Born for the stage! Lea Michele, born on August 29, 1986, has spent nearly her entire life in the spotlight, earning major acclaim both on Broadway and on-screen. She began her career as a child performer on Broadway, appearing in Les Misérables (1995–1996), Ragtime (1997–1999), Fiddler on the Roof (2004–2005), and the original production of Spring Awakening (2006–2008), where she became a breakout star.
Lea shot to global fame with the debut of Glee (2009–2015), where her powerhouse voice and emotional performances as Rachel Berry turned her into a household name. She later took on new TV roles in Ryan Murphy’s campy horror-comedy Scream Queens (2015–2016) and the ABC sitcom The Mayor (2017). She also made her feature-film debut in the ensemble romantic comedy New Year’s Eve in 2011.
Beyond acting, Lea has released three studio albums, authored two books, and continued to expand her creative repertoire. In 2022, she made a much-discussed Broadway return when she stepped into the iconic role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, leading the production from September 2022 to September 2023 and earning widespread praise for her performance. Most recently, Lea is back on Broadway once again — starring in a new revival of Chess, the classic Cold War musical set for the 2025–2026 season.
Already Leah Michele has had quite the career. See photos from her early days to now in our gallery here!
