Glee features 12 major roles. Here we discuss who they are, their role in Glee and what they do in real life.

Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester

He is McKinley High’s Spanish teacher who becomes director of the Glee Club, hoping to restore it to its former glory. He was once part of the then glorious Glee Club and in the present day, he tries to bring back what the former Glee club has attained before. He has the dilemma of injecting into the students the enthusiasm that Glee club needs. He also has conflicts with his wife, the guidance counselor Emma and the football coach.

Matthew Morrison plays the role well as he is a good singer, actor and dancer altogether. He had several stints in Broadway including the musical version of Footloose, followed by a revival of the Rocky Horror Show. He also played Link Larkin in the hit musical Hairspray (played by Zac Efron in the movie version). More of Morrison here.

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester

Sue is head coach of the cheer-leading squad or “Cheerios”, and the Glee Club’s “arch-nemesis”. Her goals are all about extreme power and domination. She’d do anything to uplift the Cheerios and destroy Glee Club. Without her, Glee would be without twist. But mind you, Sue’s words are really quotable. They will teach you a lesson, no matter how mean it can get. We’ll get more of Sue in the coming episodes and it has been proven that she aint bad when she’s in love.

Lynch in real life is an American writer, actress, comedian, and singer best known for her roles in Christopher Guest comedies such as Best in Show, Charlie Harper’s sarcastic psychologist in Two and a Half Men, and Judd Apatow comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin. More of Lynch here.

Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury

Emma is the school’s guidance counselor. One prominent trait of hers is being mysophobic (fear of germs). She is deeply in love with Will Schuester but has chosen to engage with football coach Ken Tanaka. Emma has been a lot useful to the Glee kids especially in helping them out with their self-esteem problems and peer pressures.

Jayma Mays plays well the role of Emma. She also could sing and dance and did one number (I Could Have Danced All Night) in one of the episodes. She is a graduate with a degree in Performing Arts.

Jessalyn Gilsig as Terri Schuester

Terri is Will’s demanding wife of five years. She pretends to be pregnant just to keep their relationship going despite the fact that Will is showing signs of being in love with Emma. Terri will stop at nothing just to keep Will in her side.

Gilsig plays the role in splendid humor and style. Her role suits her well. Gilsig is a Canadian actress most famous for her roles in the television series Boston Public and Nip/Tuck. She has also appeared in several episodes of NYPD Blue, Prison Break, and Heroes (as Merydith) as well as several other series.More of Gilsig here.

Lea Michele as Rachel Berry

She is the talented star of the Glee club who is frequently bullied by the Cheerios and the football players. Rachel is an “overly ambitious” and “assertive” sophomore, with dreams of making it to Broadway. She is Jewish, an only child and has two fathers, an interracial same-sex couple. Rachel is in love with Finn Hudson and had once an affair with Puck. She does not hide her feelings for Finn but she is always intimidated by Quinn, Finn’s girlfriend.

Lea Michele is the perfect star for the role of Rachel. Her singing prowess is beyond awesome. Michele is a stage and television actress and singer. She is known for her roles in Broadway musicals, particularly for her starring role as Wendla in Spring Awakening. She started out young as an actress in musical Les Miserables. More of Lea Michele here.

Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson

He is the star quarterback of the school’s football team. And he is also in Glee club. Will Schuester discovers him singing in the locker rooms and devised a way to make him join the Glee club. Finn is now walking on the thin line, trapped between choosing what he’s supposed to do (football) and what he loves to do (Glee). He is Quinn’s boyfriend despite the fact that he has some feelings towards Rachel. Finn is Glee’s male lead star opposite to Rachel.

Monteith sings very well. He dances pretty awkwardly but that is no minus point. He is both an actor and singer from Canada. One unique aspect of his life is that he never graduated from high school. And look at his role now. Very ironic and cool. More of Monteith here.

Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones

She is the fashion-conscious, hot-tempered diva of the club. She can reach her high notes pretty well. She was once in love with Kurt before knowing he’s gay.

Riley was first seen auditioning for American Idol but didn’t make it.

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel

He is the gay guy of the group. It is implied that he is in love with Finn. He once joined the football team to make his dad proud. In the end, he came out as he is with his dad.

Colfer is gay in real life. More of Colfer here.

Mark Salling as Noah ‘Puck’ Puckerman

He is Finn’s best friend and team mate on the football team who disapproves of Finn joining the Glee Club, referring to it as “Homo Explosion”. But in the end, he became one of the Glee kids. He is secretly in love with Quinn.

Dianna Agron as Quinn Fabray

She is Finn’s girlfriend who is head of the Cheerios and president of the celibacy club. She is Rachel’s rival but in the end, Agron became friends with the Glee kids. She got kicked out from being a head Cheerio after the news of her being pregnant was spread.

Agron has also appeared on shows such as Shark, Close to Home, CSI: NY, Numb3rs and a recurring role on Veronica Mars.

Jenna Ushkowitz as Tina Cohen-Chang

She is a gothic student with a speech impediment. She is good friends with Mercedes, Kurt and the rest.

Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams

Artie is an electric guitar player and paraplegic manual wheelchair user. He is the nerd-looking guy in Glee club.