There are almost no female Asian stars in America and so, for Parminder, Hollywood was the ultimate glass ceiling to crack and she has done it almost effortlessly.

In the settlement, the British actress was reportedly awarded all her 'income, residuals and royalties' from her successful acting career - including stints in E.

"I rang my mum from LA airport," she grins wryly, "and told her I'd got this big part and she replied, 'Oh good.

'" But don't ever say that her success is because Indians are considered to be "in vogue" after two recent boxoffice hits - Beckham and East Is East."A couple of years ago someone said to me, 'Oh, it's really hip to be Asian,' and it made me so angry - all these people banging on about my Indian upbringing and arranged marriages.

From Rosemary Clooney to Forest Whitaker, take a trip down memory lane with this lovely photo gallery of ER's most noteworthy guest stars.

Hollywood hunk Shane West’s current relationship status is single.