Not your stereotypical starlet, Glee’s LEA MICHELE prefers reality TV to nights on the town and calls kissing Ashton Kutcher “child’s play.”
joe yogerst talks to her about Broadway, Barbra and being different
 

TONIGHT IS THE night for anyone in the music business – the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. But rather than flitting in and out of the glam parties scattered around town, Lea Michele Sarfati – to use her full name – is having a quiet dinner with her father, who’s visiting from New York. And in case you think that’s an aberration, consider that the previous weekend, the paparazzi snapped Michele emerging from a Beverly Hills salon with none other than…her mother. That … Read the rest

There’s a frisson of excitement as Lea Michele walks into the room. As petite as she appears on screen, the lead actress of TV phenomenon Glee channels her alter-ego Rachel Berry’s fashion sense in a cute black top, pleated brown skirt and five-inch high heels.

Fizzing with energy and enthusiasm, Michele (who started her career as a child actress in Broadway theatre productions of Les Miserables, Fiddler On The Roof and Spring Awakening) says she shares her character’s idolisation of Barbra Streisand and the stage.

“I think everyone has a little something in them that’s in their character. Ryan (Murphy, Glee’s co-creator) is so in tune with who we are as people, he bleeds that into our characters and storylines,” … Read the rest

Talk about getting all verklempt!

After being accused of snubbing a certain song-happy TV show, Barbra Streisand is continuing her mission to prove that she is, indeed, a Gleek.

How so? How about a little mutual fandemonium love fest with Lea Michele…

MORE: So Does Barbra Streisand really hate Glee?

While the living legend and the young Ms. Michele didn’t meet at Babs’ MusiCares tribute on Friday night, it finally happened yesterday.

“After the Grammys as Ms. Michele stood in line with others waiting for her limousine, a woman approached her to congratulate and thanks her for her accomplished performance at the MusiCares event,” a Streisand rep tells us. “It was, of course, Barbra Streisand, and you … Read the rest

There’s been talk of that casting possibility, but one of Lea’s co-stars is on the fence about the subject. “Maybe someday,” Glee’s Darren Criss told The Hollywood Reporter when asked if Michele could take on the role that Streisand played in 1968. “Lea has many years ahead of her. She’s very young and has all the time in the world.”
Streisand was 26 years old when she played the lead in the film adaptation of the Broadway production, which she also starred in. She later won the Academy Award for the performance. Michele is 24.

Unlike Criss, Glee guest Chenoweth has faith that the Fox series star can tackle the role of comedienne Fannie Brice on a moment’s notice. “I … Read the rest

In this week’s PEOPLE Magazine, February 7, 2011 issue, Lea Michele writes “Why I Love Barbra” and says that, “I grew up in this typical New Jersey town where everyone looked the same. If you didn’t have a nose job, you were about to. Agents and casting directors told me to get one, but my mother said, ‘Barbra Streisand never did- and neither are you.’

When I met [GLEE creator] Ryan Murphy, he asked if I’d ever seen Funny Girl. I said no. When I did see it, I cried my eyes out. My life changed. Her character felt and looked so much like me! From then, I’ve been obsessed with Barbra. Her voice is perfect. She doesn’t … Read the rest