AFP

(File image) Actress Lea Michele.

There's a frisson of excitement as Lea Michele walks into the room. As petite as she appears on screen, the lead actress of TV phenomenon Glee channels her alter-ego Rachel Berry's fashion sense in a cute black top, pleated brown skirt and five-inch high heels.

Fizzing with energy and enthusiasm, Michele (who started her career as a child actress in Broadway theatre productions of Les Miserables, Fiddler On The Roof and Spring Awakening) says she shares her character's idolisation of Barbra Streisand and the stage.

“I think everyone has a little something in them that's in their character. Ryan (Murphy, Glee's co-creator) is so in tune with who we are as people, he bleeds that into our characters and storylines,” she says.

“I love it when Rachel does completely crazy things - and then it all ends in tears.”

When the series made its debut in 2009, few could have predicted what an impact it would make around the world.

Notching hit ratings and handfuls of awards while propelling the actors into stardom, the show has led to a sold-out tour, numerous albums and even the documentary film, Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.

The next season sees the aspiring stars, with the exception of Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) return for a new term, where Rachel and gay teen Kurt (Golden Globe winner Chris Colfer) set their sights on college, only to discover they aren't as talented as they always assumed.

While Rachel and Kurt have their futures mapped out, Quinn (Dianna Agron) decides to quit the Glee club and falls in with a darker crowd. And powerhouse diva Mercedes (Amber Riley) finds herself a new romance.

Michele reckons the ante will be upped in the third series, as new writers join the show.

“I love doing the big numbers and the theme episodes. But as a fan of Glee myself, I would love to really get into the characters, who they are and what they do outside of school. I think that's interesting.”

Viewers haven't seen much of Rachel's family background, aside from her biological mother Shelby Corcoran, played by Idina Menzel, who is returning for a longer stay in season three. There have also been hints that her two gay dads may finally enter the picture.

“I have been begging Ryan for so long and asking when it's going to happen. He just keeps saying, 'I don't know'. I would love that - I'll keep my fingers crossed,” she says, smiling.

“I think it's important the audience get to see the characters' home lives. Not just Rachel's parents, but the families of Britney and Mercedes, too.”

It's been rumoured that John Barrowman is in the frame to play one of her character's fathers, but the actress already has her dream casting.

“I really do think one of Rachel's dads is Nathan Lane. I know that's stereotypical but I envision him as one of them, for sure,” she admits, referring to the star of Broadway musicals and film hit The Producers.

The final episode in the second series saw the cast visiting New York, inspiring Rachel to pursue her dream future in the Big Apple.

So where does this leave on-off jock boyfriend Finn (Cory Monteith)? “She's pretty staunch on what she wants to do and where she's going.

“I don't think she's going to change her mind, so the question will be whether or not he joins her. That's going to be the big season three surprise,” Michele hints, giving a coy smile.

Murphy has already said the third series is set to be the final year for Michele, Monteith and Colfer.

“We always knew we'd graduate. It's all part of the plan and is going to make season three amazing,” she says.

So could it be goodbye Ohio, hello New York for Rachel and Kurt? Michele certainly thinks so. “I think they'd go to college in a big city. I can see Rachel intensely studying musical theatre. She's very smart, does well at school - and I got into NYU, so she definitely could!”

Animated, she continues: “Then they'd get a teeny studio apartment, go on open calls and look through Backstage magazine to find auditions. Kurt would probably work at a department store. And Rachel could teach little girls ballet.”

Having performed everything from musical theatre numbers from Rent and Wicked, to pop hits by Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, Michele has no more dream songs up her sleeve. “I am done,” she says. “My Man was the number one song I wanted to sing on Glee.”

With guest stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and Javier Bardem dropping into McKinley High, surprisingly, Streisand is not on Michele's wish list to appear on the show.

“It's not that I think she would ever disappoint me. I'm sure if she came, she would blow me away and be everything I have ever imagined... but idols should remain idols.”

* Poker Face - Rachel bonded with her screen mum over the Lady Gaga song

* Baby One More Time - Rachel gave it her all in Britney Spears's hit, complete with plaits and uniform

* Hello - The chemistry was plain to see when Rachel performed the Lionel Richie track with one-time love Jesse St James (Jonathan Groff)

* My Man - Rachel finally got the chance to sing Streisand's classic in the second to last episode of the second season - Belfast Telegraph

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