Lea Michele

Born

August 29, 1986 (38 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

The Bronx, New York, USA

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

TIME100: The World's Most Influential People

Self - Performer

0.0

2023

Spring Awakening: Those You've Known

Spring Awakening: Those You've Known

Self - Wendla

7.5

2022

The Drew Barrymore Show

The Drew Barrymore Show

Self · (1 episode)

6.2

2020

Same Time, Next Christmas

Same Time, Next Christmas

Olivia Anderson

6.8

2019

A Little Late with Lilly Singh

A Little Late with Lilly Singh

Self · (1 episode)

3.6

2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)

6.5

2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Self · (1 episode)

6.5

2019

LadyGang

LadyGang

Self · (1 episode)

10.0

2018

American Idol

American Idol

Self - Special Guest · (1 episode)

6.8

2018

American Idol

American Idol

Self · (1 episode)

6.8

2018

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration

0.0

2017

The Mayor

The Mayor

Valentina Barella · (9 episodes)

6.1

2017

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

Self · (1 episode)

5.9

2017

Dimension 404

Dimension 404

Amanda · (1 episode)

6.5

2017

Chelsea

Chelsea

Self · (2 episodes)

5.1

2016

Scream Queens

Scream Queens

Hester Ulrich · (23 episodes)

7.9

2015

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

Dorothy (voice)

6.3

2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Self · (1 episode)

5.3

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self · (2 episodes)

5.9

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)

5.9

2014

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

Self

5.6

2012

Glee: Keep on Believin'

Glee: Keep on Believin'

Self

10.0

2012

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

Elise

5.9

2011

Glee: The Concert Movie

Glee: The Concert Movie

Rachel Berry

7.3

2011

The Glee Project

The Glee Project

Self · (1 episode)

6.9

2011

Glee Encore

Glee Encore

Rachel Berry

8.1

2011

Conan

Conan

Self · (1 episode)

7.1

2010

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

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

Audience

7.1

2010

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are?

Self · (1 episode)

6.6

2010

The Cleveland Show

The Cleveland Show

(1 episode)

5.9

2009

The Dr. Oz Show

The Dr. Oz Show

Self · (1 episode)

5.2

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Self - Guest · (5 episodes)

5.1

2009

Glee

Glee

Rachel Berry · (121 episodes)

6.8

2009

Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy

Gertie · (1 episode)

8.4

2008

Chelsea Lately

Chelsea Lately

Self · (1 episode)

4.2

2007

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening

Wendela Bergmann

0.0

2006

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

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

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

7.2

2005

Third Watch

Third Watch

Sammi · (1 episode)

7.9

1999

Teen Choice Awards

Teen Choice Awards

Self · (2 episodes)

9.1

1999

Teen Choice Awards

Teen Choice Awards

Self - Presenter · (1 episode)

9.1

1999

Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night

Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night

Christina (voice)

5.5

1998

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

Self · (1 episode)

6.4

1996

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

Sarah (voice) · (1 episode)

8.0

1989

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Self - Guest · (1 episode)

5.5

1988