United Kingdom, April 8 -- Amber Riley feels "grateful" for her 'Glee' experience.

The 38-year-old actress starred as Mercedes Jones on the hit TV series between 2009 and 2015, and she remains incredibly proud of the show, describing it as a "groundbreaking" production.

Amber - who starred alongside the likes of Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele - told 'Entertainment Tonight': "It's incredible, like, that's my family. We did something that was groundbreaking.

"I'm always grateful to 'Glee' for being the catapult for my whole entire career, and for giving me such a vast knowledge and vocabulary of music."

Amber has starred in a host of films and TV shows in recent years, and she admits that 'Glee' has been a huge influence on her career...