Over three years since the amazing sitcom concluded, actress Kaley Cuoco shared an emotional behind-the-scenes story from the time she worked on “The Big Bang Theory.” She revealed it during an appearance on an episode of “The Late Late Show With James Corden.”
The actress played “Penny” throughout the 12 seasons of the show. She was one of the main characters from the first episode as her arrival at the apartment building in Pasadena kicked off the show’s series of events. Shortly after, she befriended her neighbors Sheldon and Leonard and played a massive influence in their lives.
While the star was part of the show since the very first episode, she almost wasn’t. She had no place in the original plan for the comedy until CBS asked that writers tweak the plot. Keep reading to learn more about the touching BTS moment and Cuoco’s time as “Penny.”
Kaley Cuoco’s Dad Supported Her
Cuoco revealed that her dad was her biggest fan during her time on the show. A behind-the-scenes ritual was that he was always available while she was filming. “We had a live studio audience, obviously, and he had a director’s chair with his name on it. It sat at the top of the audience, and he never sat in it; he always stood.
He also cheered her on from time to time during each take. While she spoke, she got emotional, “it’s going to make me cry,” she said. The crew members got familiar with her dad since he was always there.
She said, “Every night for curtain and bows and for intros… he would be at the top and he would give me a thumbs up. All the crew and cast knew my dad so well, it was a thing — when we would come out, they would all give my dad a thumbs up.”
This became a behind-the-scenes ritual for them since the show audience also started giving him a thumbs up. “It was a weekly thing! It was just very special for all of us.” She also noted that her father still misses the show’s live tapings. She got so used to seeing him there that she couldn’t do a show without him. “‘You can’t miss one now, you’re part of the show!’”
Cuoco Wasn’t In The Plan
She noted that the only characters intended as main characters from the original concept were Leonard and Sheldon. Other actors, including Cuoco, were later brought in since it became a group project. According to fans and viewers, the “Penny” character had the most development on the show.
She started the series wanting to be an actress, but as time went on, she became a successful pharmaceutical sales rep and married Leonard. She was thrilled to be a part of the show, as she noted in the interview. Apart from the fun experience, it also opened her eyes to her father’s support since he was there for every live taping.
Kaley Cuoco Had An Accident
While fans found it impressive that her father was available for all the live filmings of “The Big Bang Theory,” they also wondered whether he was available for the episodes that Cuoco missed. She reportedly missed a couple of episodes during the fourth season due to an accident. She broke her leg while horse-riding.
The crew members sympathized with her and made no big deal of her absence. They could cover for her since there were six more main characters. When she returned, she was in a cast, so a new role was given to her by the production team. She was asked to work at The Cheesecake Factory as a bartender.
She Progressed In The Show
When Cuoco shared her story, fans were curious whether her dad was okay with watching his daughter being sexualized during the show’s first few seasons. She was objectified and mocked on several occasions during the sitcom, but mostly for laughs.
While this lasted for a while, viewers were thankful that the “Penny” character was developed as the series went on. She became more relevant for other things and became less sexualized. By the time “The Big Bang Theory” ended, Penny was one of the most popular characters on the show.