Among Glee’s TV-pack-leading four Golden Globe nominations this morning were actor nods for stars Matthew Morrison, who plays William McKinley High School’s glee club coach Will Schuester, Lea Michele, who plays glee club’s obnoxious-yet-talented singer Rachel Berry, and Jane Lynch, who plays Will’s nemesis, the bare-knuckle-competitive coach of the Cheerios (WMHS’s championship-winning cheerleading squad), Sue Sylvester.
We got the three stars on the phone today to ask about their red-hot new show and find out what it was like to be nominated for Globes just halfway through its first season. Read the Q&A with Michele below, then check out our interviews with Lynch and Morrison.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You got up at 5 a.m. to hear the nominations?
LEA MICHELE: I was just looking on my computer, and I couldn’t find anything. So then I decided to turn the TV on, and the minute I turned the TV on, the first name I heard was my name. It was crazy. I just couldn’t believe — and I still can’t believe — that I was nominated in the category that I’m in, with the caliber of actresses I’m amongst. It’s such an out-of-body experience, really.
What’s the best “congratulations” you’ve received so far?
Probably the most realistic one, which was my mom, who was like, “I will give you a proper congratulations when I snap out of this shock.” [Laughs]
Is there anything special being done on the set for you guys today?
We’re filming in a couple of weeks, and right now, we’re just starting to rehearse musical numbers and get into the recording studio. I’m walking from set to the dance studio right now. I’m sure us kids will all get together and do something a little bit later, but right now, it’s right back to work here.
That’s no fun!
I know, right? Wouldn’t it be great if they had, like, buses to take us all to Disney World today or something like that? “I thought we were going to go to Magic Mountain!” [Laughs] Maybe next year.
Did you cry watching the fall finale like we all did?
Ohmygod, I cried so much filming the fall finale that I seriously had zero tears left. I haven’t been able to cry since then because I literally drained myself of all of my tears saying goodbye to the cast because we weren’t sure if we were gonna get picked up for the back nine or if that was gonna be the last episode. The last number I did was “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” That’s the last thing we filmed. The first time I cried since then was today, driving to work after hearing the nominations and just realizing how far we’ve come since we first started filming the show.
What are you most looking forward to about Golden Globes night?
I’m just really excited to get to go. I’m gonna bring my mom. I just want to sit back and be a fly on the wall. That’s really all I want to do. I just want to sit, watch everyone, see all the people who are there, and probably have a heart attack when they announce the nominees for my category. To hear my name between Edie Falco and Toni Collette is just crazy.
Just FYI: I hear the bathroom is a good place to hang out if you want to be a fly on the wall. We always try to have a reporter there.
[Laughs] I would never want to pull a Christine Lahti and be stuck in the bathroom, so I’m gonna stay out of there, that’s for sure.
You’re so giddy about your nomination. So giddy, in fact, that you’re now going to let your guard down and slip me what scoop about the spring episodes?
Nothing! [Laughs] Absolutely nothing! Just because I’m practically delirious right now about my Golden Globe nomination doesn’t mean that I’m going to spill anything! I will say that the music is gonna be amazing and the scripts are fantastic. We have Jonathan Groff [her Spring Awakening cast mate], my best friend in the whole world, who was with me this morning when I found out about the nomination, on the show with me. It’s gonna be great.
Last question: If you could use your new status as a Golden Globe nominee to make one star demand, what would it be?
If it could get me into Katsuya without a reservation, that would be amazing. Easy access to sushi without a reservation would be amazing. [Laughs]
Photo Credit: Matthias Clamer/Fox
More Golden Globes coverage and analysis from EW:
Golden Globes 2010: Q&A with Jane Lynch
Golden Globes 2010: Q&A with Matthew Morrison
Michael Ausiello’s Snappy Judgments on Golden Globes
Ken Tucker: Dexter, True Blood, and Good Wife fans should be Glee-ful
Movie nominations: See full list on Dave Karger’s OscarWatch
Golden Globe nominations: Who got snubbed?
Congratulations to Lea.
I know she’s got a great voice and all, but my favorite Rachel moment was “I’m going to hug you now” to Mercedes in “Sectionals.”
I also truly appreciate an actor actually admitting that they were scoping out the Internet to see if they were nominated for an award!
I loved that moment from “Sectionals”! I also liked her offering to let Quinn beat her up. And I adored her “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” She sang it with such joy, and how such a big big voice can come out of such a tiny body astounds me.
Her performance of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” was a triumph.
It was so good that I didn’t even notice that “Don’t Rain on my parade” is NOT a ballad until much later.
I was actually curious about this since a lot of people contest the idea that “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is not a ballad. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary has the following definitions for the word “ballad”:
1 a : a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing b : an art song accompanying a traditional ballad
2 : a simple song : air
3 : a popular song; especially : a slow romantic or sentimental song
If you go by these definitions, it technically is a ballad. Same thing with the song Mercedes was going to sing, “And I’m Telling You.”
Jackie-
I appreciate you taking the time to post the dictionary definition of “ballad.” (I seriously DO, sarcasm free, I swear!)
However, for me, I have to paraphrase that line about obscenity – I know a ballad when I hear one, and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is NOT a ballad. (Neither is “And I’m telling you…”, by the way.)
Just my two cents.
Based on that definition, 99% of songs ever on the radio are ballads. And I don’t know anyone who would believe that. The definition might as well be: a song.
Ballads, rap songs, show tunes or hair band covers, I love Glee and hope this is the start of many years of nominations for this show. I love it!
I am so excited for her and all the love Glee got!..that includes Matt Morrison and Jane Lynch.
I think she’s absolutely fabulous and completely deserving of this nomination. Good for her! Rachel Berry would be proud.
Rachel Berry would have been checking the Internet as well hahaha, she cracks me up! I’m happy for her, I hope she wins!!
not ganna happen she’s just a new face.
Steve, don’t rain on her parade.
Baha good one Eddy.
Being a new face has nothing to do with it. Lea is the stunning young ingenue that everyone roots for
I think she has a chance of winning. The Foreign Press likes to gives the tv actress awards to younger actresses from new shows, like Claire Danes, Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner and Anna Paquin.
Anna Paquin was a new face when she won the Oscar.
I agree, Tony. If there was any category that tends to be awarded to a newcomer/fresh face, it’s Golden Globe Best Actress for TV.
I am so happy that Glee has received this recognition. Lea is so well deserving of her nomination and i really hope she wins… I screamed when i heard her name announced, i’m such a GleeK.
Go Lea!!!
(Now if you could accept my Facebook friend request… that would make MY day!)
So, so happy for Lea (as well as Glee’s other nominations, but especially hers). Really tough category, but the GGs always like to reward young females, I’d say she has a good shot at winning.
I’m a little disappointed she got nominated. there was nothing good about her performance.
Blind and deaf?
I’m sorry, what? Lucy, go back to the sky and count your diamonds.
excuse you?
I hope this show gets canceled after the people realize this show has awful witting.
“witting” ?? Anyhow- I am THRILLED it got nominated!
M.C meant writting. and i agree it’s lackluster and brain dead writting which is offputting
Oh yes the witting leaves a lot to be desired *sarcasm*.
worst nomination of the day
i like glee, but i don’t like her, and her attitude-both on and off screen
@flouricejoy – her on-screen attitude is called “her character”. It’s what we like to call “acting”. As for her off-screen personality – how many times have you hung out with her lately? Give us the dish.
She totally deserves it. The best singer and one of the best actors from that show.
she is sweetheart. and so very deserving. jane lynch is super, but she is the most consistent thing about glee for sure. way better then the writing.
LOL at all the hate. She’s fantastic. Easily her and Jane are the best things about this show. Matt, on the other hand…
This totally made my day! I am so excited for her! She is just soooo good on Glee! Can’t wait to see all the cast on the red carpet
Oh geez, I hadn’t even thought about seeing the cast on the red carpet and NOW I CAN’T WAIT! I love them.
I can’t wait either after NBC had them banned from the Thanksgiving parade it will be krama coming back at them .
I’m so happy for Lea, she’s so talented and does a great job on Glee. I’m happy for the whole show really and I hope more people start to tune in to the show b/c it’s the best.