United Kingdom, Oct. 21 -- Lea Michele landed her first Broadway role because her friend's dad suffered a heart attack.

The 39-year-old singer and actress "hadn't ever sung before", but when her own parents were asked to take her friend to an audition for Les Miserables, she saw an opportunity at just eight years old.

She told Elle magazine: "There was an open call for the Broadway show Les [Miserables] and my friend wanted to audition.

"The night before, her father had a heart attack and her mother called my mom and said, 'Please, you have to take her on the audition.' "

She decided she wanted to "try out too", and her parents let her go despite never hearing her sing.

The Glee star recalled: "I said, 'Well, I'm going to try out too...