Although she plays the goody girl character, Rachel Berry on Fox’s hit show “Glee”, 24 year old Michele (Happy recent Birthday BTW!) is all but preppy in real life. She actually embodies an ultra-cool edginess with several visible tattoos, as seen at the Emmys this past Sunday.  Also in the recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, she reveals she has 9 tattoos. Some of these tats have been very spontaneous and a spur of the moment decision. Recently on a trip to Chi town, her and fellow casts Jenna Ushkowitz and Kvin McHale all got matching “Imagine” tattoos on their left foot. The tattoos each cost $50, and of course our very own Lea was the one who in her own words “instigated the whole thing”.

Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com

On the same evening, she got another tattoo  — a gold star which was an homage to her overachieving “Glee” character. Other tats that Lea has are an “I Believe” tattoo on her right wrist in teal ink. a blue butterfly located on her right foot which was actually designed by her cousin, another butterfly on her back which she inked with her mom being present.

Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Michele’s remaining tattoos are of little bird on her hip, two musical notes from Queen’s hit song “Bohemian Rhapsody” on her left shoulder, and a tattoo on her thigh which is in memory of her late grandfather, who passed away a year ago.

Happy 24th Birthday Lea!

We’d like to wish Lea a very Happy 24th Birthday today, and good luck at the Emmys today! We’re sure all the Gleeks would love to wish you a Happy Birthday today! Can’t wait to see what you’re wearing tonight on the red carpet, but we’re sure you’ll look beautiful as usual, no matter what you wear!

Congratulations again on everything Lea. It’s been an amazing year, and you deserve all of the attention! We can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for you!

Lea Michele is super excited for Britney Spears’ upcoming appearance on an episode of  Glee, where the former teen pop star will preview her own material and songs as well as have a role on the show. At a party last night in Hollywood, Lea gave us a little sneak peek of what to expect on the show… Lea Michele Gives Us The Scoop About Britney\’s \”Glee\” Episode

“We’re recreating Britney Spears’ videos…a few of them, in fantasies, so I happen to be caught in my tracksuit. Whether or not that’s “Hit Me…Baby One More Time,” you can put the pieces together.” Lea actually had it mind to sing another song before coming to a realization that she, “wanted to do “Circus,” which we’re not doing, but I realized that the choreography would be way too hard for me!” said Lea.

Recently going Vegan, Lea says her tight bod is the result of the all that she does on the show, rather than her recent change in diet. “I do a vegan diet just because I love animals,” the TV star explains. “I do try to work out, but I’m not a big workout fan. Glee is what keeps me super active.” Not a bad gig to have, that keeps you in great shape, has you doing two of the things you love doing (singing & acting), along with allowing you to rub elbows with real life pop-stars like Britney Spears. We’re very happy for you Lea!

If you love watching Lea Michele on the hit TV show “Glee” then you may want to tune into BBC America’s “The Choir”. It’s essentially a real life version of “Glee” with themes of the underdog, adversity, and harrowing stories of extreme competitions. The show follows the choir director, Gareth Malone, who seeks unlikely talent and matches them together to form a winning team so they can compete in esteemed competitions.

Most of these kids are incredibly shy, and have never sung in front of their friends let alone a large room of people. A child’s self-esteem is critical to their success and helping to improve it through competitive singing is a clever way to bring these kids out of their shell and explore new levels.

Screen Capture of Glee Inspired Reality Show, "The Choir"

The show airs Wednesdays at 10PM on BBC America.

Fans and the star herself can find a good occasion to break into song from this morning’s announcement. Lea was nominated for her performance on the Fox Musical Comedy for her portrayal as Rachel Berry. Lea, currently on her summer break from the show, said she wasn’t exactly paying close attention or even knew the announcements of Emmy Nominations were being made today. In an interview with the New York Times, she was quoted as saying, “I knew this was coming up, but I haven’t felt I was in it… I woke up this morning and it was such a shock.”

Unlike her on screen character, Lea sent some sweet congratulatory words to fellow nominees (as expected for “Glee”!) which are both co-stars, and co-creators of “Glee”.

Congratulations Lea! What an amazing year it’s been for you! Keep it going!

2010 Emmy Award Nominations Recap – Lea Michele Nomination

Golden Globe nominee and vegetarian Lea Michele plays sassy songstress Rachel Berry in the hit television show Glee. One may find argyle sweaters, plaid skirts, and knee-highs in her wardrobe, but one thing you won’t see is fur. Lea’s latest extracurricular activity is helping animals by speaking out against the fur industry in her PSA for PETA.

Lea gets a gold star for posing with the adorable rescued mutt Sailor in her PSA for PETA. She explains, “Animals used for fur—including dogs and cats—suffer horrible deaths because some people think it’s OK to make a coat out of them.” The only difference between your “best friend” and animals killed for their fur is the way that they are treated. Foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals killed for their pelts are bludgeoned, electrocuted, and often skinned alive.

In China, which is now the world’s largest fur exporter, there are no laws to protect animals on fur farms, and dogs and cats are often killed for their fur. The fur is often mislabeled and sold to unsuspecting customers around the world.

Learn more about Lea’s love of animals by checking out the behind-the-scenes interview from her PETA shoot here.

We already knew that the Glee kids would be tackling Lady Gaga in their back nine episodes, set to begin airing on Fox April 13. But now we actually can tell you which Gaga tunes to get the choral overhaul: “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face.” The latter of the pair will be tackled by Lea Michele’s Rachel. Says creator Ryan Murphy, “Lea does a very stripped-down version of ‘Poker Face.’” Meanwhile, “Romance” sounds like a much more elaborate number, with the glee club actually donning Gaga-esque wardrobe for the performance.

“I do know that we’re all different Lady Gagas, and at one point I am the Kermit the Frog Lady Gaga,” says Michele, referring to this crazy ensemble worn by the pop star. “I saw a picture of the Kermit the Frog Lady Gaga with a Post-It on it that said ‘Lea.’ I was like, oh, great. Everyone else has incredible Lady Gaga outfits and I have that one.” And it sounds like producers are making sure the costumes are up to par with the real Gaga’s eccentric wardrobe choices. Says Chris Colfer, who plays Kurt, “The outfits are gonna be incredible. All the costumes are outrageous and legit. I actually went to the tailor this morning who makes the real Gaga outfits. They’re going all-out.”

Source: EW.com

The cast of Glee goes wild on the latest cover of Rolling Stone — Dianna Agron, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison.

The too-big-to-miss spring premiere of Glee airs at a special time Tuesday, April 13 @ 9:28-10:30 PM ET/PT following American Idol on FOX.

With its group dance numbers and earnest covers of songs like Journey’s buoyant “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Glee seems like the sunniest show on TV. But darkness lurks just barely below the surface — the series also seamlessly weaves in plots about teen pregnancy, scheming wives and the most hard-hearted cheerleading coach to ever grip a whistle. Rolling Stone’s Erik Hedegaard ventures into the Fox hit’s most controversial corners, uncovering the stories behind stolen car stereos, illegal substances, Facebook-revenge fantasies and more in our new issue, on sale at newsstands today.

Glee creator Ryan Murphy, who previously helmed Nip/Tuck, explains the show’s double-edged appeal: “It’s about there being great joy to being different, and great pain.” Twenty-three-year-old Lea Michele, the Broadway talent who plays Rachel, tells Hedegaard about her tattoos, and Cory Monteith, who portrays jock Finn, owns up to a few childhood arrests for offenses that “didn’t hurt people.” Dianna Argon (slippery cheerleader Quinn) describes what it was like joining the cast late and falling victim to Monteith’s fart pranks, and 19-year-old Chris Colfer, who bravely plays gay teen Kurt, opens up about his own painful youth and his never-changing voice. “You know that forget-and-forgive bullshit? No, no, no, no, not for me,” he says of channeling childhood traumas into creative energy. “You take that grudge and let that grudge fester, and then you use it.”

(more…)

More additions to the EW shoot All HQ too!

They may not have taken home any orange blimps this year but Lea Michele and Cory Monteith did take the stage this weekend at the Nickelodeon’s 23rd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards. The Glee co-stars had the honor of presenting the award for Favorite TV Actor last night.

Lea and Cory were all smiles as they took to the stage to present their category. They presented Dylan Sprouse with the award for Favorite TV Actor. Dylan is best known for his starring role on the Disney Channel sitcoms The Suite Life of Zack.

Get Lea’s look here!