Lea Michele opened up about some harsh criticism she obtained early on in her profession.
The 36-year-old US actress, who’s starring as Fanny Brice in Broadway‘s revival of Funny Girl, told Town & Country magazine she was subjected to derogatory remarks about her appearance when she was younger.
“People would tell me to get nose jobs, that I wasn’t fairly sufficient for movie and tv,” Michele recalled.
The Glee alum informed the outlet comparisons have been continuously made between her and Barbra Streisand, who has spoken out about her refusal to get a nostril job many occasions through the years.
Streisand additionally originated the function of Fanny within the musical‘s 1964 Broadway production, which received eight nominations at the 18th Tony Awards. The star won the Academy Award for best actress after reprising her role as Fanny in the musical’s 1968 movie adaptation.
“She was an icon for me in my life,” Michele mentioned of Streisand.
The former Scream Queens star informed the outlet she was overjoyed when she just lately obtained a congratulatory observe from Streisand.
“It was so surreal and such a wonderful moment,” Michele mentioned. “The fact that she acknowledged my performance … I could cry.
“I called [Glee co-star] Jonathan [Groff] and [Glee creator] Ryan Murphy sobbing.”
Michele informed Town & Country she might resolve to maintain the content material of Streisand’s observe to herself.
“It was a beautiful, handwritten note that I will cherish. She was incredibly complimentary,” she mentioned. “It exists. It happened, and now I feel like so many dreams can come true.”
Michele mentioned she first found Funny Girl in 2006 when she was starring on Broadway in Spring Awakening. The musical’s director, Michael Mayer, advisable it to her since she was going by a painful break-up on the time, and Michele mentioned she “became obsessed.”
During a visit to go to Mayer with Groff, Michele met Murphy and the 2 talked about Funny Girl. She informed the outlet Murphy created the function of Glee character Rachel Berry for her that evening.
In the hit FOX musical sequence, Michele performed a high-schooler and aspiring Broadway star who was obsessive about Funny Girl. During the present’s six-season run from 2009 to 2015, Rachel sang a few of Fanny’s most well-known numbers, together with Don’t Rain on My Parade, I’m the Greatest Star, People and My Man.
In the fifth season of Glee, Rachel drops out of school after touchdown her dream function as Fanny in a Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
In July, it was introduced Michele could be taking on the function of Fanny from Beanie Feldstein within the revival, which is directed by Mayer.
“A dream come true is an understatement,” Michele wrote in an Instagram submit after the casting news was introduced. ”I’m so extremely honoured to hitch this wonderful solid and manufacturing and return to the stage taking part in Fanny Brice on Broadway.”
Earlier this 12 months, Michele’s former Glee co-star, Chris Colfer, threw shade on the actress, saying he doesn‘t plan on seeing Michele in the Broadway revival.
Michele’s casting was additionally slammed by Glee star Samantha Ware, who earlier accused Michele of bullying in 2020.
This story initially appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission
