Taking a look back. Lea Michele may be best known for her role as Rachel Berry in Glee, but the actress’ life in the spotlight started long before that, as she made her debut on Broadway at the age of 8, playing a replacement Young Cosette in Les Misérables. Three years later, she played Little Girl in Ragtime.
Although she stepped away from the stage in 2009 when Ryan Murphy wrote the role of Rachel Berry for her specifically, her love for Broadway was written into the character. Following the show, the iconic writer and director included Michele in many of his projects. In fact, when Glee ended in 2015, she signed on as the lead of his next series, Scream Queens.
The horror comedy, in which she starred alongside original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, didn’t include singing and the character was nothing like Rachel Berry. Instead, she wore a neck brace and desperately tried to fit in with the It-Girls in school.
“Honestly, having been offered this role, I knew nothing. But I did trust Ryan implicitly that he would create something for me that would be the most incredible opportunity to show people a different side and a different color,” the actress told Entertainment Weekly in 2015. “And the first and only thing he said to me about the project was, ‘neck brace.’ And I was like, ‘Well, I guess no better way to show people something completely different from Rachel Berry than a neck brace.’ The thing that I’m most grateful for with this character is the opportunity to show people a completely different side.”
In addition to acting, Michele also has released three albums with three very different sounds. Her first, Louder, came out in 2014. She worked on it following the death of her boyfriend, Cory Montieth, who died of an accidental overdose the year before.
“Listening to it, it’s therapeutic and difficult,” she told Billboard about the song “If You Say So,” which she wrote about Monteith. “It will always represent the most devastating thing that’s ever happened to me in my whole life. But at the same time, music is therapy. It’s been therapy for me in the entire grieving process and in my entire life. I’m grateful that Sia collaborated on that song with me and it’s a moment in my life … music has just been so important and so helpful to me this whole year.”
Scroll through the gallery below for more on Michele’s life:
At 20, Michele landed the role of Wendla Bergmann in Spring Awakening on Broadway. Despite being offered the role of Éponine in Les Misérables on Broadway, she remained at Spring Awakening alongside best friend Jonathan Groff until they both exited in 2008.
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In May 2009, Ryan Murphy cast her as Rachel Berry in Fox's Glee. She appeared in the musical comedy-drama for all six seasons until its finale in 2015.
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Two years into Glee, Michele landed her first movie role in New Year's Eve, starring as a background singer looking for her big break and Ashton Kutcher's love interest.
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In 2012, news broke that Michele was dating her Glee costar Cory Monteith. In January 2013, she spoke publicly about their relationship. "I don't even remember a time when he wasn't my boyfriend," she told Marie Claire. "No one knows me better than Cory. No one knows what it's been like to go through this more than he does."
He admitted himself into rehab in April 2013 and she publicly stated that she would be standing by him no matter what.
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In July 2013, Monteith died from "a mixed drug toxicity" made up of heroin and alcohol. The following month, Michele made her first public appearance at the Teen Choice Awards.
"I just wanted to be here today to personally thank all of you and tell everyone out there how much all of your love and support has meant to me over these very difficult few weeks," she stated in August through tears. "I wanted to dedicate this award to Cory. For all of you out there who loved and admired Cory as much as I did, I promise that with your love we're gonna get through this together. He was very special to me and also to the world. And we were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, handsome smile and his beautiful, beautiful heart. So whether you knew him personally or just as Finn Hudson, Cory reached out and became a part of all of our hearts. And that's where he'll stay forever."
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In February 2014, Michele dropped her first album, Louder, which included tracks written by Sia and Christina Perri.
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Following the end of Glee, Michele landed her next TV role in Murphy's Scream Queens, portraying Hester Ulrich in the show's two seasons. It was canceled in 2016.
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She released her second album, Places, in 2017, which she first introduced in a mini-tour titled "An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele." The album debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 chart.
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From October to December 2017, she starred on the ABC comedy, The Mayor. However, it was canceled after one season.
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On April 28, Michele shared via Instagram that she was engaged to Zandy Reich after a year of dating.
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The duo tied the knot in Napa, California, on March 9. “Our wedding weekend was so perfect and amazing, celebrating with our friends and family, such a true blessing,” she said via Instagram in December.
“We had an incredible honeymoon in Bora Bora. We lived bi coastal most of the year enjoying both East and West coasts and spent great times with our families.”
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In October 2019, Michele released her first holiday album, Christmas in the City, which included duets with Groff, Cynthia Erivo and Darren Criss.
“I’ve wanted to make a Christmas album for such a long time — it’s such special music to me,” Michele told Us at the time. “I wanted to bring back a little bit of that sound and that nostalgia. I really think that will [be felt all] through the album. I have some wonderful guest stars — it’s going to be really great.”
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In May 2020, the actress announced via Instagram that she is pregnant with her first child. "So grateful," she captioned a photo of her bump.
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The following month, Michele spoke out via Twitter about the Black Lives Matter movement. Her former costar Samantha Marie Ware responded, accusing her of making her life "a living hell" during her time on the show. Multiple former costars spoke out against Michele's behavior on set and the singer released an apology. She claimed that she didn't "remember" the incident Ware brought up.
"The responses I received to what I posted have made me also focus specifically on how my own behavior towards fellow cast members was perceived by them," she wrote. "While I don’t remember ever making this specific statement and I have never judged others by their background or color of their skin, that’s not really the point. What matters is that I clearly acted in ways which hurt other people."
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Us confirmed on August 23 that Michele had welcomed a baby boy with Reich three days earlier. "Everyone’s happy and healthy, and they're extremely grateful. He's been an easy baby so far," a source told Us.
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One week after giving birth, the former Broadway star gave fans their first look at her new little one. "ForEver grateful for this true blessing," she captioned a black-and-white photo of her hand cradling her son's foot.
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Michele announced in July 2021 that she was working on an album of lullabies dedicated to her son. The LP, titled Forever, was her first since 2019's Christmas in the City.
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"I can't believe my son is turning 1 tomorrow. Even now saying the words 'my son' still feels so unbelievable," the actress gushed as she celebrated Ever's first birthday in August 2021. "All of the sayings are true — you will experience a type of love you have never felt before, you will forever be changed, it all goes so fast — they are all so true. My beautiful boy you are the greatest gift god has ever given me and your daddy and I love you so very much."
Courtesy Lea Michele/Instagramfrom Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/2XBSUXE
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