Last updated: September 02, 2010

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Before Glee, Lea Michele was told 'she was not pretty enough' for roles

BEFORE landing a part on Emmy-winning drama Glee, actress Lea Michele was told she was "not pretty enough" for roles.

"I was always told I was too ethnic or not pretty enough or too much this or not enough of that," Michele said at The Hollywood Reporter's Emmy roundtable.

The actress, who turned 24 on Sunday, said she had never received a callback for a television show before Glee, but show creator Ryan Murphy remembered meeting her through a mutual friend.

"Glee was the first audition I went on, and Ryan was there. After going through the studio and the network, he told me that he had written it with me in mind," she said.

Michele was included in Time Magazine's 2010 list of the 100 Most Influential People In the World. FHM named her #7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List, which was the highest ranking for a new entry, in June. Ellen.com named her #16 in Hot 100 of 2010, saying "Lea Michele is just a perfect storm of hotness". In May, Michele was chosen for Victoria’s Secret Sexy List 2010 for having the "Sexiest Smile".

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  • Tazrooney of Brisbane Posted at 8:50 AM August 31, 2010

    I can make a list right now of about a billion people on TV that aren't the "typical beauty". Doesn't mean I'm less likely to watch the show tho. Beauty means different things to different people but I think she's a stunner by all means!

    Comment 1 of 23

  • Steve of The Ugly Truth Posted at 8:50 AM August 31, 2010

    Hahahaha, there is no way she is good looking enough to make any "Hot List"! Put simply, her nose is the problem. Get that fixed and we'll see. I am not however saying she isnt attractive, jsut not to the levels they are giving her credit for.

    Comment 2 of 23

  • Elohim of Bris Posted at 9:29 AM August 31, 2010

    Not pretty enough? She would never get a knock back from me ;)

    Comment 3 of 23

  • Glee fan Posted at 9:30 AM August 31, 2010

    Lea is smoking hot!!

    Comment 4 of 23

  • Stefan of ACT Posted at 9:40 AM August 31, 2010

    She is hot!

    Comment 5 of 23

  • The Decline of the Western Civilisation Posted at 10:17 AM August 31, 2010

    Talent, perseverance and hard work is always sexy.

    Comment 6 of 23

  • Zeus of sydney Posted at 10:18 AM August 31, 2010

    what are TV exec's doing to justify their salaries? Lee is smoking hot sure isn't the blonde bimbo look but isn't that the point glad someone finally recognized her talent and obvious assets.

    Comment 7 of 23

  • drew Posted at 10:28 AM August 31, 2010

    You gotta admit she is weird looking. I mean that in a nice way.

    Comment 8 of 23

  • Zig of Mel Posted at 10:30 AM August 31, 2010

    Plastic crap world we live in...I mean, look at Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian! What has happened to thetalent of the world? I'll tell you! They cant get in the door because they arent pretty enough, or are too smart for the vultures!

    Comment 9 of 23

  • Greg of Melbourne Posted at 10:31 AM August 31, 2010

    She has a bit of Julia Roberts in that photo. Not sure how they could think she didn't have presence on camera.

    Comment 10 of 23

  • Kate of QLD Posted at 11:08 AM August 31, 2010

    I never really liked the girl but i have to say im disliking her more now because to me she looks like she has lost weight to try and "fit-in" with the hollywood croud. I dont think she is as amazimg as everyone thinks she is...

    Comment 11 of 23

  • GlendaSings of Canberra Posted at 11:45 AM August 31, 2010

    There's no way she'll touch her nose. So much of a great singer's voice is related to the way their bone structure resonates, and that includes the nasiofacial resonators. You could fix her nose, but lose all the wonderful natural overtones that it creates in her voice! Think Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow...the nose makes the voice! I don't think she's lost weight - as they say on the show, her character dresses like 'a cross between a grandmother and a toddler'. She never wears anything clingy or revealing. It's just that we've finally seen her in something flattering, and hey, whadaya know, she's got a body. Her character shines through she is both ordinary and beautiful at the same time.

    Comment 12 of 23

  • Shane of Canberra Posted at 11:56 AM August 31, 2010

    Apart from a massive nose, I think she's pretty enough.

    Comment 13 of 23

  • Peter Lolly of Greenham Common Posted at 12:32 PM August 31, 2010

    She's not a bad looking girl at all, and once she starts singing I don't care what she looks like anyway. She has one of the greatest female voices I've ever heard and makes the much vaunted Susan Boyle sound average.

    Comment 14 of 23

  • Bazza of Brisbane Posted at 1:50 PM August 31, 2010

    I think that the people who do all the singing on Gleee have big career's ahead of them. Any of them sound brilliant when they open up and really sing. It's one of the few show's I'll sit down and watch regularly when it's on.

    Comment 15 of 23

  • CJ of CQ Posted at 1:50 PM August 31, 2010

    She's the new Streisand!!! Same nose, same vocal capacities... While this may not be enough for the average heterosexual, I still think someone overstepped when they said she wasn't pretty enough!!!

    Comment 16 of 23

  • Krystle of Brisbane Posted at 2:26 PM August 31, 2010

    Soooooo....why are there so many ugly actors/actresses on screen then?

    Comment 17 of 23

  • Harry of Nowra Posted at 2:33 PM August 31, 2010

    you're right! She is not pretty, but she sure is gorgeous. Nuff said

    Comment 18 of 23

  • Just want to clarify... of Perth Posted at 2:42 PM August 31, 2010

    GlendaSings of Canberra, just want to point out that Celene Dion has had a nose job.

    Comment 19 of 23

  • Liv of Melbourne Posted at 2:55 PM August 31, 2010

    well, I think she DID look hot in Glee season 1, when she still had some curves - now she looks like a lollipop or one of those bobble-head animals! She is way too skinny - surely a product of the hollywood peer pressure she's been exposed to since becoming famous..not good...

    Comment 20 of 23

  • Dani Posted at 2:59 PM August 31, 2010

    It's more a pity that she has no time for her fans. She has been snubbing people at after parties, and if she really struggled SO hard to get into Holywood, you'd think that she was a little more courteous to everyone around her. If you don't want to be social, and just spend the night kissing your boyfriend then do it at home and stop whinging about not being pretty enough, you already have a life most people could never dream of, I mean, have you heard yourself sing lately?

    Comment 21 of 23

  • curves of Melbourne Posted at 3:43 PM August 31, 2010

    Liv I couldn't agree more. She was much hotter with her curves. I'm not as impressed with her looks stick thin.

    Comment 22 of 23

  • James Shaw of Sydney Posted at 4:20 PM August 31, 2010

    It is pretty arragont of her to make these comments, which imply "ofcourse I am hot". I think she is a reasonably attractive woman however would not go as far to say that she is one of the hottest women in Hollywood which would warrant these comments. She should be more concerned about trying to appear humble than who said waht on her way there.

    Comment 23 of 23

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