Shaheer Sheikh Quotes

I screen tested for 'The Tudors' in N.Y. That was my first experience of N.Y., being flown here to screen test with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. So I have very, very fond memories of New York - New York helped give me my first big break.

I played a scene at the end of my first year, and that's how I was discovered.

I always say: you're not going to find Hollywood. Hollywood will find you! But I'm ready for it: for Hollywood, for Bollywood, for everything!

Coming back to 'New Girl' was a real reminder of how lucky I am to be on a popular network TV show.

If I am not right for something there are many talented actors out there that will get it.

My impression was, 'This Hollywood thing doesn't seem too hard.'

My first speaking part was to read for John Forsythe for Bachelor Father. I was the lead, opposite him.

Arrested Development opened a lot of doors for me.

Every actor dreams of getting a big break, a big opportunity.

I've had to fight for roles and I've lost a hundred roles, but 'Smoking' and 'Smith' were phone calls. That's the dream.

I'd never done anything as high profile or professional as 'Skins', so 'Skins' is where I've started.

My mom got me into some commercials, and I basically, I guess, just got out of my shell I was in at the time because I can't remember. I've just been blessed ever since.

I think every young actor in Los Angeles went up for that role. It was between Frankie Muniz and me, and he pulled out, so I got the role.

I don't have any massive ambitions to be a movie star.

'One Tree Hill' gave me my first shot into acting, and they gave me the biggest chance, and that's something that I'll always respect and be grateful for.

When you get your show - that's what 'King of Queens' was for me. That was my part; that was my show - I was meant to have that part.

I never really felt like a movie star until 'Police Woman.'

I got cast for 'Spring Awakening' when I was 20. Every dream I had came true in that moment.

I sent some scenes from 'Life on Mars'... and then I didn't hear anything for about 48 hours, and I was sure that I wouldn't get this. Then I got a phone call saying, 'They want you to take the role of Jim Shannon on 'Terra Nova,' and would I be interested!

When I moved out to L.A., I went on 156 auditions before I booked a single thing.

'American Idol' opened up all the doors to where I am now.

The New York theater community didn't like being invaded by reality stars - they still don't - but I got in there and auditioned just like everybody else. They hired me for 'Hairspray' to help sell tickets for a few weeks, but I ended up being there much longer than originally planned and started to carve a niche for myself.

The day that I got the phone call to tell me that I booked ‘Glee’ I was shooting ‘CSI Miami.’ I was playing this heroin addict…I’d been on a million auditions where I sang and looked exactly the same way and didn’t do anything different. And so for this to be the one that popped it was just like what happened? It was the perfect timing and the perfect role for me. It was like everything came together.

With "The Office," they said, "We don't want anyone we recognize, so give us unknown actors," and I think that was the break that I needed. Because I went in and I got the role.

Being an actor is like winning the lottery. It's not really about your talent, it's right time, right place, right face.