Chris Colfer has become famous for playing Kurt Hummel in hit series Glee. However he has confessed that he originally auditioned for the role of wheelchair bound Artie before creators were moved by his own life story of being a theatre-loving teenager, bullied for being different.
In an interview with Mr Porter, the actor said, “I was auditioning for the part of Artie, the kid in the wheelchair. And I didn't get it. Obviously. So that was it."
Show creator Ryan Murphy saw that Chris’s story was perfect for the show and decided to incorporate it. Chris continued, “So they invented a character for me. They created Kurt specifically.
“There are two experiences in my life that I just cannot wrap my head around. That's one. And the Golden Globes was the other. I just cannot believe they happened.
“In the beginning I was telling my friends that I met the person who did the voice from Scooby-Doo. Then those stories turned into: ‘Meryl Streep kissed me on the cheek.’”
Speaking about his childhood, he said, “I was harassed at school every day, called ‘faggot’, I had things taped to my back.'
“For most of my adolescence I was in my bedroom writing or watching things I shouldn’t be watching on TV, like Nip/Tuck.
“And I was obsessed with superheroes. I had this thing where I wanted to be rescued. The other kids wanted to be Superman, but I thought Lois Lane kind of had the best deal.”