Before they get their big break, many actors end up auditioning for well-known shows and narrowly missing out on huge roles. Apparently, that’s what happened to future “Big Bang Theory” star Kaley Cuoco, who once tried to book a part in a beloved teen series.
In a 2012 article on New York Magazine’s entertainment vertical Vulture, several actors who auditioned for Paul Feig and Judd Apatow’s cult series *Freaks and Geeks* were discussed. The show, though short-lived, ended up producing a remarkable number of future stars. According to the article, Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar nominee for *The Social Network*, once auditioned for the role of Sam Weir, the protagonist of the titular “geeks,” a role eventually played by John Francis Daley (better known for *Bones* and his screenwriting credits, including *Game Night* and *Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves*).
Lizzy Caplan, who rose to prominence in *Mean Girls* and recently delivered a bravura performance in *Fleishman Is in Trouble*, auditioned to play either Lindsay Weir or Kim Kelly. Lindsay, the new kid in the “freak” crew, was portrayed by Linda Cardellini, while Busy Phillips landed the role of Kim Kelly. Caplan appeared on the show in a smaller role.
So, what about Kaley Cuoco? Vulture admits they’re not certain which role she auditioned for, but it’s reasonable to assume it was either Lindsay or Kim, as they were the only lead female roles in the series. Cuoco was reportedly 12 years old when she auditioned, and according to the outlet, Judd Apatow told her she had a future in the industry—and he was definitely right.
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Kaley Cuoco nearly missed out on the lead female role on *The Big Bang Theory* as well. As true fans know, actress Amanda Walsh originally appeared in the pilot as a radically different character named Katie. However, after Walsh performed poorly with test audiences, Cuoco stepped in as Penny. The rest, as they say, is history.
We first meet Cuoco’s Penny (no last name) in the show’s pilot when she moves in across the hall from physicists Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), the latter of whom instantly falls in love with her. As Penny navigates her new life in California, the Nebraskan native joins Sheldon and Leonard’s friend group, meeting their friends Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg).
Eventually, *The Big Bang Theory* introduces two other female leads: neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik), who ends up with Sheldon, and Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz (Melissa Rauch), who marries Howard and has two children with him. The trio of Amy, Bernadette, and Penny brings fresh, much-needed feminine energy to the previously male-dominated show.
Amy and Bernadette also help Penny grow as a character. Bernadette, in particular, supports Penny when she gives up on her struggling acting career and helps her secure a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative—a role in which Penny truly flourishes. By the time the show ends, Penny has a last name after marrying Leonard, and the couple is expecting a baby.
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So, what did Kaley Cuoco do after *The Big Bang Theory*?
The series ended in 2019 after twelve successful seasons. By that point, Cuoco was an in-demand actress on television. In 2017, before the show even concluded, she signed a deal with Warner Bros. and adopted a dual role for her future projects: both actress and executive producer. This allowed her to wield more creative control over her work.
The first co-production between Warner Bros. and Cuoco’s company, “Yes, Norman” (named after her beloved dog), was an animated version of *Harley Quinn* on HBO Max. The show focuses on the Joker’s villainous girlfriend following their breakup, with Cuoco herself voicing Harley. It began airing in 2019.
Just a year later, Cuoco headlined the HBO Max original series *The Flight Attendant*. The show stars Cuoco as Cassie Bowden, a woman struggling with alcohol dependency who hides her issues while working as a flight attendant in first-class cabins on a luxury airline. After spending a night with a handsome stranger (Michiel Huisman) in Bangkok, Cassie wakes up to find him dead with his throat cut. Desperate to prove her innocence and uncover what happened, she embarks on a tense journey.
Although *The Flight Attendant* only ran for two seasons, Cuoco has continued to produce and star in various projects, such as *Based on a True Story* and the streaming movies *Meet Cute* and *Role Play*.
If you want to revisit Cuoco’s iconic portrayal of Penny, *The Big Bang Theory* is currently streaming on HBO Max.
https://www.looper.com/2016929/the-big-bang-theory-kaley-cuoco-audition-series-freaks-and-geeks/
