Lea Michele’s Emotional Tribute To Cory Monteith At Teen Choice Awards 2013

Lea Michele made her first public appearance since the July death of boyfriend and “Glee” co-star Cory Monteith on Sunday at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards.

The actress took home the Choice TV Actress: Comedy and dedicated it to her late boyfriend.

“Thank you, guys. Thank you. I just wanted to be here today to personally thank all of you and tell everyone out there how much your love and support has meant to me over these very difficult past few weeks. Not that I had any doubt before, but you guys are most certainly the greatest fans in the world,” she told the cheering crowd as she got emotional.

PHOTOS: Teen Choice Awards 2013

“I wanted to dedicate this award to Cory. For all of you out there who loved and admired Cory as much as I did, I promise that with your love we’re going to get through this together. He was very special to me and also to the world. We were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, his handsome smile and his beautiful, beautiful heart,” the 26-year-old actress continued through her tears.

Adding, “So whether you knew him personally or just as Finn Hudson, Cory reached out and he became a part of all of our hearts and that’s where he will stay forever. So thank you guys so much. Thank you.”

After Lea’s touching speech, Access caught up with “Glee” star Blake Jenner, who plays Ryder on the Fox series, who said of Lea’s moment on stage, “amazing, amazing, amazing. There’s nothing better than that. You don’t get much better than that.”

The “Glee” star explained that he learned a great deal from his late co-star.

“I saw Cory as a big brother. He would give me advice both with work and personal stuff and was just a light for all of us,” he told Access. “It’s just amazing that we got to do that. I’m glad that for the people who only saw him as Finn Hudson, I’m glad they got to see glimpse of the real Cory Monteith. He was such an amazing person with such an amazing soul.”

— Jesse Spero

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