MISCAST26
2026 · Movie
Lea Michele
1986-08-29
•
The Bronx, New York, USA
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
Ragtime, The Musical: All-Star Reunion Concert
2024 · Movie
as Special Guest
Therapuss
2024 · TV Show
as Self
TIME100: The World's Most Influential People
2023 · Movie
as Self - Performer
Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
2022 · Movie
as Self - Wendla
The Drew Barrymore Show
2020 · TV Show
as Self
Same Time, Next Christmas
2019 · Movie
as Olivia Anderson
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
2019 · TV Show
as Self
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · TV Show
as Self - Musical Guest, Self
American Idol
2018 · TV Show
as Self - Special Guest, Self
LadyGang
2018 · TV Show
as Self
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
2017 · Movie
The Mayor
2017 · TV Show
as Valentina Barella
Dimension 404
2017 · TV Show
as Amanda
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
2017 · TV Show
as Self
Chelsea
2016 · TV Show
as Self
Scream Queens
2015 · TV Show
as Hester Ulrich
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · TV Show
as Self - Guest
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
2014 · Movie
as Dorothy (voice)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · TV Show
as Self - Guest, Self - Musical Guest, Self - Guest / Musical Guest
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · TV Show
as Self, Self - Guest
Glee: Keep on Believin'
2012 · Movie
as Self
New Year's Eve
2011 · Movie
as Elise
Glee: The Concert Movie
2011 · Movie
as Rachel Berry
Glee Encore
2011 · Movie
as Rachel Berry
A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
2011 · Movie
as Self - Performer
The Glee Project
2011 · TV Show
as Self
One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village Vanguard
2010 · Movie
as Audience
Who Do You Think You Are?
2010 · TV Show
as Self
Conan
2010 · TV Show
as Self
Glee
2009 · TV Show
as Rachel Berry
The Cleveland Show
2009 · TV Show
The Dr. Oz Show
2009 · TV Show
as Self
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · TV Show
as Self - Guest
Sons of Anarchy
2008 · TV Show
as Gertie
Chelsea Lately
2007 · TV Show
as Self
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005 · Movie
as The Little Girl (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · TV Show
as Self
Third Watch
1999 · TV Show
as Sammi
Teen Choice Awards
1999 · TV Show
as Self, Self - Presenter
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night
1998 · Movie
as Christina (voice)
Creating Ragtime
1998 · Movie
as The Little Girl
The Daily Show
1996 · TV Show
as Self
The Simpsons
1989 · TV Show
as Sarah (voice)
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · TV Show
as Self - Guest
People's Choice Awards
1975 · TV Show
as Self - Presenter
