Rachel Berry was written for me, Lea Michele says
Lea Michele "I was always told I was too ethnic, or not pretty enough, or too much this or not enough of that,” she said.
But that changed when she met Ryan Murphy, the creator of the hit musical show.
"I met Ryan … and we just had a great night talking about Barbra Streisand and our shared love for her, and musical theatre and what not – and I never saw him ever again,” the 23-year-old said during a round-table talk organised by the Hollywood Reporter.
She added: "I came out [to LA] with the hopes of taking a break from New York and the stage and maybe get a little guest spot."
Unbeknownst to Michele, Murphy had not forgotten her, and created the character of eager wannabe Broadway star Rachel Berry with her in mind.
“Glee was the first audition I went on and Ryan was there, and I went, 'Do you remember me?' and he was like, 'Of course I remember you.' After going through the studio and the network, he then told me that he had written it with me in mind."