Quinta Brunson says her first television role in 'New Girl' was "the biggest deal" to her

The 32-year-old actress and writer told PEOPLE magazine: My first official acting job was on the show 'New Girl'. I was in an episode where the two characters, Jess and Nick, get engaged. I played the waitress at the restaurant where Nick is trying to get a reservation.

That was the biggest deal to me because I loved New Girl."

Quinta attributed her guest spot to the show's creator Elizabeth Meriwether who she met with "about developing something, but I hadn't really got a formal acting job yet" before going to put her in the "small role".

She said: "She was like, 'I feel like this is so small. Do you want to do this?' I was like, 'I don't care. I love this show. It was the final season. I didn't care how small it was. I wanted to do it. It was exciting because I was just such a huge fan of that show."

The 'Black Lady Sketch Show' star says her ABC Emmy-nominated sitcom - which centres on an elementary school in Philadelphia and will return for a 22 episode second series next month starring Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti and Sheryl Lee Ralph- and its success has displayed what she is "capable of".

Quinta said: "It's changed in that I am kind of forced to realise what I'm capable of, which sounds weird.

"[And] to reckon with, "Ok, I guess if I do dream something, there's a chance I might accomplish it.

"I was like, I should have good dreams because they might come true so I should really focus on making them positive."