Let's face it, Lea Michele has had one hell of a year. Not only did she lose boyfriend Cory Monteith suddenly in July, but then she had to play-act losing his on-screen alter ego, Finn Hudson, during an episode of Glee. No one would blame her if she'd gone into hiding and refused to ever come out again, but she hasn't. Ellen DeGeneres managed to coax Lea to come on The Ellen Show this week for her first official post-Cory interview.
The Glee star had a surprising explanation of where she's been, or rather whom she's been with, during her roughest hours.
It turns out Lea sought comfort not just with the Glee regulars -- she said she dove into work because her co-stars are her family -- but with Kate Hudson, who has had a recurring guest role on the show as NYADA teacher Cassandra July.
Not only are the rumors about a feud between the two false, Lea revealed, but Kate provided something no one else could -- a safe place away from things that reminded her of Cory.
As Lea told Ellen:
It was so helpful to just basically have a safe place to process and just have a minute to just breathe before getting back to my house, which just has a lot of memories and stuff, so being some place else to just have a moment was really nice.
It's a little surprising to hear she turned to someone who isn't a long-time friend, but the truth is, we all grieve differently. Sometimes it's just too painful to be around the people who remind you of someone ... not least because you are all in pain at the same time.
If they weren't all such professionals, I'm sure it would be harder for the stars of Glee to actually get work done on set as they're constantly surrounded by people who are grieving.
Lea also shared the details of her new song dedicated to Cory, take a listen:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Whom do you turn to when you're grieving?
Image via The Ellen Show