idol
Self · (1 episode)
2018

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
2017

The Mayor
Valentina Barella · (9 episodes)
2017

Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self · (1 episode)
2017

Dimension 404
Amanda · (1 episode)
2017

Chelsea
Self · (2 episodes)
2016

Scream Queens
Hester Ulrich · (23 episodes)
2015

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Dorothy (voice)
2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (2 episodes)
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)
2014

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
Self
2012

Glee: Keep on Believin'
Self
2012

New Year's Eve
Elise
2011

Glee: The Concert Movie
Rachel Berry
2011

The Glee Project
Self · (1 episode)
2011

Glee Encore
Rachel Berry
2011

Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010

One Night Only - Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard
Audience
2010

Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · (1 episode)
2010

The Cleveland Show
(1 episode)
2009

The Dr. Oz Show
Self · (1 episode)
2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (5 episodes)
2009

Glee
Rachel Berry · (121 episodes)
2009

Sons of Anarchy
Gertie · (1 episode)
2008

Chelsea Lately
Self · (1 episode)
2007

Spring Awakening
Wendela Bergmann
2006

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
The Little Girl (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)
2005

Third Watch
Sammi · (1 episode)
1999

Teen Choice Awards
Self · (2 episodes)
1999

Teen Choice Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1999

Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night
Christina (voice)
1998

The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996

The Simpsons
Sarah (voice) · (1 episode)
1989

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988