SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO - AGHDASHLOO HAD NEVER HEARD OF 24 WHEN SHE LANDED ROLE

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG star SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO had never even heard of hit TV show 24 before she was offered a role in it.

The Iranian actress, 52, plays the matriarch of a suburban Muslim family which is also a terrorist cell in the series, starring KIEFER SUTHERLAND.

But the actress admits when she learned the show's bosses were interested in her, she didn't even know how to react.

She says, "When my agent said 24 had offered me a role, I thought he meant that I would have to call them back in 24 hours."

Aghdashloo is now enjoying increased popularity in America since landing her role on the show.

She adds, "It's amazing, the power of television. I've never seen anything like it, not even in my birth country."