George: 'I Turned Cowell Down'

The former Grey's Anatomy star was a teen sensation in Australian soap opera Home & Away when she was offered the chance of a music career during a trip to London.

But she insisted on pursuing acting - and years later realised music mogul Cowell was the man behind the record company offer.

She says, "I was 17 and enjoying success in Home & Away. While visiting London, a record company asked me in for a meeting and offered me a record deal without even hearing me sing. I suppose they thought I looked the part.

"Years later I saw Simon Cowell on American Idol and realised it was the same guy who offered me the deal. I could never have been the next Kylie - my singing voice is too deep and husky. I can manage an impersonation of Brigitte Bardot and that's about it."

Minogue shot to fame in her native Australia in the 1980s with her role in soap opera Neighbours before launching her singing career.