Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory ditched her blonde highlights for a whole new look in a brand-new project. After 12 seasons of playing Penny, Cuoco wasn’t content with merely resting on her laurels. Instead, she aced her new project (as an actor and producer), which completely changed her status in the movie world.
Kaley Cuoco from the series The Big Bang Theory | Warner Bros. Television
This power play transformed Cuoco from sitcom queen to industry powerhouse, proving her Hollywood IQ goes beyond just acting.
Kaley Cuoco Took a Bold Leap into a New Project Post-Big Bang Theory Success
Kaley Cuoco as Cassandra “Cassie” Bowden from the series The Flight Attendant | Warner Bros. Television
After 12 seasons on The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco wasn’t itching for just any role. She was a television heavyweight with the freedom to be picky, and so she did what any self-respecting millionaire would do: browse Amazon. Lol. In a candid conversation with Emmy Magazine (via nickisswift.com), the 35-year-old actress revealed this rather exciting tale:
I wasn’t actively looking for my next project and didn’t want to chase anything down.
And that’s where genius struck. A blonde on a book cover (Chris Bohjalian‘s The Flight Attendant) caught her eye, and the story about a boozy mystery woman reeled her in. Fast forward a few months, and Cuoco wasn’t just starring in the adaptation; she was producing it too. “Never interested in producing,” she admitted, but The Flight Attendant changed the game.
This ‘boss move,’ as some might call it, wasn’t just a whim. Cuoco pitched the project to Warner Bros. chief Peter Roth, and his golden advice was to produce it and cast herself as lead. And so, ‘Yes, Norman Productions’ company was born, with Cuoco at the helm.
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki from the series The Big Bang Theory | Warner Bros. Television
The gamble paid off. Cuoco’s first production not only landed her a Golden Globe nomination but also a second season of The Flight Attendant, which dropped in 2020. Plus, she was the voice and producer behind the hit animated series Harley Quinn.
Cuoco loved her new position of power. Speaking to Variety, the actress opened up about how she was stuck with Big Bang and wasn’t able to get herself into something new. But then The Flight Attendant happened. Cuoco alluded,
I was worried that I’d be unable to put Penny aside and watch with an open mind. But she had me immersed in the Cassie character almost immediately.
The new show wasn’t just about scoring another acting gig; it was about creative control and proving she was more than just a sitcom queen!
Cuoco’s Unexpected Journey from Tennis Courts to TV Sets
Kaley Cuoco from the series The Big Bang Theory | Warner Bros. Television
Believe it or not, before gracing our screens as Penny in The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco almost traded in her scripts for a tennis racket (via Looper)! Ranked regionally as a little kid, the 35-year-old actress wasn’t just swinging for the fences—she was aiming for aces.
But plot twist! While Cuoco’s parents were supportive of her athleticism, they encouraged her to explore other passions, and then acting happened. She juggled her hobbies: tennis, acting, and (sometimes) dancing classes, never relying on one for success. Cuoco was even placed in a tennis competition, but Hollywood’s allure proved stronger. In the end, the bright lights of Tinseltown won out, and the rest, as they say, is sitcom history!
Watch the thriller TV show The Flight Attendant on Amazon Prime.
