Lea Michele [1] flaunted her figure in a sexy spread for the Spring 2014 issue of V Magazine [2], modeling cutout bodysuits by Vionnet and DKNY and showing off her tiny bird tattoo. In the accompanying interview, titled "Lea the Brave," the Glee star opened up about her debut album, Louder, and upcoming memoir, Brunette Ambition, as well as the challenges she's faced since the death of boyfriend Cory Monteith [3] last July. Lea shared a series of steamy behind-the-scenes snaps from the V shoot on Instagram this week [4] and seemed to be having a blast while on the set with photographer Terry Richardson. The issue hits newsstands on Feb. 27, but you can read some of the standout quotes from Lea's sit-down right here.
- On recording her debut album, Louder, after Cory Monteith's death: "My album was completed in June. We had 12 songs. And then my boyfriend passed away in July. So I met with Sia [Furler], because she's a friend and because we were thinking, 'Do we want to add anything to the record now?' And we wrote 'If You Say So' on the same day she played me 'Cannonball.'"
- On dedicating "If You Say So" to Cory: "It's the only song that no one's heard. I can't talk about it until people hear it. I just feel like people should hear it, and I don't know if I'm ever going to talk about it. It's just one of those things where I understand what it means, and you can take it or leave it. That song is for me."
Source: V Magazine/Terry Richardson [5]
- On her approach to life: "My friends call me Grandma, but like, Grandma's killing it right now. I'm pretty sure Grandma nailed it in a half-naked Terry Richardson shoot, OK? So I'm fine with it. I just do my thing. I do what's best for me. That's it. I don't like things that other people like. I don't like clubs or crazy, loud music. I don't drink a lot, and maybe that makes me boring, but I'd rather be in bed watching Homeland with my cat, Sheila, eating a sandwich."
- On her upcoming memoir, Brunette Ambition: "I wanted to show young girls that you don't need to fit in with everyone and do what all the cool kids are doing. My drive and focus have gotten me to where I am."
- On Stevie Nicks as a role model: "There were people who were like, 'I am not f*cking leaving your side,' and that, for me, was Stevie.
She's like a fairy. She's given me so many gifts along the way, and when I say gifts, I mean tools and advice and support. She told me from the beginning that music is going to be your therapy, and at the time, I was like, 'What the f*ck are you talking about, Stevie Nicks?' I don't want to listen to music. I can't do anything. But once you get out a little bit of the tunnel, when you slowly start to feel like you can be yourself a little bit, it does help. It's so cool. I have her number."