Lea Michele still remembers the one that got away.
The 30-year-old actress/singer sat down with Cosmopolitan.com where she recalled how much she wanted to appear in a Broadway production of “West Side Story” before finding success on “Glee” as Rachel Berry.
Despite tirelessly preparing for the role, as well as learning Spanish, she only got to say one line before being asked to leave from the audition.
“I was gutted. I went home and I cried so hard,” she explained. “I’m friends with Idina Menzel, and I remember crying to her, being like, ‘What am I going to do? Like, this was my dream role, I have to play this part.’ Anyway, a couple weeks later, I end up getting cast on ‘Glee,’ which was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
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Throughout her career, Michele has been on more than 100 auditions, trying out for anything, including commercials, voiceovers, theater and film.
“Most of the greatest success I’ve had in my life came from a door closing that led me to something incredible,” said Michele.
These days, Michele is having an easier time launching her second album, “Places.”
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“Releasing this album was a really big goal of mine,” she explained. “And I have some smaller goals as to how I want to proceed for the rest of the year. I’m working on a new television show; I want to launch [my] concert tour in more places.”
What’s the one message Michele did learn from her failed “West Side Story” audition?
“Don’t stop believing,” she said.