Naya on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson!

Chris Colfer in ICON Magazine!

   

The Guy With The Magic Touch

For four seasons now, Glee has been programmed into our DVRs so that we don’t miss a beat. More specifically, we look forward to the adorable and omnipresent Chris Colfer. Oozing with talent and clad in dapper dandy bow ties, Colfer belts out our favorite hits week after week as Kurt Hummel alongside his fellow glee club members, which we have no hesitation singing along with.

It isn’t just us who has taken notice of his role as an extremely relatable teenager figuring things out in this complicated world. Colfer has kept himself busy, ranking among the one hundred most influential people in the world by TIME magazine, scoring a Golden Globe win, and has been heralded as a strong voice for the LGBT community.

But that is just Colfer’s day job. A New York Times best-selling author, his children’s book The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well, which was released last summer, was so well received that he is in the works for a follow-up. His latest starring role is in Struck By Lightning, a widely acclaimed film, which Colfer both wrote and produced. His new book, based on the movie, is also achieving high praise from critics.

Take a step back from his sweeping whirlwind success, and you’ll see that there is literally no one else in Hollywood like Chris Colfer. And this is why he is exceptional. Colfer is an openly gay actor, which is still somewhat of a rarity in an industry that is known for having trouble balancing homosexuality—it seems more common for a straight actor to play a gay character than the other way around. And although gay rights and marriage equality continue to make small strides, when someone brave decides to step out of the closet a press conference followed by a tabloid circuit seems to follow. When Colfer rose to stardom with the mega-success of Glee’s first season, there was no need to make an exclamation of a coming out on the cover of a tabloid weekly. It was as if Colfer arrived with an unspoken demeanor of “this is me and I have no qualms about it.” In essence, it was a breath of fresh air, regardless of sexual orientation.

With gay rights as one of the most pressing civil rights frontiers of our time, one would think that being a poster child of sorts for the movement would be a stressful responsibility, especially because the Kurt we see on Glee and the Colfer we see in public achieve both. Colfer sees a difference in what he needs to do. Being an actor is a job, a career. It is what he has always dreamed of doing. Being a role model and a genuinely good person is, at least to Colfer, just what any of us should do if we are presented with the opportunity.

ICON: As an openly gay actor, do you think you carry more of a responsibility as a role model than if you were heterosexual?

Chris Colfer: I don’t know if I feel it’s more of a responsibility. It’s one thing to be an actor but it’s quite another thing to be a role model. I think that I have been put on a role model pedestal, and with that, of course, I feel a lot of responsibility. But as an actor, not so much. As an actor, I don’t open up a script if I’m playing a serial killer and wonder what my teen fans are going to think—I don’t think like that. But if I am doing an interview like right now, I will think about what answers I give and how people who look up to me are going to think about it. At times that can be very overwhelming. One thing that is surprising, is that when you get into that kind of position, you realize just what kind of people actually look up to you. People ask me how it feels to be an LGBT role model, and honestly, I don’t even know if I really know what that feels like, because 99.9% of my demographic and fans—the people who write me letters and contact me on twitter—are young girls. They are the ones that feel different and see me and see Kurt on TV, and they are the ones that relate to him.

ICON: With Glee in its fourth season, how do you feel when you look back on it and the success?

CC: I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to take a step back until it’s over, honestly, because it’s been such a whirlwind and it’s been constant. Like last night we were filming until about one o’clock in the morning. In the last four years we haven’t really been able to take a step back and look at it, because we’ve always been in the eye of the storm and the storm has always been going. But when I do think about the last four years, it feels like a decade because we’ve done so many things. We’ve won awards. We’ve met presidents and people like Oprah. It’s been a crazy, crazy roller coaster ride.

ICON: Is it ever a worry that you could be typecast as Kurt?

CC: Sometimes, but I feel like if I have that worry, then I’m doing something right. It is interesting how many people really think that I am my character and that Glee is actually a documentary. But I don’t really see that as my problem. I’ve always known what I wanted to do, and what I’m capable of so I’m not worried about it. I think it’s more of the world’s problem than mine.

ICON: Who has been your favorite person that you’ve gotten to meet so far?

CC: I got to meet one of my heroes, Jennifer Saunders, when we were on tour in England. She was incredible. She’s always been a major influence of me. She was absolutely not disappointing.

ICON: What has been most difficult, if anything, with your success and fame?

CC: I think the biggest difficulty has been the incapability of being able to control what is out there of you. You get broken up into all these pieces that are scattered all over the world, and you don’t get to have control over every interview and every image. You don’t get to have control over yourself, so I think that is the hard part—living in the public and being so public, if you will. That’s the biggest struggle. Like if someone says something about you on the internet, or if someone makes a joke about you on a late-night show, and you’re not able to defend yourself. That’s been the hardest part.

ICON: We are hearing a lot about your side projects outside of Glee, tell us about those.

CC: Struck By Lighting is a film and book that I star in and that I wrote. It’s about an overachieving high school student, but he’s is very under-appreciated for it. It’s very much loosely based on experiences that I had in high school. In the film, he is the president of a writer’s club, and when I went to high school I was president of a writer’s club. So this project was a way for me to vent my frustrations from high school. I think it’s very different. It’s aimed at a teenage audience but it’s not about sex and drugs, which are what the majority of teenage films are about. It’s more about the lengths of which you will go to make your dreams happen. The smart teenager is a dying breed and it’s one that doesn’t get very much credit or light in the mainstream world.

ICON: And you write children’s books, right?

CC: Yes, The Land of Stories is a children’s fantasy book that I wrote and it came out last year and was well-received. It was something that I had wanted to do since I was ten years old, and so with Glee, I was presented with a lot of opportunities and being able to do this was one I definitely jumped on.

ICON: What motivated you when you were ten to want to do that?

CC: When I was ten years old, I got really into telling stories and entertaining people, and that’s when I chose my profession. I always hated reading and being told stories because I always wanted to change what I was hearing. It was the first story that I came up with and it kind of morphed over the years.”

ICON: It’s clear that your show and the projects you work on have had a huge impact on pop culture. When you think about tha,t how does it make you feel?

CC: It’s really an honor to be apart of it and that maybe my presence has made people better. But it’s all a very, very vicious thing. It’s really weird how badly people want [fame], and how people want to be a Kardashian. It’s all smoke and mirrors—fame is really nothing to lust after. As a kid, I was constantly being disrespected by adults and by other kids, so I always have wanted to earn respect. I always wanted it to come from something that I’ve done and not something that I am. It’s really frustrating to see people who purposefully do nothing and just want to be famous. Why do you want it? If there’s no purpose, why do you want it?

ICON: So far you’ve kept taking roles that are of some significance and inspiration. Are these the kinds of roles that you want to keep taking in the future?

CC: Well, there’s no person’s career that I’ve tried to emulate because there has been no one who has gone down the exact path that I’m trying to go down or that I’m on my way on. But I think I will always want to pursue and do roles that I can do. It’s whatever that inspires me. That’s what I’ll try to do—that’s my path.

ICON: So then, who inspires you?

CC: I find inspiration in everyone I meet. I don’t think there’s ever been a person who I have met who hasn’t inspired me in some way. But my fans have inspired me the most. They are the ones that I don’t ever want to let down.

ICON: What’s the most important message you’d ever want to get across to your fans?

CC: As cheesy as it sounds, if you dream it, it’ll happen. As long as you’re trying, you’re succeeding. You only stop succeeding once you give up. And I’ve met so many people who have just given up and it’s so sad. But I think as long as you’re trying to accomplish what you want, then that’s succeeding.

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Chris Promotes "Struck By Lightning" on TV Shows!

Glee-ful Spoilers on Finchel, Santana, 'An Unlikely Duo,' a 'Breakout Performance' and 'Naked' Men!

You asked, the Glee stars answered.
Prior to swinging by Fox’s party at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, TVLine invited you to tweet us your questions for the cast. Without the slighest bit of further ado, here is what Lea Michele, Naya Rivera and others shared about what’s still ahead in Season 4, resuming Jan. 24.

Any hints/anticipations on the #Glee episode “Diva,” especially on Santana’s role and Brittana? –@cameoloverx
Though she wouldn’t let slip any specific song titles, Naya Rivera told me “I get to sing three songs in ‘Diva,’ which is a big episode for Santana” — though she is not the one and only focus of the title. “There are a lot of divas in the episode!” she laughed. Rivera also said Santana will take on a Tina Turner tune and share “big, exciting news” soon. On the romantic front, “She’s still trying to deal with the fact that Brittany and Sam are now dating,” Rivera shared. “That’s where her head’s at.”

Will we find out why exactly Tina and Mike broke up? And if they will get back together? –@lindseyannexo
“That’s a good question,” Harry Shum Jr. nodded “We’re only halfway through [the season], so I’m sure we’ll find out a little more.” In the meantime, it sounds like Tina might give Mike (and/or any other gentleman callers) a lot to think about on Feb. 7. “Jenna Ushkowitz has an insane number in ‘Diva,’” raves castmate Becca Tobin, who plays Kitty. “It’s like her breakout performance of Season 4. She kills it.”

Can you ask if Finn and Rachel have any scenes coming up together? –@blakeandcory
When I asked Lea Michele, who like the others is in the midst of shooting Episode 13 aka “Diva,” if she and Cory Monteith had shot any scenes together yet, she reported, “Not yet — but hopefully soon!”

Is there any hope for Finchel fans? –@vkaro21
If the above quote didn’t deflate your sails enough, you may not want to read the following. (Or maybe you will, depending on how you wish to spin it.) “There are some really interesting Brody-and-Rachel shockers coming,” Michele shared. When I asked if said “shockers” will put Finchel fans even more on edge, she would only say: “Well, that’s the exciting thing about the show — it’s like a rollercoaster.”

Can we hope to see some of the “old” cast join Lea [Michele] and Chris [Colfer] in NYC? –@jinayg
Rivera, with a big (and oh-so-lovely) smile, hinted that Santana “maybe” will also make the move to the Big Apple. “It’s a strong possibility.”

Any news on Season 4 stories/arcs? –@ShowThemWhat
As in, what did I hear that didn’t fall into any of the above topics? Melissa Benoist said things are looking “much more hopeful” for Marley as she deals with her eating disorder, while on the romantic front the newbie will need to “step up her game and show Jake how much she cares about him.” Perhaps to that end, Benoist will tackle “a Christina Perri song that I absolutely love and “is romantic. Very romantic.”

The first new episode back, “Sadie Hawkins,” was a hot topic for others. Vanessa Lengies said the girl-asks-guy dance “starts off rough” for Sugar, though “she really turns it around, finds herself and she asks who she wants in the end.” Kitty, meanwhile, will zero in on one fella after spending the first half of the season shopping around. “She usually does the ‘Flavor of the Week’ thing, but there’s a strong flavor at Sadie Hawkins,” Tobin told me. “I think people are going to like it. It’s an unlikely duo.”

Lastly, Episode 12, “Naked,” focuses on the fellas as they get involved in “a little fundraiser fun for the glee club,” Tobin teased. “It’s very much about the boys getting buff and tanned and bronzed… Chord [Overstreet, as Sam] really spearheads the ‘beefcake’ number, and it’s pretty hilarious.”
source: TVLine

Lea Michele on "Glee" Topless Scene!

Lea Michele on Glee Topless Scene | E! Online

Chris Colfer Talks Glee Future & Indie Film Struck By Lightning!

Chris Colfer and Sarah Hyland on Rebel Wilson, Singing on Set and Boobies!

2012 Breakout Stars: Melissa Benoist Pulls Back the Glee Curtain!

Before Glee's fourth season started, everyone was focused on what was to become of Rachel (Lea Michele), Finn (Cory Monteith), Kurt (Chris Colfer) and the rest of the McKinley gang. But we (almost) forgot about all of that the first time we laid eyes (and ears) on Melissa Benoist's character Marley. And that is why she is one of our Breakout Stars of 2012.

She proved to be a refreshing and talented addition to Glee, and while we adore the New York storylines, we don't mind staying at McKinley to see what happens with Marley. We hopped on the phone with Benoist to talk about her big Glee debut, Michael Fassbender mania and what those long hours on set are really like.

Did you know how big your character was going to be when you auditioned?

Melissa Benoist: It was pretty much under wraps. I knew vaguely about her. The breakdown for the role said: "a girl guys might have a crush on." [Laughs]. I did know initially that she was poor and the storyline with her mom was a part of the audition.

What resolutions would you make for your favorite TV characters?

How was your first day on set? Did you feel nervous joining a cast who had already been together for so long?

Of course I was. I was really nervous. It was a strange feeling of intimidation, but they are the most welcoming and fun group of people. It's infectious to be around them. On the first day, I think I was there for 12 hours in the choir room, and within the first five hours we were all already joking around and having a ball.

Glee fans are very passionate about the show. Were you worried about any backlash from the Gleeks?

Of course I was. They are...a different breed of fan. Thankfully, it's been a lot of positive support. But there are people who just have very strong opinions about what they like and what they don't like on the show. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes it is a bit jarring reading what fans have to say.

Marley had a very intense storyline with her eating disorder. What was your reaction when you found out you'd be tackling that heavy topic?

I feel very fortunate. I really like that kind of stuff. Part of the reason I do what I do is I like exploring issues like that. When Ryan Murphy first told me, it was my first week of work and he brought Jacob Artist and I into his office and said: "I really want Marley to be relatable and I think she's going to have an eating disorder and go through something like that, so do your research now. I want it to be truthful and honest." And that was something that I was really striving for.

So what's coming up next for Marley?

There are bright things for her future. I think she had to do through what she went through to really appreciate her strengths and recognize her weaknesses. It's a new day for her coming up.

If Glee gets a season five, would you want to be apart of it?

Oh, of course I would. I'm having so much fun working on the show. It's the greatest group of people and I'm learning so much. We're working so hard and so much, every day feels like a class. It's just awesome.

What entertainment stuff were you obsessed with in 2012?

I'm obsessed with Michael Fassbender. He's unbelievable. I think he's a modern day Brando. Every movie that he's done in the past couple years I just died for him. He's extremely fascinating.

Now that 2012 is coming to a close, what do you hope to see for yourself in 2013?

I don't know. I have a very optimistic view of my future right now. I'm very excited to see where it goes, but I try not to make plans just because I know how unpredictable life can be. Especially the life of an actor, and especially the life of an actor on Glee. I just want to be happy and healthy and surrounded by people I love, as cheesy as it sounds.

Glee returns with new episodes on Jan. 24 on Fox.

source: E! Online

Chris Colfer "By the Book" Interview in the New York Times Sunday Book Review!

The “Glee” star and author of “Struck by Lightning” is a fan of Carrie Fisher’s “Wishful Drinking”: “I love painfully honest authors who aren’t afraid to say, ‘I was a mess!’ ”

What book is on your night stand now?

My first novel, “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell,” embarrassingly. I promise I’m not actively reading it; I just reference it from time to time while writing the sequel. And like any new parent, I like to keep my child close by so I can keep an eye on it through the night.

What was the last truly great book you read?

I recently skimmed through “Bad Cat,” a picture book filled with adorable photos of cats in compromised and suggestive positions, and witty comments. I’m not ashamed to admit it was the best book I’ve read in a long time and I would recommend it to anyone. It kept my attention; I laughed out loud.

I thought about a bunch of political, classical and current titles to say instead, in hopes to impress, but it would have been a lie. Unfortunately, unless I’m adapting or editing something I don’t get much time to read for pleasure, which also made the quick read of “Bad Cat” a great selection at the LAX bookstore I purchased it from.

A young aspiring actor wants your advice on what to read. What books do you suggest? 

It depends where they’re at in their career. There are plenty of books about perfecting or suffering for the craft written by actors who have never worked, but in my opinion reading about history or psychology is more beneficial. To me, acting is the study of circumstantial human behavior as well as the art of deception and portrayal. So naturally, the more exposure you have to variations of human behavior, the better actor you’ll be, in my opinion.

I’m not sure the performance part of acting can be taught in a book, though; that’s something I believe you learn through experience and experience alone. I’d also pick up a Los Angeles traffic guide for driving around to auditions, and a self-help book on rejection if the auditions don’t go well. Trust me, those will come in handy. 

If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be? 

“The Prince,” by Niccolo Machiavelli. I think anyone in an authoritative position should read it. Even if you don’t agree with its principles, it’s amazing how relevant something written 600 years ago is to today’s society. 

Also, an atlas! I’m not so worried about the current one but I do think every president should have an atlas in their possession. 

What was the last book that made you cry?

It was probably something like “Marley & Me.” I have a pretty thick skin when it comes to reading; I can read books about genocides or diseases and become angry or upset but am able to keep my emotions in check. However, if something happens to the family pet in a novel I cry like a baby. I do recall crying at the end of the last Harry Potter book too, as it marked the end of an era for me.

I tear up after the completion of my own novels as well. It just takes me back to when I was in elementary school and my parents got called into meetings with teachers because I wasn’t reading and writing at the level I should have been. I’m not sure if I’ve improved since then, but at least I’m writing books now.

The last book that made you laugh?

“Wishful Drinking,” by Carrie Fisher, comes to mind. There are so many “I’m so wonderful” autobiographies but I love painfully honest authors who aren’t afraid to say, “I was a mess!”

The last book that made you furious?

Any book I was forced to read in my high school English classes — but that was never the author’s fault. Having a writer’s mind, I always changed the story in my head as I read it. Consequently, I always tested horribly because I couldn’t remember which was the real plot and the one I had made up. 

I also hated how the curriculum behind required reading sometimes regulated a wrong and right character or plot point to sympathize with. There’s a reason the word interpretations is plural — you can’t tell me I’m wrong for siding with Claudius in “Hamlet.”

What were your favorite books as a child? Did you have a favorite character or hero?

Like four billion other children, I loved the Harry Potter series. We all could identify with the boy who lived under the stairs. I don’t care if it’s cliché, I’ll go to my grave praising J. K. Rowling for giving my generation a childhood and teaching the world to believe in magic again.

I also loved the “Chronicles of Narnia,” anything by Eva Ibbotson, Bruce Coville, or Roald Dahl, and all the classics like “Peter Pan,” the Oz books and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” I still prefer those books to anything as an adult, actually.

Have you ever written to an author? Did he or she write back?

When I was 12, I wrote a very long letter to J. K. Rowling thanking her thoroughly for writing the Harry Potter books. I may have also accused her of being a real witch and insisted she take me with her the next time she traveled into the wizarding world. I was sent a “Dear Friend” letter and autographed photo back from her fan club and proceeded to sleep with them under my pillow for months after.

I also wrote to Gregory Maguire whenever I finished reading one of his books (that I was way too young to be reading). I remember getting personal responses back from him and his letters always ended with “Cheers!”

You’re inviting three writers to a literary dinner party. Who’s on the list?

I know this is a great opportunity to drop names like Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens and validate my status as an author, but they wouldn’t be my top choices. You know Hemingway is just going to drink too much, Woolf would just sulk in the corner and, if his books are any indication, Dickens probably would talk all night. I’d much rather have authors like Harper Lee, Truman Capote and Jackie Collins over for drinks, who I’m assuming would be a blast.

If you could play any character from literature, who would it be? 

That’s a difficult question. I’ve always been teased for my resemblance to Pinocchio, but I’d hope for anything where the character gets to go on an adventure of sorts, because that’s what reading has always been for me. However, I’d also take the male equivalent of Sophie in “Sophie’s Choice” any day. Am I too old for “The Phantom Tollbooth?”

What are you planning to read next?

“What Remains,” by Carole Radziwill, who was kind enough to sign a copy for me. I still have “The Casual Vacancy,” by J. K. Rowling, to look forward to, and eventually I’ll get around to reading “Stardust,”  “The Hunger Games” and all the untouched autobiographies and books I’ve been meaning to reread that are sitting on my crowded shelves at home. The biggest annoyance about writing books is that it gets in the way of reading books. 

Also, I hear there is a “Bad Cat 2” I’ll have to look into.

New York Times

Lea's January 2013 Marie Claire cover shoot!

 

 

Video HERE

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Lea Michele didn't arrive in Hollywood overnight, some plucky young ingenue who nailed an audition for an unexpected hit show about, of all things, a high school glee club. She'd already clocked years on Broadway by the time she landed on TV. Just watch the grainy YouTube clips of her transcendent, window-rattling performances in Spring Awakening, the 2006 Tony-winning rock musical that crowned her the next big thing of the Great White Way, replete with stage door groupies and fawning reviewers tossing out comparisons (both because of her prominent nose and impressive pipes) to her idol Barbara Streisand. By the time Michele, now 26, locked up the part of überdriven Rachel Berry on Glee — a role written just for her by creator Ryan Murphy — she was already a star; albeit in theater circles. So when Glee popped and tabloid reports of bitchiness and bad behavior started to fly, Michele was stunned to find the goodwill she'd enjoyed on Broadway in short supply. Hollywood, she quickly realized, was a different animal entirely.

"I am a very outspoken person, and if something makes me uncomfortable, you will know that it makes me uncomfortable, but that's as far as it goes," she says over pizza and kale salad at Soho House in West Hollywood. "I can assure you that [the diva rumors] aren't real. It's super-frustrating sometimes, and I used to fight back, but now I feel like, You can think what you want about me — that's OK. I have the most amazing fans, friends, and family members who have stood by me, and I know that my cast and crew really enjoy working with me. That's all that matters."

Like it or not, her high-maintenance reputation persists. This past summer the glossies practically licked their lips relaying word of an on-set feud between Michele and Glee guest star Kate Hudson, who is alleged to have called the stint a nightmare — a rumor Michele flatly denies. She says that when Hudson heard what the tabloids were saying, she called Michele and told her, "I just heard about that, and it f**king sucks. I want you to know I think you're amazing." After that, Michele adds, Hudson went "straight to the top of my list because it was so classy of her to take a minute to [address the rumor], even though we both knew it was the biggest piece of crap in the whole world. I told her, 'I love you, and I adore you. Thank you so much for creating a human moment with me.'"

No question, Michele, like her Glee alter ego, savors the spotlight. (Another memorable YouTube clip: cajoling a toothy grin from Jay-Z for her full-throttle rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade" at the Tonys two years ago.) She's got a mantel full of hardware — including a Grammy and Screen Actors Guild Award (bestowed upon the entire Glee cast) and nominations for an Emmy and two Golden Globes — to prove she belongs there. But the girl can hardly be called a snob. When my cell phone rings in the middle of dinner, Michele freaks when she sees the name Carole Radziwill — a Real Housewives of New York cast member — flash on my screen. (I was Radziwill's editor at a magazine and, later, her roommate in Los Angeles.)

"No!" Michele shrieks, her enormous brown eyes growing round as saucers. "OK, this is crazy. Can you please pick up?" Michele, it turns out, is a huge RHONY fan. I hand her the phone, and she gushes, "Carole, don't be embarrassed. I have to say, I think you're the greatest . . . Are you crazy?! It's going to happen. You officially have a stalker." When she hangs up, she immediately texts Glee costar Chris Colfer, her Housewives-viewing buddy, to tell him she's found an "in." Two minutes later, he responds: "You're crazy. Shut up. I am so excited. Cannot wait. Amazing."

It's an endearing window into the star's personal life, which she has managed to keep fairly private despite the media's fixation on her supposed work antics. Born in the Bronx and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Michele was discovered at the age of 8, when she accompanied a friend to an audition for a Broadway production of Les Misérables and ended up getting the part herself. Bigger roles followed until she snagged the lead in Spring Awakening. Two years later, she packed it in to follow her costar and "best friend in the entire world" Jonathan Groff to Los Angeles, where he was filming a pilot for Ryan Murphy. The trio had dinner, and Murphy was so taken with Michele that he later penned the character of Rachel wither her in mind. Glee proved a phenomenon and made a celebrity of its star. "It was so much so quickly," she says.

Now, four seasons later, with her character graduated from McKinley High, Michele is looking ahead. She recently landed a campaign with L'Oréal Paris, and she's enthusiastic about its charitable efforts, including Women of Worth, which honors women who give back to their communities. (Find out how you can support Women of Worth on p. 14.) And she's set her eyes on the big screen. "When it comes to Glee, I feel like I've been in a relationship, and now I can mingle a bit," she says, while chewing on a slice of pizza. ("I talk with my mouth full. If I'm not talking while I'm eating, it is not normal for me.") "In five years, I believe the show will be over, and I would hope to be doing movies — regular ones, not just musicals. Film is an itch I have yet to scratch." She name-checks Anne Hathaway and Amy Adams, acclaimed actresses capable of both lighthearted rom-coms and wrenching dramas. "Amy Adams did Junebug and then Enchanted, and Anne Hathaway did Princess Diaries and then Rachel Getting Married. I love women who have [that kind of range]," she says.

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Lea Michele looks glamorous on the cover of Marie Claire‘s January 2013 issue, on newsstands December 18.

Here is what the 26-year-old Glee actress had to share with the mag:

On her boyfriend Cory Monteith: “I don’t even remember a time when he wasn’t my boyfriend. No one knows me better than Cory. No one knows what it’s been like to go through this more than he does. Feeling like you have that net underneath you allows you to jump higher and go farther. He makes me feel like I can do anything. For the first time in my life, I feel really, really settled and happy. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

On diva rumors: “I am a very outspoken person, and if something makes me uncomfortable, you will know that it makes be uncomfortable, but that’s as far as it goes. I can assure you that [diva rumors] aren’t real. It’s super-frustrating sometimes, and I used to fight back, but now I feel like, You can think what you want to think about me – that’s OK. I have the most amazing fans, friends, and family members who have stood by me, and I know that my cast and crew really enjoy working with me. That’s all that matters.”

On her breasts: ““These babies are great. They are my prizewinners. For a while they were out and about, showing off on Broadway every night, then they came to L.A. and were like, ‘No one else looks like me here!’ They were nervous to make their appearance but feel they’ve earned their place. So they asked if they could come out, and I was like, ‘All right, you guys.’ They definitely rose to the occasion, so I’m going to continue to give them more opportunities.”

source via ontd_glee

Melissa Benoist: "Something Drastic Needed to Happen" to Wake Marley Up!

Attenion all Gleeks! Melissa Benoist, who plays Marley Rose on the Fox musical comedy, has a very important announcement.

"Some people tweeted me that they thought she was dead, but she is not dead," Benoist tells TVGuide.com. "She is alive."

Phew! But just because the glee club newbie survived a fainting spell brought on by her eating disorder during Sectionals, her battle is far from over. Not only will Marley have to start taking better care of herself — physically and emotionally — but she'll also have to work to win New Directions over after jeopardizing their shot at Regionals. Benoist talked to TVGuide.com about Marley's road to recovery, her research for the "daunting" storyline and the possibility of another Glee tour.When did the writers first tell you that Marley was going to have such a dramatic story?
Benoist: The first week of work, [creator Ryan Murphy] brought Jacob [Artist] and I into his office and [was] just talking with us about what his vision was for the characters. He said, 'I'm really thinking about Marley having an eating disorder and dealing with bulimia. It definitely was a daunting thing to hear, but in the best way. As an actor, you can only hope for something with that much depth and something to dig into that much.

What was your first reaction when you read the script and saw that this story line would go that far?
Melissa Benoist: I had an inkling. I knew that something drastic needed to happen to knock some sense into Marley or to make her realize that what she was doing was extremely damaging to her psyche and to her physical well-being.

Where does the next episode pick up and what are the next steps for Marley?
Benoist: She's at this point where she can wipe the slate clean, really. It's at this point now where she needs to rebuild in a certain sense.

Is there a person in particular who will help her through this?
Benoist: Obviously, her mom is going to be a huge part of her recovery and there's therapy. [It's] just her being very open and honest about it from this point. But it's definitely not over.

Kitty was kind of the one who originally put these thoughts about weight into Marley's head. What's next for their relationship?
Benoist: It will be a slow process for them to gain trust, but luckily, there is some forgiveness and a breakthrough in a sense for the two of them. I had a lot of fun working with Becca Tobin in the next episode. Marley and Kitty have some great moments.

So far, it's been hard for viewers to warm up to Kitty. Do you think there's hope that she can be redeemed?
Benoist: I definitely think so. We keep saying that something had to have happened to Kitty for her to make the decisions that she has and say the things that she does. ... I think there is something going on that we might see in the future with Kitty. In this next episode, you'll see a softer side to her and Becca does a wonderful job portraying that.

How will the rest of New Directions handle the incident?
Benoist: It's an interesting dynamic. I think there are some characters who just want her to be better, but she really put the well-being of New Directions in peril. She didn't mean any harm, of course. She just wanted to win so bad and put so much pressure on herself. There are some kids in the glee club who are not too happy with her.

How will she deal with those new dynamics?
Benoist: I think she will learn a lot from her mistakes and it will be easier for her to take it in stride. At the same time, it gives her a lot of determination to prove herself again and really make everyone see just how much she cares about the glee club. Everything she did, she did out of love for all of her new friends and the club. In this next episode, Marley interacts quite a bit with Finn because she really feels the need to show her devotion to glee club and they collaborate together.

How was it working with Cory Monteith in the episode?
Benoist: It was an interesting dynamic. Ryan Murphy tweeted a picture of us together on set that day and he said "old school/new school." It definitely felt that way.

Have you been able to go to him or anyone else in particular from the original cast for advice?
Benoist: Everyone's been really great about sharing their experiences for the past couple of years, and about making Becca, Jacob, Blake [Jenner] and I feel included and feel safe and comfortable in this new atmosphere that's so different and difficult at times. One day, I sat down and had a really long conversation with Kevin McHale about the tour and his experiences on that. It's fun to hear about everything they've gone through.

Murphy has expressed interest in touring. Is the cast definitely going on tour this summer?
Benoist: We don't know for sure as of now, but all of us new kids keep talking about how much fun we think it would be. If there a tour, I would be on it in a heartbeat.

How has it been handling the fame so far?
Benoist: I've only been approached a handful of times, so it hasn't been crazy the way it is for some of the other people on the show. But that's kind of nice. I cherish my anonymity, so that's been good. On Twitter, it's great. I really enjoy interacting with the fans and seeing what they have to say. Last week for the "Thanksgiving" episode, everyone was tweeting me and asking me if I'm alright.

Have you heard from people who have suffered from eating disorders?
Benoist: I definitely have. It's been really reassuring and nice to hear that a lot of girls have been inspired and have been so grateful to see their story brought to life and portrayed on a show that so many people watch. I hope that gives them hope. I hope that girls can learn from what Marley goes through.

What kind of research did you do before shooting?
Benoist: I read some blogs of girls who were very open and vocal about their disorders on Tumblr. It's very odd. For something that is such a private thing that most girls in their daily lives really try to hide like Marley did, on the Internet there are some people who use their blogs as diaries almost. It was weird because I felt like I was invading someone's privacy and reading something I shouldn't see. But it gave me a lot of insight as to what they were really feeling and their motives as to why they were hurting themselves so much.

After this heavy storyline, are there lighter moments ahead for Marley?
Beniost: From here, things are uphill here for her. Her fainting was the kind of the drastic climax that she needed to go through to realize just how much she was hurting herself. Now, I think that she is just going to purely focus on getting better and being her best self and loving herself a lot more than she has been and not focusing so much on everyone else and the needs of everyone else. So there will be some lighter moments. It's not going to be easy, but she's on her way up.

Glee airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Fox.

source: TVGuide.com

Marina Boy TV Interviews Amber Riley in NYC!

Melissa Benoist: Marley and Kitty's Feud Hits an 'Epic Pinnacle' at Sectionals!

New Directions newbie Marley Rose shed her previous "Wall Flower" persona and became "Woman Fierce" during last week's "Dynamic Duets" hour in which she stole a page -- and a guy! -- from frenemy Kitty. But will Marley's newfound self-assuredness last considering Kitty's claws come out every time Jake's involved?

As McKinley heads to Sectionals, will Marley's Kitty-induced skewed self-image bring the Wall Flower back or will her fierce alter-ego show up? Or worse: Might Kitty (Becca Tobin) strike back and cost New Directions its comeback on the biggest stage of the new group's young season? The Hollywood Reporter turned to Melissa Benoist to preview what's ahead for one of the glee club's biggest new voices as she navigates a love quadrangle, anorexia and the pressure of performing for Quinn, Santana and the current National Champions.

The Hollywood Reporter: Last week, Marley shifted from being a "Wall Flower" to what Kitty dubbed "Woman Fierce." How long can we expect that attitude to last?

Melissa Benoist: From this point on, it's going to be an uphill battle for Marley no matter what. We'll see glimpses of that strength that she's found through "Woman Fierce," but she's not finished battling her inner demons.

THR: Will her anorexia intensify?

Benoist: I don't think she's very healthy and it will intensify. It's not something that was just a thing she was trying out. Kitty really got into her head and she's definitely going to keep battling a lot.

THR: Ryder (Blake Jenner) and Jake (Jacob Artist) have both told Marley that she has a skewed vision of herself. What's it going to take for Marley to start listening to these people who are telling her how beautiful she is?

Benoist: At this point, she's so far gone -- she has such a different view of herself than everyone else does. You could say she is a pretty and smart girl but she will never see that. At this point I think it's going to take something very drastic to happen for her to realize -- and it's going to be no one but herself -- that something is terribly wrong and she needs help.

THR: Kitty has really gotten into her head. How is Marley not suspect of Kitty's motives?

Benoist: Perhaps it's because of all the male attention Marley's gotten from Ryder and Jake and the friendship she found in Jake from the start -- they really see eye to eye on a lot of things because they come from the same background. With Kitty, Marley is excited to have a female friend and someone who is popular and someone who does fit in -- or seems like they fit in well and easily. Marley is in such an insecure state that it gives her a sense of belonging -- in the wrong way.

THR: How much does Marley trust Kitty at this point?

Benoist: I don't know if Marley really completely trusts Kitty. I don't know if she'll ever forget everything that happened with Jake, she got really stung. One of the things I really love about Marley is that she's good at seeing the bigger picture when it comes to people. She's very accepting of everyone, even with all their faults just because she has this inherent kindness. She sees some of Kitty's meanness, but when it deals with her body image and insecurities, she only hears what she wants to hear.

THR: Kitty's move to take a dig at Marley after Ryder cancels their date -- with Marley responding by asking Jake out -- winds up biting her in the ass. How can we expect Kitty to respond? Will she step things up with Marley as a result?

Benoist: I loved that! (Laughs) Definitely; it's like a chess game between the two of them. They're constantly making moves around each other and Kitty has to one-up Marley every time. She feels like she needs to be on top of things when it comes to Marley.

THR: Could that ultimately harm New Directions at Sectionals?

Benoist: Oh yeah, for sure. Sectionals is a really dramatic episode. How far Kitty has penetrated Marley's mind really affects everyone. It's such a negative thing and Marley is so affected by it that everyone can see and sense it and it's such an epic pinnacle.

THR: How will Marley handle the pressure of Sectionals with such skewed self-awareness?

Benoist: It's difficult for her because Sectionals is the first time she's performing for such a large goal and it's been a huge dream of hers since she was very little to perform in front of people this way and show what she's passionate about. In that respect, the pressure is mixed with an excitement and anxious will to do the best job she can.

THR: What will Marley's interaction with Quinn, Santana and the rest of the graduates be like?

Benoist: It brings a huge excitement and raises the bar and the pressure that everyone is under but at the same time all the new kids really look up to the graduates and can really be inspired by them.

THR: Marley and Finn (Cory Monteith) seem to be cut from the same cloth, could she wind up having more of a connection with him?

Benoist: They are cut from the same cloth: they're both loyal people and very determined and want to do what's right. They both care about this glee club like crazy and in that respect, they definitely see eye to eye. Marley and Finn do have a connection but I don't know if it's anything more than just their love for the glee club and their passion to do well.

THR: Now that Ryder and Jake have this bromance going, will Marley come between them?

Benoist: I think they overcame the roadblock that Marley was between them because of the issues they were both dealing with and what they shared during "Dynamic Duets," which was really personal for teenage boys to be sharing with each other. Marley, at this point, they both recognize that the other just wants her to be happy and to get everything she deserves because they both genuinely care about her and think she deserves really good things. She's definitely an obstacle for both of them but their friendship seems pretty solid at this point.

THR: Could we see Marley wind up dating both of them or could she eventually pick one -- or neither?

Benoist: Marley has her sights set on one (laughs). It's a tough competition; they're both such great guys for her.

THR: How is Marley's mother going to respond when she learns of her daughter's anorexia?

Benoist: What's great about Mrs. Rose is she's such a supportive and loving mother that obviously it's going to be a touchy subject between the two of them just because she didn't raise her to be weak; they're women who have had to fend for themselves and are a single-parent family with not a lot of means. Aside from being extremely painful to see your daughter go through something like that, there might be a little disappointment because you'd hope that your daughter would have the strength to overcome that, especially after everything Marley has been through in the past with people making fun of her.

source: Hollywood Reporter

Chris Colfer Talks Glee's Thanksgiving, Klaine's Realization and His Big Apple Dreams for Kurt!

Thanksgiving arrives (a week late) on Fox’s Glee this Thursday at 9/8c, and Chris Colfer has much to be grateful for. In addition to his role as Kurt, who has been transplanted to New York City alongside Lea Michele’s Rachel, Colfer penned Struck By Lightning, an indie comedy that rolls out on VOD/iTunes Dec. 19 (before hitting theaters in January) — and at the time we met up with the actor/author/screenwriter, he was touring the East Coast to tout his novelization of same.

After signing copies for a line of fans that wrapped around a New Jersey bookstore, Colfer spoke with TVLine about the many hats he wears, how Glee is different now that he “commutes” to the Big Apple, his excitement over having a “Kiki” with Sarah Jessica Parker and a realization “Klaine” is about to have.

TVLINE | Your first book, Land of Stories, came out in July. What’s the experience been like for you, between that, the Struck By Lightning movie and now its novelization?

It’s been so busy, but it’s great to kind of stretch my legs and give light to the passion projects. I have no complaints!

TVLINE | Was the process for getting the movie together easier or harder than you expected?

Oh, it was much harder. It’s funny because I always thought — this was when I was, like, 7 — that my first movie would be hard to get done, but it would be easy from then on. Now, I’m learning that, no, it’s always going to be challenging, because every time a movie gets made it’s really a miracle.

TVLINE | Versus Land of Stories, have you sensed a greater interest in Struck By Lightning, which is a young adult novel? That perhaps there’s a better connect with Glee?

I think it will appeal more to the audience, yeah. Yet Land of Stories was labeled a children’s novel, and I feel like I’ve heard more from adults and teenagers who read it and loved it more than I have so far from kids!

TVLINE | Is there anything remotely autobiographical about Struck By Lightning (which centers on a high school student who blackmails classmates into contributing to his literary magazine)?

There are elements that are autobiographical, but it’s definitely not an autobiography. Like, I was president of the writers club and I was very underappreciated for my overachieving ways. But the lead character, Carson Phillips, is definitely the person I wished I was in high school.

TVLINE | Just as you’ve grown from an actor to an author and now a filmmaker, do you feel like Glee‘s New York City arc has forced Kurt to grow?

Absolutely. I mean, he had to move away, and that’s always, I think, the most terrifying part about growing up. And he’s had to grow up pretty quickly, because his dad borderline kicked him out. He was like, “I can’t watch you do this anymore, you’ve got to go and make something of yourself.” It’s been fun to kind of grow up in my own way and have Kurt grow up as well.

TVLINE | Because of that, has Glee been more fun for you this season? Or a different kind of fun?

It’s been less hectic for us, because since it’s split up they’re able to schedule us on different days so everyone gets a day off which is nice, rather than having to the eight days-a-week, 25-hours-a-day that we used to.

TVLINE | When last I spoke to you and Darren Criss, you each expressed your wish for conflict in the whole Kurt/Blaine thing. Are you satisfied with the way they delivered that? Was the break-up organic enough?

I think we’re pretty satisfied. It was really just nice to do something else. As much as everyone wants to see them together forever, as actors that would have been so boring for us. We’d have to start saying “I love you” in different languages to spice things up a bit! So I’m really glad they’re broken up or separated or whatever they are for now.

TVLINE | Now that the actual break-up arc is out of the way, is Kurt going to be a more of an active character there in New York City?

I hope so. We’ll see. I mean, he hasn’t really grasped New York yet — he goes to work and comes home and tells Rachel things. I would really like to see him go out and have fun and meet new people.

TVLINE | As far as you’ve taped, is it still sunshine and roses for Kurt at Vogue.com? Or is Isabelle (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) going to start showing a darker edge?

No darker edge; for the most part he’s there and he’s happy, because he and Isabelle have kind of become co-confidants. They just get closer and will even be spending Thanksgiving together. We even get to do a Scissor Sisters’ number [“Let’s Have a Kiki”], and I’ve been trying to get a Scissor Sisters’ song in the show since Day 1! So it was a lot of fun.

TVLINE | And what were you shooting the other day at the Bryant Park ice rink in New York City?

Darren and I were skating to the number, “(I’m Dreaming of a) White Christmas” — because I don’t know about you, but I know I’ve definitely ice skated with all my exes and sing Christmas carols all the time! [Chuckles] But no, it’s a great story [in the Dec. 13 Christmas episode], because they kind of come to a realization that they’ll always be amazing friends, because they were so important to each other.

TVLINE | Does Blaine just show up or is Kurt expecting his visit?

There’s a reason he’s there… but it’s kind of a secret.

  source: TVLine

Glee's Jacob Artist Teases Jake's "Great Turning Point," Compares Jarley to Tarzan and Jane!

For most of his life, Glee's Jacob Artist has been hiding a big secret.

"I was always singing to myself, but I never ever performed and I never told anyone I liked to sing. So it was a definitely a new adventure going in to audition for Glee," the 20-year-old tells TVGuide.com. "Everyone's like, 'So when did you start singing?' I'm like, 'My first Glee audition.'"

Suffice it to say, the cat is definitely out of the bag. Artist, a trained competition dancer since the age of 5, is now turning heads for his impressive pipes, in addition to his fancy footwork, as Jake Puckerman, one of the glee club's newest additions and the bad boy half-brother of ex-New Directioner Puck (Mark Salling).

So how did a trained jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet dancer end up on McKinley High's biggest stage? "When I was a senior, I got accepted into the Julliard School for Dance, but ultimately decided to move to L.A. to act so that was a fun conversation with the parents," Artist says with a laugh. "I truly have some of the greatest parents ever. They've been so supportive of me from Day 1 with anything that I've ever wanted to do so they were actually surprisingly really, really good about it."

A self-proclaimed big fan of Glee — and Jane Lynch in particular — Artist remembers feeling "massive" pressure when he went into audition for the show. But he felt he had luck on his side. "I found out the character's name was Jake, so I was like, 'OK, it's meant to be,'" he recalls.

Despite his lack of formal vocal training, Artist won the role thanks in part to his performance of The Fray's "Never Say Never" — the same song with which Jake auditioned for the glee club. Now, Artist's singing skills will be put to the test again on Thursday's episode (9/8c on Fox) when Jake must duet with fellow New Direction rookie Ryder (Blake Jenner). "All of the New Directions are making up their own superheroes, and Ryder and Jake do the exact same thing and they have to sing a song together in their superhero costumes," says Artist, whose character dresses as Mega Stud. "I will be in spandex and tights so you know it's going to be pretty hilarious."

However, the collaboration between two of glee club's newest members won't be all smiles, seeing as Ryder won the lead in the Grease musical over Jake and then kissed the object of his affection, Marley (Melissa Benoist). "He just saw Ryder kissing his girl so I think there's definitely going to be some initial tension with those two," Artist says. "All of a sudden there's another person in the mix and it's definitely shaking things up. Now it's time for Jake to step things up and fight for his girl."

Those fighting words come not so long after Marley spelled sang out her feelings for Jake earlier this season, only to see him shack up with evil Cheerio Kitty (Becca Tobin). But he's now back on the market and determined to use the glee club to win her over. "This is a girl who he is really falling for and he's not used to dealing with his feelings," he says. "Jake is totally in the glee club for the long haul."

So why is the school rebel and well-known womanizer suddenly so smitten with just one woman? Artist likens Jarley's chemistry to another famous couple in pop culture. "It's a little bit like Tarzan and Jane," he says. "He's this angry, rugged guy and she's the innocent one that brings him back down to Earth."

But just because Jake finally knows what — or should we say who — he wants, that doesn't mean courting Marley will be an easy task. "This whole episode is a rollercoaster of him dealing with his emotions. I think it's a really, really great turning point for him as well," Artist says. "You're going to see lots of different sides to him through all of these relationships, not only with Marley, but with others at McKinley. There's a lot of sweet moments for Jake in this episode."

Artist has also reached out to his cast mates behind the scenes, particularly the other newbies like Benoist and Tobin, to deal with the experience that is Glee. "Chord [Overstreet] was saying when he came on the show, he was the only new person there, so he had to go through all of it by himself," Artist says. "But with us, there's a whole little group of us so it's been really fun having that experience with them."

That experience includes adjusting to being recognized in public, and more specifically, at the Starbucks drive-thru. "I remember the employee opened the window to hand me my drink and she just froze and stared at me," he says. "I got really scared because only one or two episodes had aired so I never thought that that's what it was for. I was panicking a little bit. I was like,' Is she OK? What is going on?' She was like, 'Oh my God! Are you on Glee?!'"

However, Artist says Glee's hectic schedule has helped him deal with his newfound fame. "The great thing about Glee is that with the singing and dancing and shooting, we're constantly so busy that I barely even have time to check Twitter and call my parents back," he says. "I'm used to the crazy rehearsals so I love it and I think I thrive on it."

In addition to the song-and-dance routine, Artist is also working on his comedic skills, much like Lynch's memorable quips. "There's some funny one-liners for Jake in this episode so hopefully people will enjoy that," he says. "We'll see how my comedic delivery goes."

Glee airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Fox.

source: TVGuide.com

'Glee' Q&A: Alex Newell on Unique's Future, His Beyonce Obsession & Frank Ocean!

Alex Newell caught TV viewers' attention first as one of the four finalists on the original season of Oxygen's "The Glee Project," then as Wade Adams, the rival show choir lead who turned heads performing in a dress and heels as Unique. Starting this year, Unique has transferred to McKinley, started settling into her identity and is stealing the spotlight as Lima's newest vocal powerhouse. We caught up with the "Glee" star to talk about his Beyoncé obsession, his forthcoming movie and why Frank Ocean is the ideal boyfriend for both him and Unique.

Last week on "Glee" we found out that Unique's parents don't want her to play Rizzo, even though she won the role. Is that going to play out further from this episode?

It's so sad. It's going to be an issue, but it's not like a giant issue. I don't know how much further it's going to go. It's not that they're not supportive, they're more worried about my safety. Unique is more of, 'I know I'm good, I know.' Once her mind is made up there's no changing her.

The week prior it came out more concretely that Unique identifies as a female. Were you aware before you got the script? Were you always aware that was where the story was going?

As soon as I got the first script for "Saturday Night Gleever," I was totally unaware that the character was even going to be trans. I was like, "well, that's just the line." But then going in depth with the character I could understand it more and see where the character was going. I wasn't shocked when it happened, but at the same time I wasn't appalled either.

What was the process like post-"Glee Project" in getting this particular role?

I had the role tailor-made for me, which I think is absolutely one of the craziest, most outlandish, funniest things ever.

For you, what's the most fun part of the day when you're shooting?

The point at the end of the day where we're all extremely tired and we're all having fun and you get to see everyone's tired mood. Everyone gets tired differently. And we get silly. Between early mornings and late nights, that's when we take to our phones and let the world have a peek.

"Glee" is known for the romantic entanglements, so it begs the question, when does Unique get a boyfriend? Do you have an idea for who would be an ideal boyfriend for Unique?

I don't know. Unique doesn't have a boyfriend and she really wants one, and so does her owner!

What would Unique look for in a boyfriend?

Someone hot and someone dark and someone handsome. (Laughs.) I think she needs someone who would support her no matter what. When you look at Unique, she doesn't have too many people who support her and accept everything she's going through on the inside.

Do you have a favorite song you've done so far on "Glee"?

Thus far my favorite song is "Womanizer."

Are you a big Britney fan?

I'm not. That's the shocker part about me. I'm the biggest fan of Beyoncé that you'll ever meet. I told my mom this and my mom thought I was being blasphemous, but Beyoncé kind of equals Jesus for me.

Is Beyoncé the artist you most want to cover on "Glee"?

I really want to do a Beyoncé song and I really want that Beyoncé song to be "Countdown."

Can you tell Ryan Murphy that?

I don't have the balls to go up to him and tell him I want this song.

I was going to ask dream duet partner, but I'll assume that would be Beyoncé. Would that be terrifying for you, to sing with Beyoncé?

Of course. Late one night I had this crazy thought where I looked at Heather (Morris) and thought that was should do that Beyoncé and Shakira song, "Beautiful Liar." Hello, gold!

Besides Beyoncé, what else are you obsessed with musically?

I love Frank Ocean. We're going to get married. In true life, we should get married.

He could be Unique's boyfriend on "Glee"! That's how you can meet him.

That's valid, good thinking! (Laughs.)

You're so talented, are you thinking about making your own music yet?

I'm not at that point yet. I don't think I'm at the point in my life right now where I want to make an actual album, but one day I do. A long, long, long time from now.

You have your first film coming out, "Geography Club." What can you tell me about it? When did you get involved?

It was post my first episode of "Glee." I remember getting a call from Robert Ulrich saying there was a company that wanted me to audition. This character isn't as confident as Unique. He starts off in the beginning as 80 percent straight and 20 percent gay. He's just not comfortable enough to come out. He's extremely effeminate, over-the-top flamboyant, and you see the movie unfold so by the end of the movie he's 100 percent gay.

Outside of the movie and "Glee," what's up next for you?

I'm just taking it one step at a time right now. I'm trying to get through one thing before I tackle the world. When I start to tackle the world no one is going to stop me.

source: Billboard

Glee Star: I Love My Body!

Amber Riley on "This Is How I Made It"!

Dianna Agron Talks Quinn’s Thanksgiving Return, Kitty and Catfights With Santana (Q&A)!

Dianna Agron is the best friend we all wish we had. She’s loves cat gifs, Yoshi and is full of sound advice and sisterly wisdom. The star of FOX’s Glee even loves video games, especially ones that can fit in her purse.

Although the newly-minted Nintendo ambassador admits she hasn’t decorated her shiny red Nintendo 3DS just yet, she wouldn’t be opposed to adding a few stickers, preferably ones with cats on them.

Needless to say, this Glee starlet has come a long way since Quinn Fabray. Not only is she the creator the artistic site You, Me and Charlie, but the actress also has an indie film with Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer – titled Malavita – coming out next year. But don’t worry Gleeks: Agron is making her triumphant return to McKinley just in time for Thanksgiving.

Celebuzz recently chatted with Agron on everything from Glee and Malavita to her BFF Taylor Swift.

Celebuzz: Quinn is returning to Lima for Thanksgiving. What has she been up to at Yale?

Dianna Agron: School stuff! [Laughs] She’s been a little mischievous. She’s in a whole new ballpark, but at the same time, she’s grown into this new woman. She thinks she’s very sophisticated now. You’ll hear a little speech that she gives about her recent endeavors at school. It’s quite comical. Her extra-curricular activities are very interesting.

CB: Has she found herself a Yalie to shack up with?

DA: In some ways, you could say that. I don’t want to elaborate too much, but you’ll see. It’s pretty great, especially for Quinn. It’s like every season she’s someone new.

CB: Right! The Madonna of Glee, really. If only she could find a way to get rid of her ironic tattoo of Ryan Seacrest.

DA: I know. I think we’ll never see that ever again.

CB: There are some pretty great Quinn and Santana (Naya Rivera) moments coming up. Ryan Murphy recently joked on Twitter that he wants a spinoff for you two. What can you tell us about their reunion?

DA: Naya is one of my best friends, so it’s funny because the things that we do on the show are not necessarily the best friend behavior that you would want to have in your life. We have quite an interesting confrontation in this episode coming up. I’m not going to say exactly what, but I will say I nominated for really going for it. There was a lot of hesitation, but in the end, it will be really funny. There was some agression that was taken out. I’m not going to say whether it was verbal or physical, but let’s just say the stunt coordinator was on set. Think back to the fight in the hallway if you remember that episode.

CB: Of course! So it’s going to be Part 2?

DA: Yes! Exactly.

CB: So there was hestation on Naya’s part, but you were all for going hard?

DA: Well, you do things within safety limitations [laughs]. But I think if you trust and love somebody enough, like I love Naya, it make things a little bit easier to go a little bit further. It’s a great scene. The moment reminds me very much of Season 1. There’s a lot of emotion.

CB: You and Naya must be BFFs because all you do is tweet her cat photos.

DA: Yeah, I do. It started a long time ago. It’s not a new obsession by any means. It’s been an ongoing obsession. Sometimes, it’s the littlest things that bring you the most joy.

CB: A lot of fans love the Quinn and Rachel (Lea Michele) friendship. Will there be any moments between the two in the future?

DA: I have no idea! I don’t really know what’s coming up for Quinn and Rachel. I’ve been much more unknowing this season, which is fun, but it’s also so very different. I’d love for them to have a few scenes. They’re both maturing, and I think it could be powerful to see how far they’ve come.

CB: Maybe Quinn could come to New York?

DA: Of course! Because that means that I get to go to New York — or the fake New York on Paramount, one of the two [laughs]. But that would be so fun. We had a great time when we were in New York filming the end of the second season.

CB: There’s been a lot of talk about a potential storyline with Kitty (Becca Tobin), who’s been dubbed “The New Quinn.” What can you tell us about their relationship?

DA: It’s funny because we’re pretty much the same age in real life, but Becca is so sweet. Kitty completely looks up to Quinn. She has pictures of me in her locker and things like that. It’s the passing of the torch. She really looked up to Quinn in high school, and so when Quinn comes back, she gives Kitty a pep talk. I definitely had quite a few girls who I looked up to in high school, and I would have loved if they came back and offered me advice. Who wouldn’t?

CB: A lot of fans and critics seem to agree that this season has recaptured some of the magic from Season 1. Do you agree?

DA: For sure! It was really cool to meet everyone in the new cast. They’re all so wonderful and so eager to be on set. There’s definitely a renewed excitement this season, and we’re all noticing it. They brought a fresh air to the show. The possibilities with this cast are endless. It’s been really great.

CB: You recently wrapped Malavita with Robert De Niro and Michelle Pheiffer. What was that experience like?

DA: I’m so incredibly lucky to work with such amazing people. Getting to work with the likes of Robert De Niro and [director] Luc Besson was a dream. I’ve been a fan of Luc’s work for a very long time.

It’s a very dark comedy and an action movie rolled into one. Robert plays my dad and Michelle plays my mom, and Tommy Lee Jones plays the FBI agent that’s keeping our family in the Witness Protection Program. And then there’s John D’Leo, who plays my cutie little brother. We basically wind up in Normandy, and you see us try to assimilate into this very French town, and we just fail epically. It’s a funny twist of events.

CB: Now, your BFF Taylor Swift gave you a shout out in the liner notes of Red. That’s pretty cool, right?

DA: I’m so proud of her! Her album is doing so well, and she’s worked so hard on it, so I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s really doing great, and that album is amazing.

CB: So is “22″ your favorite song on the album?

DA: I don’t really know what my favorite song is yet. I’ve been listening to the whole thing in its entirety, and there’s not one song that I skip over. So I guess I love all of the songs.

source:Celebuzz

The Evolution of Amber Riley!

Last night, Amber Riley made her New York City Center debut in their limited run production of Cotton Club Parade, which is returning for seven performances through November 18. In the show, which is a Broadway-style revue that celebrates Duke Ellington's years at the famed Harlem nightclub in the 1920s, Riley gets to showcase the simply sublime skillset she's been honing since birth.

ETonline caught up with Riley this morning to find out how opening night went, what it means to be part of this iconic production and how it will inform the hotly anticipated next phase of her career!

ETonline: How are you feeling after last night's debut?

Amber Riley: Amazing! This has been a life changing experience. I had no idea how much I really loved the stage. I've been bit by the Broadway bug.

ETonline: Why did you want to be a part of this production?

Riley: First, having Wynton Marsalis' [musical director] name attached to it and getting the opportunity to meet him was number one. I am obsessed with The Cotton Club era, Duke Ellington's music and everything that happened there. Dianna [Agron] actually got me a record player for my birthday, and all I listen to it is Duke Ellington, Lena Waters, Lena Horn and Dorothy Dandridge. All those wonderful singers. I'm just obsessed with that era – even the costumes, it was such a glamorous time.

PHOTOS - Celebrities Who Were In Glee Club

ETonline: What's your favorite part of the show?

Riley: I actually get to do Sunny Side of the Street! Ella Fitzgerald did my favorite version of that particular song. But I didn't expect it would be so hard to learn. That style of music isn't exactly my forte, and it's a lot harder because everything is so intentional in the way they wrote this music. The notes, the intervals and the places I would naturally go to are not in there, but it's important to the music to sing those notes. I actually get to dance and I'm just living on that stage when I do that number. During that song, I feel like I am really doing something.

ETonline: How does this compare to the Glee tour?

Riley: It's almost the same thing. Once you're out there, there's no "cut!" The tour was on a larger scale, but I've never danced as hard as I do in this. I break it down a little bit. People are going to be really surprised. I heard people in the audience go, "Oh?!?" It was hilarious.

ETonline: Is that the goal with this next phase of your career; to show them there's more to you than just Mercedes?

Riley: Yeah. I loved playing Mercedes on Glee; she's a fun character to play and I got to sing the diva songs, but I get to play an adult here. Even though I'm just singing in Cotton Club, I'm also acting in it. There's a story with my character. I feel completely different from Mercedes when I'm doing this. I feel like a woman and it's amazing.

ETonline: You're also working on your debut album, how has that process been?

Riley: It's been really fun. I've been recording since I was 10 years old, so when I started Glee, I think I was the most experienced in the recording world, so to be doing my own album now is like home. I'm working with producers and writers I've admired for such a long time. My dream was to have people see my life point of view through my writing so I'm really excited for everybody to hear what I'm doing.

ETonline: How do you describe the album?

Riley: It's not done yet. I found my sound, but in the middle of doing Glee and everything else, you have to pick up and stop [recording]. It's a classic R&B album. There’s a pop sensibility to it, there are some easy listening songs, but I want to take it back to that old school R&B sound. We've lost that a little bit in music today. Everything has been pop, which is great too -- I love listening to a great pop song I can just snap my fingers and dance to in the club, but R&B is where my heart is.

ETonline: You have two more episodes of Glee that have yet to air, and whether or not Mercedes continues to pop up, what will it have meant to you to have been a part of this show?

Riley: It sparked my love for music and gave me a thirst to understand different genres of music more. Not just be in a box as to what I can sing, what I can listen to and what I enjoy. Glee gave me such a thirst for music knowledge. It was a catapult for my career and it's shown me in so many different lights, it's given me the avenue to go anywhere I want in my career. Not a lot of people get that opportunity on TV. A lot of people get pigeonholed because they play one particular thing. I think people see me as an actress on the show, they see me as a singer on the show, they see me as a dancer on the show, so they can see me on Broadway and they can see me as a solo artist. Glee gave me the opportunity to show all the different parts of myself.

source: ETonline.com