Career Timeline of Lea Michele: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Lea Michele built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Lea Michele Sarfati is an American actress and singer who began her career on Broadway as a child, featuring in productions like Les Misérables and Spring Awakening. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Rachel Berry in the television series Glee (2009–2015), earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Michele also contributed to the show's commercially successful music, receiving a Grammy Award nomination.
1995: Broadway Debut in Les Misérables
In 1995, at the age of eight, Lea Michele made her Broadway debut as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in Les Misérables.
1997: Homeschooling and Ragtime Performance
In 1997, Lea Michele was homeschooled while living and working in Toronto, where she performed in a production of Ragtime.
October 13, 1998: Voice Acting in Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night
On October 13, 1998, Lea Michele voiced a main character, Christina, in the animated film Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night.
2002: Final Summer at Stagedoor Manor
In the summer of 2002, Lea Michele spent her final summer at Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts training center in the Catskills, and booked the role of Wendla Bergmann in a workshop of Spring Awakening.
2004: Broadway Revival of Fiddler on the Roof
In 2004, Lea Michele began portraying Shprintze in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof, and understudied the role of Chava. She also performed on the cast recording of the show.
February 2005: Performance as Wendla at Lincoln Center
In February 2005, Lea Michele performed as Wendla in Spring Awakening at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
December 2006: Broadway Premiere of Spring Awakening
In December 2006, Lea Michele premiered on Broadway in Spring Awakening. She was also offered the role of Éponine Thénardier in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables but chose to stay with Spring Awakening.
2007: Featured in Gap Inc. marketing campaign
In 2007, Lea Michele and her Spring Awakening co-stars were featured in a Gap Inc. marketing campaign. The campaign included magazine advertisement spreads and billboards in Times Square.
January 2008: Performance in Alive in the World Concert
In January 2008, Lea Michele starred in a concert production of the musical Alive in the World as Phoebe, aiding the Twin Towers Orphan Fund.
April 2008: Flops n' Cutz Concert and Solo Cabaret Debut
In April 2008, Lea Michele performed a Flops n' Cutz concert at Joe's Pub with Landon Beard, and debuted her solo cabaret Once Upon a Dream at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency.
May 2008: Departure from Spring Awakening
In May 2008, Lea Michele left the Broadway cast of Spring Awakening with her co-star Jonathan Groff.
July 2008: Reading of Nero
In July 2008, Lea Michele performed as Claudia Octavia in a reading of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's new musical, Nero, at Vassar College.
August 2008: Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables Concert
In August 2008, Lea Michele portrayed Éponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, and sang at the Upright Cabaret at Mark's Restaurant in Hollywood.
2009: Starring in Glee
In 2009, Lea Michele began starring as Rachel Berry in the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee, a role written specifically for her. She won a Satellite Award for Best Actress.
May 2010: Glee Music Tour
In May 2010, Lea Michele and the cast of Glee embarked on a music tour of the United States, playing 10 shows.
October 2010: Rocky Horror Picture Show Benefit Concert
In October 2010, Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison performed in the 35th anniversary benefit concert of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
2010: Became a spokesmodel for Dove
In 2010, Lea Michele became a spokesmodel for the beauty company Dove, and she performed the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music in television commercials for the brand.
2010: Emmy Nomination for Glee
In 2010, Lea Michele was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Glee.
February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV Performance
On February 6, 2011, Lea Michele performed "America the Beautiful" with the United States Air Force Tops In Blue before the Super Bowl XLV.
February 2011: MusiCares Event and Super Bowl Performance
In February 2011, Lea Michele performed at The Grammys' MusiCares Person of the Year event, honoring Barbra Streisand, and performed "America the Beautiful" before Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011.
September 2011: Commercials for the HP TouchPad
In September 2011, Lea Michele appeared in commercials for the HP TouchPad.
December 9, 2011: New Year's Eve Film Release
On December 9, 2011, Lea Michele's film New Year's Eve, in which she portrayed Elise, was released worldwide.
January 2012: Became the spokesmodel for Candie's
In January 2012, Candie's announced that Lea Michele would be the spokesmodel for their brand, succeeding Vanessa Hudgens.
September 2012: Signed deal to be a spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris
In September 2012, Lea Michele signed an estimated $1 million deal to become a spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris. She then appeared in magazine spreads and television commercials promoting their products.
September 18, 2012: Announcement of Solo Album
On September 18, 2012, it was announced that Lea Michele would work on her first solo album.
October 19, 2012: Recording of First Solo Album
On October 19, 2012, Lea Michele began recording her first solo album.
May 2013: Book Deal with Harmony Books and Random House
In May 2013, it was announced that Lea Michele had signed a deal with Harmony Books and Random House to pen a part memoir, part how-to book titled Brunette Ambition.
August 2013: Donation to Valspar Hands for Habitat charity auction
In August 2013, Lea Michele donated a hand print to the Valspar Hands for Habitat charity auction.
November 27, 2013: Announcement of "Cannonball" Release
On November 27, 2013, it was announced that the first single from Lea Michele's debut album Louder would be "Cannonball."
December 10, 2013: "Cannonball" Release
On December 10, 2013, Lea Michele released her debut single, "Cannonball," which debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.
December 14, 2013: Host of "Lea Michele's Night of Shopping and Cocktails"
On December 14, 2013, Lea Michele hosted "Lea Michele's Night of Shopping and Cocktails", a fundraiser presented by SodaStream. The event benefited Chrysalis, a non-profit organization that helps homeless people find employment.
January 9, 2014: "Cannonball" Music Video Release
On January 9, 2014, the music video for Lea Michele's single "Cannonball" was released.
February 28, 2014: Louder Album Release
On February 28, 2014, Lea Michele released her debut studio album, Louder, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200.
April 2014: Performance at Taste for a Cure event
In April 2014, Lea Michele and Darren Criss performed together at the 19th annual Taste for a Cure event for the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation.
May 4, 2014: "On My Way" Single Release
On May 4, 2014, Lea Michele released "On My Way," the second single from her album Louder.
May 9, 2014: Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return Release
On May 9, 2014, Lea Michele voiced the lead role in the animated musical film Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, which opened in North American theaters.
May 19, 2014: "On My Way" Music Video Premiere
On May 19, 2014, the music video for Lea Michele's single "On My Way" premiered.
May 20, 2014: Brunette Ambition Book Release
On May 20, 2014, Lea Michele's part memoir, part how-to book titled Brunette Ambition was released. She had multiple book signings in the United States.
July 2014: Guest Star Role in Sons of Anarchy
In July 2014, it was announced that Lea Michele would guest star in the final season of FX's drama series Sons of Anarchy.
October 14, 2014: Sons of Anarchy Guest Appearance
On October 14, 2014, Lea Michele's episode "Smoke 'em If You Got 'em" aired on FX's Sons of Anarchy, where she played Gertie, a truck stop waitress.
October 2014: Teamed up with Evian to raise breast cancer awareness
In October 2014, Lea Michele partnered with Evian to encourage women to perform self breast exams to promote early cancer detection.
September 2015: Collaboration with Pixelberry Studios for High School Story
In September 2015, Pixelberry Studios announced their collaboration with Lea Michele, launching High School Story with Lea Michele, a celebrity takeover update of their popular app.
September 22, 2015: You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life Release
On September 22, 2015, Lea Michele released her second book, You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life, published by Random House.
2015: Starring in Scream Queens
From 2015, Lea Michele starred in the Fox horror-comedy series Scream Queens as Hester Ulrich.
2015: End of Glee
In 2015, the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee, starring Lea Michele as Rachel Berry, ended.
February 2016: Collaboration with Burt's Bees to save bees
In February 2016, Lea Michele announced her collaboration with Burt's Bees in a campaign addressing the declining bee population.
March 15, 2016: "This Is for My Girls" Charity Single Release
On March 15, 2016, Lea Michele was featured on the charity single "This Is for My Girls," which benefited the White House's #62MillionGirls campaign and the Obama administration's Let Girls Learn initiative.
June 2016: Tribute to victims of Orlando gay nightclub shooting
In June 2016, Lea Michele participated in a Human Rights Campaign video paying tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando gay nightclub shooting. In the video, she and other celebrities shared the stories of those who were killed.
April 2017: Barnes & Noble donation from 'Places to Step Up' purchase
In April 2017, Barnes & Noble donated a portion of every purchase of Places to Step Up.
November 2017: Partnership with eBay to benefit Feeding America
In November 2017, Lea Michele partnered with eBay to design a pin to benefit Feeding America. She also auctioned off a set visit to one of her projects in 2018.
February 2019: Commercial for ZOLA
In February 2019, Lea Michele appeared in a commercial for ZOLA, a wedding planning website.
April 2019: Performance at "A Grand Night" fundraising gala
In April 2019, Lea Michele performed at the "A Grand Night" fundraising gala held at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
November 24, 2019: Visit to ill children at Children's Health Care of Atlanta
On November 24, 2019, Lea Michele visited ill children at Children's Health Care of Atlanta.
October 2023: Signed the "No Hostage Left Behind" letter
In October 2023, Lea Michele signed the "No Hostage Left Behind" letter, which was an open letter to US President Joe Biden requesting the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
Mentioned in this timeline
Michelle Obama is an American attorney author and former First...
Ellen DeGeneres is an American former comedian actress television host...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Lyft Inc is a US-based transportation company providing a range...
Christmas is an annual festival celebrated on December th commemorating...
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the...
Trending
8 months ago Haley Stevens Enters Michigan Senate Race, Signaling Key Test for Democrats Direction.
Brandon Lowe is a professional baseball player primarily a second baseman currently playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in MLB...
7 months ago Lewis Pullman's Sentry costume revealed for 'Thunderbolts' in exclusive first look and interviews.
6 months ago Kate Winslet Discusses Career on 60 Minutes; Pompeo Cut from Film
5 days ago Ranking the Worst Christmas Songs and Exploring Overrated, Underrated Holiday Music
5 months ago NJ Transit Bus Driver Charged After Crash Injuring Roseland Police Officer Critically.
Popular
Matt and Ross Duffer known as the Duffer Brothers are...
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator and author...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Ilhan Omar is an American politician currently serving as the...
Tom Cotton is an American politician and Army veteran currently...
The Kennedy Center Honors are annual awards recognizing individuals and...