History of Lea Michele in Timeline
Lea Michele Sarfati is a renowned American actress, singer, and songwriter. Her career began on Broadway as a child actress, where she starred in notable productions like Les Misérables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof, and Spring Awakening. Michele gained significant recognition for her role as Rachel Berry in the Fox television series Glee. Her performance garnered her nominations for prestigious awards, including an Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards. Beyond acting, she contributed to the music produced for the show, which achieved considerable commercial success on the Billboard charts and even earned her a Grammy Award nomination.
August 29, 1986: Lea Michele's Birth
Lea Michele Sarfati was born on August 29, 1986.
1995: Broadway Debut in Les Misérables
In 1995, at the age of eight, Lea Michele made her Broadway debut as a replacement for Young Cosette in Les Misérables. She also understudied the role of Gavroche.
1996: End of Les Misérables Run
Lea Michele's run in Les Misérables ended in 1996.
1997: Ragtime and Homeschooling
In 1997, Lea Michele was homeschooled while living and working in Toronto, performing in a production of Ragtime.
October 13, 1998: Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night Release
The animated film Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night, in which Lea Michele voiced the character Christina, was released on October 13, 1998.
1999: End of Ragtime Run
Lea Michele's time in the production of Ragtime concluded in 1999.
2004: Fiddler on the Roof
Lea Michele began portraying Shprintze in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof in 2004, also understudying the role of Chava.
February 2005: Spring Awakening at Lincoln Center
In February 2005, Lea Michele performed as Wendla in Spring Awakening at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
2005: End of Fiddler on the Roof Run
Lea Michele finished her run in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof in 2005.
December 2006: Spring Awakening Broadway Premiere
Spring Awakening, starring Lea Michele as Wendla Bergmann, premiered on Broadway in December 2006.
2006: Spring Awakening Debut
Lea Michele originated the role of Wendla Bergmann in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening in 2006.
December 2007: Unsung: 'Tis The Season To Be Naughty Performance
In December 2007, Lea Michele performed at the Lucille Lortel Theatre for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, "Unsung: 'Tis The Season To Be Naughty".
2007: Gap Marketing Campaign
Lea Michele and her "Spring Awakening" co-stars were featured in a Gap marketing campaign in 2007, including Times Square billboards.
2007: Funny Girl Inspiration
In 2007, Lea Michele first saw the movie adaptation of "Funny Girl", which later inspired her character's storyline in "Glee".
2007: Drama Desk Award Nomination
Lea Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2007 for her role in "Spring Awakening".
January 2008: Alive in the World Concert
Lea Michele starred in a concert production of the musical Alive in the World as Phoebe in January 2008.
April 2008: Flops n' Cutz Concert and Once Upon a Dream Cabaret
In April 2008, Lea Michele performed in the Flops n' Cutz concert and debuted her solo cabaret, Once Upon a Dream.
May 2008: Departure from Spring Awakening
Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff left the Broadway cast of Spring Awakening in May 2008.
July 2008: Nero Reading
Lea Michele performed as Claudia Octavia in a reading of the new musical Nero in July 2008.
August 2008: Les Misérables at the Hollywood Bowl
Lea Michele played Éponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert in August 2008.
2008: Departure from Spring Awakening and Other Performances
In 2008, Lea Michele left the Broadway cast of Spring Awakening. She also performed in other productions, such as a concert version of Alive in the World and Les Misérables at the Hollywood Bowl.
2008: PETA Campaign and Benefit Concert
In 2008, Lea Michele participated in a PETA ad campaign against horse-drawn carriages and performed in "Alive in the World," a benefit concert for the Twin Towers Orphan Fund.
2008: Begins Working with Cory Monteith
Lea Michele and Cory Monteith began working together on Glee in 2008.
November 2009: Support for Gay Rights
Lea Michele showed her support for gay rights by performing at the Human Rights Campaign dinner and the True Colors Cabaret in November 2009.
2009: Glee Premiere
Lea Michele began starring as Rachel Berry in the Fox series Glee in 2009.
April 2010: PETA Public Service Announcement
In April 2010, Lea Michele appeared in a public service announcement for PETA, advocating against fur clothing.
May 2010: Glee Live! In Concert! Tour Begins
The Glee Live! In Concert! tour kicked off in May 2010 with shows in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.
September 2010: PETA Recognition and Time 100
Lea Michele's work with animals was recognized by PETA in September 2010. She was also featured in Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People" list for her talent and ability to encourage student involvement.
October 2010: Rocky Horror Picture Show Performance
Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison performed as Janet Weiss and Brad Majors in the 35th anniversary benefit concert of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in October 2010.
October 2010: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Benefit Concert
Lea Michele performed the lead role of Janet Weiss in a benefit concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in October 2010.
December 2010: Billboard's Triple Threat Award
In December 2010, Lea Michele received Billboard's first-ever Triple Threat Award.
2010: Emmy Award Nomination
Lea Michele was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010 for her role in Glee.
2010: Dove Spokesmodel
Lea Michele became a spokesmodel for Dove in 2010, singing "My Favorite Things" in commercials.
2010: Emmy and SAG Award Nominations
In 2010, Lea Michele received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the "Glee" ensemble.
February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV Performance
Lea Michele sang "America the Beautiful" with the United States Air Force Tops In Blue before Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011.
February 2011: Grammy MusiCares Benefit Performance
In February 2011, Lea Michele performed at the Grammy Awards MusiCares benefit concert in Los Angeles.
February 2011: MusiCares Person of the Year Performance
Lea Michele performed "My Man" at The Grammys' MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring Barbra Streisand in February 2011.
September 2011: HP TouchPad Commercial
Lea Michele appeared in commercials for the HP TouchPad in September 2011.
December 9, 2011: New Year's Eve Release
Lea Michele's film "New Year's Eve" was released worldwide on December 9, 2011.
2011: Grammy Nominations and Golden Globe Nomination
In 2011, Lea Michele was nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Don't Stop Believin'" and another for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for "Glee: The Music, Volume 1". She was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.
2011: Grammy Award Nomination
Lea Michele received a Grammy Award nomination in 2011 for her performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" with the "Glee" cast.
2011: New Year's Eve Film Debut
In 2011, Lea Michele made her feature film debut in New Year's Eve.
January 2012: Candie's Spokesmodel
Lea Michele became the spokesmodel for Candie's in January 2012.
February 2012: Begins Dating Cory Monteith
Lea Michele and Cory Monteith began dating in February 2012.
April 2012: Taste for a Cure Performance
Lea Michele and Darren Criss performed together at the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's "Taste for a Cure" fundraiser in April 2012.
July 2012: Valspar Hands for Habitat Launch
Lea Michele hosted the launch of the Valspar Hands for Habitat charity auction in July 2012, donating a signed handprint.
September 2012: L'Oréal Paris Spokesperson
Lea Michele signed a deal with L'Oréal Paris to be their spokesperson in September 2012.
September 18, 2012: Solo Album Announcement
On September 18, 2012, Lea Michele announced she would be working on her first solo album.
October 2012: Big Brothers Big Sisters Gala
Lea Michele and Darren Criss performed at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles Stars Gala in October 2012.
October 19, 2012: Solo Album Recording Begins
Lea Michele began recording her first solo album on October 19, 2012.
December 2012: L'Oréal Women of Worth Ambassador
Lea Michele became an ambassador for L'Oréal's Women of Worth program in December 2012.
2012: People's Choice Award Win
Lea Michele won the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress in 2012.
2012: Signing with Columbia Records
Lea Michele signed with Columbia Records in 2012.
May 2013: Book Deal Announcement
In May 2013, Lea Michele announced a book deal with Harmony Books and Random House for her memoir, "Brunette Ambition."
June 2013: Feed America for Target Launch
In June 2013, Lea Michele co-hosted the launch of the Feed America for Target campaign.
July 2013: Cory Monteith's Death
Cory Monteith passed away in July 2013.
August 2013: Valspar Hands for Habitat Donation
Lea Michele donated a handprint to the Valspar Hands for Habitat charity auction in August 2013.
November 27, 2013: "Cannonball" Announcement
The first single from Lea Michele's debut album, "Cannonball," was announced on November 27, 2013.
December 10, 2013: "Cannonball" Release
Lea Michele's debut solo single, "Cannonball," was released on December 10, 2013.
December 14, 2013: "Lea Michele's Night of Shopping and Cocktails"
Lea Michele hosted a fundraising event on December 14, 2013, benefiting the non-profit organization Chrysalis.
2013: People's Choice Award Win
Lea Michele won the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress in 2013.
2013: Vocal Range
As of 2013, Lea Michele's vocal range was reported to span approximately three octaves.
January 9, 2014: "Cannonball" Music Video Release
The music video for Lea Michele's "Cannonball" premiered on January 9, 2014.
February 28, 2014: Louder Release
Lea Michele's debut album, "Louder," was released on February 28, 2014.
April 2014: Taste for a Cure Performance
Lea Michele and Darren Criss performed together at the 19th annual Taste for a Cure event in April 2014.
May 4, 2014: "On My Way" Release
The second single from "Louder," titled "On My Way," was released on May 4, 2014.
May 9, 2014: Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return Release
The animated film "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return," in which Lea Michele voiced Dorothy Gale, opened in North American theaters on May 9, 2014.
May 19, 2014: "On My Way" Music Video Release
The music video for "On My Way" by Lea Michele was released on May 19, 2014.
May 20, 2014: Brunette Ambition Release
Lea Michele's book "Brunette Ambition" was released on May 20, 2014.
July 2014: Sons of Anarchy Guest Appearance Announced
In July 2014, it was announced Lea Michele would guest star in the final season of "Sons of Anarchy."
October 14, 2014: Sons of Anarchy Episode Airs
Lea Michele's episode of "Sons of Anarchy," titled "Smoke 'em If You Got 'em," aired on October 14, 2014.
October 2014: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign with Evian
Lea Michele partnered with Evian in October 2014 to raise awareness about early cancer detection.
2014: Louder Album and Brunette Ambition Book Release
Lea Michele released her debut studio album, Louder, and her first book, Brunette Ambition, in 2014.
2014: Alanis Morissette Influence
In 2014, Lea Michele discussed the influence of Alanis Morissette's album "Jagged Little Pill" on her career.
April 2015: Second Album Recording Begins
Lea Michele began recording her second studio album in April 2015.
September 2015: High School Story Collaboration
Lea Michele collaborated with Pixelberry Studios on a celebrity update for their app, High School Story, in September 2015.
September 22, 2015: You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life Release
Lea Michele's second book, "You First: Journal Your Way to Your Best Life," was released on September 22, 2015.
2015: End of Glee and Start of Scream Queens
In 2015, Lea Michele concluded her role as Rachel Berry in Glee and began starring as Hester Ulrich in Scream Queens.
2015: Scream Queens Debut
Lea Michele began starring in the Fox series "Scream Queens" in 2015.
February 2016: Burt's Bees Collaboration
In February 2016, Lea Michele joined a campaign with Burt's Bees to address the declining bee population.
March 15, 2016: "This Is for My Girls" Release
The charity single "This Is for My Girls," featuring Lea Michele and other artists, was released on March 15, 2016.
June 2016: Tribute to Orlando Shooting Victims
Lea Michele participated in a Human Rights Campaign video tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting in June 2016.
2016: End of Scream Queens
Lea Michele's role on Scream Queens ended in 2016.
January 2017: An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele Tour Begins
Lea Michele began her mini-tour, "An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele," in January 2017.
March 3, 2017: "Love Is Alive" Release
The lead single from Lea Michele's second album, "Love Is Alive," was released on March 3, 2017.
April 4, 2017: Dimension 404 Premiere
The first episode of Hulu's "Dimension 404," featuring Lea Michele, premiered on April 4, 2017.
April 2017: Barnes & Noble Partnership with Step Up
In April 2017, Barnes & Noble donated a portion of proceeds from "Places" sales to the non-profit Step Up.
April 28, 2017: Places Release
Lea Michele's second studio album, "Places," was released on April 28, 2017.
May 2017: An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele Tour Continues
Lea Michele's tour continued with shows in the UK and North America in April and May 2017.
October 8, 2017: Elsie Fest Performance
Lea Michele performed as a headlining act at Elsie Fest on October 8, 2017.
November 2017: eBay Partnership for Feeding America
Lea Michele designed a pin for eBay to benefit Feeding America in November 2017 and auctioned a set visit to one of her projects.
2017: Illiteracy Rumors Begin
Rumors about Lea Michele's literacy began circulating in 2017.
2017: The Mayor Premiere and Places Album Release
In 2017, Lea Michele starred as Valentina Barella in the ABC sitcom The Mayor and released her second studio album, Places.
March 2018: Illiteracy Rumors Go Viral
The rumors surrounding Lea Michele's literacy gained traction and became a widespread internet meme in March 2018.
April 2018: LM/DC Tour Announcement
The LM/DC Tour, co-headlined by Lea Michele and Darren Criss, was announced in April 2018.
June 2018: LM/DC Tour in North America
The LM/DC Tour took place in several North American cities in May and June 2018.
December 2018: Old Navy and Lyft Partnership
Lea Michele teamed up with Old Navy and Lyft to offer free rides to stores during the holidays in December 2018.
December 2018: LM/DC Tour in UK and Ireland
The LM/DC Tour continued in the United Kingdom and Ireland from October to December 2018.
2018: Set Visit Auction
In 2018, Lea Michele auctioned off a visit to one of her projects to raise money for charity.
February 2019: ZOLA Commercial
Lea Michele appeared in a commercial for the wedding planning website ZOLA in February 2019.
March 9, 2019: Marriage to Zandy Reich
Lea Michele and Zandy Reich married on March 9, 2019, in Napa, California.
April 2019: "A Grand Night" Fundraising Gala
Lea Michele performed at "A Grand Night" fundraising gala at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in April 2019.
May 1, 2019: College Signing Day with Michelle Obama
Lea Michele joined Michelle Obama at Reach Higher's College Signing Day on May 1, 2019.
May 2019: Well, Well, Well with Lea Michele Announcement
Lea Michele's digital series "Well, Well, Well with Lea Michele" was announced in May 2019.
September 2019: PCOS Diagnosis
In September 2019, Lea Michele revealed her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis, which she received around age 30.
October 25, 2019: Christmas in the City Release
Lea Michele's third studio album, "Christmas in the City," was released on October 25, 2019.
November 24, 2019: Visit to Children's Health Care of Atlanta
Lea Michele visited ill children at Children's Health Care of Atlanta on November 24, 2019.
December 19, 2019: New York City Holiday Performances
Starting on December 19, 2019, Lea Michele performed a series of holiday shows in New York City.
2019: Christmas in the City Album Release
Lea Michele released her third studio album, Christmas in the City, in 2019.
June 2, 2020: HelloFresh Partnership Ends
HelloFresh ended their partnership with Lea Michele on June 2, 2020, due to bullying accusations.
June 2020: Bullying Allegations
In June 2020, Lea Michele faced accusations of bullying and creating a hostile work environment on the set of "Glee". She issued an apology, acknowledging her past behavior.
August 2020: Birth of Son
Lea Michele's son was born in August 2020.
November 5, 2021: Forever: A Lullaby Album Release
On November 5, 2021, Lea Michele released her cover album titled "Forever: A Lullaby Album".
2021: Forever Album Release
Lea Michele released her fourth studio album, Forever, in 2021.
July 11, 2022: Funny Girl Casting Announcement
On July 11, 2022, Lea Michele's casting as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of "Funny Girl" was announced.
September 6, 2022: Funny Girl Debut
Lea Michele debuted as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" on Broadway on September 6, 2022, replacing Beanie Feldstein.
September 11, 2022: COVID-19 Diagnosis
On September 11, 2022, Lea Michele announced she tested positive for COVID-19, temporarily halting her "Funny Girl" performances.
September 2022: Response to Rumors
In September 2022, Lea Michele addressed the rumors about her literacy in an interview with The New York Times.
September 20, 2022: Return to Funny Girl
Lea Michele returned to the stage for "Funny Girl" on September 20, 2022, after recovering from COVID-19.
2022: Return to Broadway
Lea Michele returned to Broadway in 2022 with "Funny Girl", receiving critical acclaim.
2022: Return to Broadway in Funny Girl
Lea Michele returned to Broadway in 2022, starring as Fanny Brice in the musical revival of Funny Girl.
September 3, 2023: Funny Girl Final Performance
The "Funny Girl" revival starring Lea Michele had its final performance on September 3, 2023.
2023: Time 100
In 2023, Lea Michele was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine.