Jim Parsons is best known for his portrayal of the socially inept genius Sheldon Cooper in The big Bang Theory. Parson's portrayal of the idiosyncratic theoretical physicist was so phenomenal that by the end of the show, the 49-year-old had won four Prime Time Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, becoming one of the highest-paid actors on television.

Although several Hollywood actors could have played the role, most fans would find it hard to imagine anyone other than Sheldon Cooper.

However, the possibility of having someone else as the face of Sheldon Cooper didn't seem so outlandish after all. before The big Bang TheoryParsons worked hard to make a name for himself in Hollywood.

The actor even auditioned for a role in The officea show that would have a success almost equal to that The big Bang Theory. Here's why Parson's audition for this hugely popular sitcom didn't go as expected.

Jim Parsons auditioned for a role in The Office

Before audiences around the world got to know him as a socially awkward theoretical physicist, Jim Parsons was trying to land a role The office. "I don't remember, it was either Jim or Dwight. Which says exactly why I wasn't the right person for it," Parsons said during an interview with The Dan Patrick Show.

"There wasn't a role I was a wrestler for. I knew Rainn Wilson and I knew John Krasinski and I guess so I can't remember who it was because I knew what the role was, someone I kind of vaguely knew got it.

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Despite attending the audition, Parsons had a very unfavorable view of the show. "With The office, it just goes to show how stupid I am about Hollywood," Parsons said. "I thought what a stupid idea for a show. If we wanted a show about an office in America, we would have done it already. I was wrong and I have no foresight when it comes to such things."

Why Jim Parsons didn't get a role at the office

Jim Parsons' The office The audition could have gone wrong for a myriad of reasons. However, it couldn't be because he wasn't thoroughly prepared. Parsons even missed an Oscars after-party in preparation for his Sheldon Cooper audition. "I'm always working on my auditions," Parsons said vanity fair in 2020. "I remember that night would be the Oscars, I was invited to a party and I said I'm not going and I stayed at home and read my lines and worked on my lines."

Although the 49-year-old was undoubtedly prepared for his audition, Parsons has admitted he might not have been the right person for the role. During his interview with The Dan Patrick ShowTo which Parsons replied, "Oh yes! every time I mean almost every time. I was very lucky with that. Or I'm just being very honest with myself" when you ask her, "But then is there a part of you that knows, 'I might not be the best person for this part?'"

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In contrast, Rainn Wilson, who eventually landed the role of Dwight Schrute, felt a connection to his character almost immediately. "It was one of those rare moments where I knew this part was mine," Wilson said during an episode of Baumgartner's podcast. Normal looking losers. "No one knows this world of total nerds and white trash bullies, heavy metal dungeons and dragons… authoritarian, creepy maniacs better than I do. That's my thing."

Jim Parsons is producing his own remake of a popular British sitcom

Despite some criticism The officeParsons went ahead to produce a remake of the popular British sitcom, miranda, after his time as Sheldon Cooper came to an end. The show, call me cat now in its third season, starring Mayim Bialik and executive producing Parsons. During a Television Critics Association (TCA) virtual panel in 2020, Parsons explained why he thought it would be a good idea to adapt the British sitcom for American audiences.

"I would say on our part when it was brought to our attention this was a way to take advantage of this [the Miranda] Format as a starting point for a new series, we were very excited but also nervous because it works so well on its own, the original," Parsons explained. "And the two most important things are who is going to reshape and reshape this and around whom? And if you don't have both like we do, it really isn't worth it."

While Parsons had his reservations The officehe was sure of that call me cat would be well received. "I look at the rehearsals, I look at the tapings and I look at the shows and I'm like, 'This is working,'" he said. "I don't know if thousands of other people will like it, but it's good."