Lea Michelle wanted to feel ''whole'' again before dating anyone new following Cory Monteith's death.

The former 'Glee' actress, who has been dating Matthew Paetz for over a year, says she needed time to feel happy on her own after her co-star and boyfriend died from a heroin overdose in July 2013.

Speaking to FLARE magazine, Lea revealed: ''I wanted to make sure that I was okay with me, feeling strong and feeling happy on my own. I didn't want anybody to fill any holes for me - that sounds sexual! I wanted to make sure that I was a whole person again and that no one was coming into my life to put me back together.''

The 28-year-old beauty met Matthew in April 2014 and describes him as ''miraculously'' entering her life.

She added: ''I needed to do that on my own. I worked very, very, very hard and I got back to that place where I was genuinely happy and strong and ready to live again and see the world and, you know, bring in more beautiful experiences. And that's when someone miraculously came into my life.''