Jim Parsons Auditioned for 15 to 30 Pilots a Season Before Hitting His Breakthrough

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory is a CBS sitcom that aired for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019.
• One of the show's main characters, Sheldon Cooper, was portrayed by then-unknown actor Jim Parsons.
• Parsons struggled to get the role and went through rounds of 15-30 auditions per season to get any role before auditioning for Sheldon.

If you want to be an actor, you have to think about it not only from a creative and inspirational point of view but also from a commercial point of view. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to achieve international success unless you are located in three or four of the world's entertainment centers.

And even if you are, talent and physical access to the auditions and background shoots won't give you a successful career. As unfortunate as that is for all the talented people out there, luck plays a huge role in success in filmmaking. You have to be lucky to get noticed.

And if you're not, the acting money from background jobs and commercials won't be nearly enough to cover all your living expenses. Almost every major celebrity who doesn't come from an industry family has a story of financial and career struggles in the past. Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons is no exception.

How Many Auditions It Took Jim Parsons To Get TBBT Role?

As was revealed by Jim Parsons himself, he has always known of his passion for acting and always wished nothing more than to become an actor when he grew up. He opened up a little more about his motivations in an interview with Houston Chronicle:

“From a very early age, I said ‘movie star’. I couldn't have known what that meant, as far as fame – that didn't make sense to me. But I knew I wanted to act. There were brief bleeps like teacher and meteorologist, but (acting) was there from day one. Why? I have no idea. I was given plenty of attention as a child,” Parsons said.

Although he had a strong start in theater in Houston, his path became much more difficult when he moved to New York. As he admits, there were times when his auditions went nowhere: the roles were either given to someone else or the show wasn't picked up by the studios at all.

It was not a matter of determination. If anything, the young actor overworked himself, going through 15 to 30 auditions a season. It all paid off with the role of Sheldon Cooper, which became his lucky ticket into the world of film and television.

Now, four years after The Big Bang Theory ended, it's safe to say that Parsons' career has taken the perfect shape with a mix of lighthearted and very serious roles. However, if you still miss Sheldon, you can watch the iconic CBS sitcom on Max.

Source: Houston Chronicle