Sandy Sidhu was on track to become a medical professional when she decided to switch her focus to acting. Now she plays a nurse on television.

Sidhu, who hails from Nanaimo and has a degree in cell biology and genetics, was studying to become a doctor at UBC when she realized she was unhappy with her program. At the same time she was acting B次元官网网址渟ecretlyB次元官网网址� on the side because she was too scared to admit to herself that she wanted to become an actress.

B次元官网网址淚t started to dawn on me that, B次元官网网址極h, shoot, I think I love this more. Uh oh, this is starting to become a big interest in my mind, in my heart and in my thoughts. This is really overtaking my focus,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd eventually I had to have a real talk with myself.B次元官网网址�

Sidhu said her parents were thrilled when she told them she wanted to study medicine, following in the footsteps of her mother, a nurse, and she was terrified to tell them she wanted to abandon that pursuit to become an actress. She said her jaw dropped when they were supportive of her decision.

B次元官网网址淭hey said, B次元官网网址榃e donB次元官网网址檛 know anything about this field, so if this is what you really want to do just work really hard at it and go for itB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd it was really good advice.B次元官网网址�

After more then a decade appearing in commercials and assorted TV series and TV movies, Sidhu was cast in her first leading role last year in the Global medical drama, Nurses, which she describes as a B次元官网网址渃oming of ageB次元官网网址� series following five rookie nurses in a busy Toronto hospital. The program made its debut on Global TV on Jan. 6.

Sidhu plays Nazneen Khan, a nurse who left her wealthy family in India to reinvent herself in Canada. Sidhu said the immigrant story is reminiscent of her own her motherB次元官网网址檚, but thatB次元官网网址檚 where the similarities end.

B次元官网网址淚n terms of character and personality theyB次元官网网址檙e nothing alike,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut the thing that they have in common is that they are both pioneers who braved a choice to go to a new environment for a better life.B次元官网网址�

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Sidhu said she knew Khan B次元官网网址渋ntrinsicallyB次元官网网址� and felt an B次元官网网址渋nnate connectionB次元官网网址� with her as soon as she read the audition script.

B次元官网网址淚 really do give credit to my mother for that because I think as a child growing up having a mother as a nurse B次元官网网址� I really do have a deep personal connection and have something to say about this role,B次元官网网址� Sidhu said.

In her portrayal, Sidhu said she draws from her motherB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渓ove of others and her unwavering dedication and passion to looking after other people,B次元官网网址� as well as her own experience volunteering in a hospital after school at Dover Bay.

B次元官网网址淚t really stuck with me because every day there are new patients that would come in and you really got to know people and I started to understand why my mom loved it so much,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou get to have an opportunity to make a positive change [for] someone.B次元官网网址�

Sidhu said attending the Nurses premi猫re in Toronto last week was an B次元官网网址渆xtraordinaryB次元官网网址� experience that she still canB次元官网网址檛 wrap her head around. She said when she started pursuing acting, she struggled with a lot self doubt and B次元官网网址渢his is kind of a surreal moment of, B次元官网网址極h my God, dreams can work out.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his is a very emotional moment for me to know that life can work out this way,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd I really want to share a message that people can do anything that they want and I hope that they believe in themselves and love themselves and really offer themselves the opportunity to do the things that they love to do and find joy.B次元官网网址�

Nurses airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on Global.

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