As she prepares to star in Broadway’s Funny Girl, Lea Michele suddenly found herself the subject of rumors that she was illiterate.
The Bronx-born 36-year-old’s Instagram account is full of comments from trolls alleging she ‘can’t read’ such as the post of herself proudly posing outside the August Wilson Theatre in Manhattan on August 5.
‘I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day,’ Lea told the New York Times on Thursday.
As she prepares to star in Broadway’s Funny Girl, Lea Michele suddenly found herself the subject of rumors that she was illiterate
‘And then there’s a rumor online that I can’t read or write? It’s sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn’t be the case.’
After graduating from Tenafly High School in New Jersey, Michele (born Sarfati) ‘was accepted into the CAP21 program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ but opted to become a professional actress.
Much ado was made over the SAG Award winner quietly signing on June 20 to play the role of Fanny Brice – 10 days before Funny Girl star Beanie Feldstein discovered she was being replaced through a Gawker article.
The 29-year-old Golden Globe nominee’s performance as Fanny received scathing reviews from the New York Times, Time Out New York, Variety, Vulture, and the Washington Post.
‘Can u read the sign?’ The Bronx-born 36-year-old’s Instagram account is full of comments from trolls alleging she ‘can’t read’ such as the post of herself proudly posing outside the August Wilson Theatre in Manhattan on August 5
Lea told the New York Times on Thursday: ‘I went to Glee every single day; I knew my lines every single day. And then there’s a rumor online that I can’t read or write? It’s sad. It really is. I think often if I were a man, a lot of this wouldn’t be the case’ (pictured last Friday)
Educated: After graduating from Tenafly High School in New Jersey, Michele (born Sarfati) ‘was accepted into the CAP21 program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ but opted to become a professional actress (October 18 stock shot)
Beanie was so ‘upset’ over losing her ‘dream role’ she pulled out of the revival two months early with her final performance on July 31, and her understudy Julie Benko will still continue to perform Thursday evenings.
‘Everyone here has been through a lot, and I just have to come in and be prepared and do a good job and be respectful of the fact that this is their space,’ Lea said of the Feldstein drama.
‘I will never be as good as Barbra Streisand [who originated the role on Broadway in 1964].’
Michele – who used her three-octave soprano pipes to belt multiple Funny Girl songs on Fox’s Glee – will officially begin her turn as the late comedian next Tuesday for seven shows a week.
‘Basically fired’: Much ado was made over the SAG Award winner quietly signing on June 20 to play the role of Fanny Brice – 10 days before Funny Girl star Beanie Feldstein (R, pictured April 24) discovered she was being replaced through a Gawker article
Scathing reviews: The 29-year-old Golden Globe nominee was so ‘upset’ over losing her ‘dream role’ she pulled out of the revival two months early with her final performance on July 31, and her understudy Julie Benko will still continue to perform Thursday evenings
![Lea said of the Feldstein drama: 'Everyone here has been through a lot, and I just have to come in and be prepared and do a good job and be respectful of the fact that this is their space. I will never be as good as Barbra Streisand [who originated the role on Broadway in 1964]'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/01/16/48854547-11129037-The_music_that_makes_me_dance_Barbra_is_pictured_onstage_in_the_-a-14_1662046154169.jpg)
Lea said of the Feldstein drama: ‘Everyone here has been through a lot, and I just have to come in and be prepared and do a good job and be respectful of the fact that this is their space. I will never be as good as Barbra Streisand [who originated the role on Broadway in 1964]’
The Tony Awards have a rule that replacements, like the Emmy and Grammy nominee, are ineligible to win as the trophy can only go to the person originating the role (Beanie) in revivals.
‘You might think [this is] the biggest piece of bull that I’m going to say to you all day, but I really don’t care about that at this point,’ Lea stressed.
‘It’s just about being able to play this part.’
Funny Girl reteams Michele with her Spring Awakening director Michael Mayer, but her Glee castmate Jane Lynch – who played Mrs. Rosie Brice – also left the show early and will be replaced by Tovah Feldshuh next Tuesday.
Michele – who used her three-octave soprano pipes to belt multiple Funny Girl songs on Fox’s Glee – will officially begin her turn as the late comedian next Tuesday for seven shows a week
‘I really don’t care about that!’ The Tony Awards have a rule that replacements, like the Emmy and Grammy nominee (L), are ineligible to win as the trophy can only go to the person originating the role (Beanie) in revivals
Interesting timing: Funny Girl reteams Lea with her Spring Awakening director Michael Mayer, but her Glee castmate Jane Lynch (R, pictured April 24) – who played Mrs. Rosie Brice – also left the show early and will be replaced by Tovah Feldshuh next Tuesday
The talented triple threat – who mothered two-year-old son Ever Leo during her three-year marriage to Zandy Reich – has come a long way since apologizing for being ‘hurtful, privileged, and difficult’ following a flurry of resurfaced allegations from former co-stars like Samantha Ware in 2020.
‘I really understand the importance and value now of being a leader,’ Lea said of her ‘intense time of reflection.’
‘It means not only going and doing a good job when the camera’s rolling, but also when it’s not. And that wasn’t always the most important thing for me.’
Michele continued: ‘I have an edge to me. I work really hard. I leave no room for mistakes. That level of perfectionism, or that pressure of perfectionism, left me with a lot of blind spots.’
August 20 family portrait: Michele – who mothered two-year-old son Ever Leo during her three-year marriage to Zandy Reich – has come a long way since apologizing for being ‘hurtful, privileged, and difficult’ following a flurry of resurfaced allegations from former co-stars like Samantha Ware in 2020
The talented triple threat said of her ‘intense time of reflection’: ‘I really understand the importance and value now of being a leader. It means not only going and doing a good job when the camera’s rolling, but also when it’s not. And that wasn’t always the most important thing for me’
Lea continued: ‘I have an edge to me. I work really hard. I leave no room for mistakes. That level of perfectionism, or that pressure of perfectionism, left me with a lot of blind spots’