Known for her standout performances in shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Flight Attendant, Kaley Cuoco made a striking return to television with a new comedy thriller, Based on a True Story.
The series focuses on a twisted murder tale and a couple hoping to capitalize on America’s fascination with murder mysteries, something that Cuoco personally connected with, as the actress has revealed that her deep interest in true crime played a significant role in her decision to join the series.
Kaley Cuoco’s True Crime Fascination Was a Key Factor in Joining Based on a True Story
The Peacock comedy thriller Based on a True Story follows Kaley Cuoco in the role of a real estate agent, Ava, who decides to start a true crime podcast with her husband, after learning the identity of a serial killer who lives in their neighborhood.
Talking about the show in an interview with Awards Radar, the actress revealed the reason she decided to join the series. “A lot of boxes were checked for me in this show,” Cuoco said, explaining,
The writing was fantastic. I love true crime. I literally fall asleep to Dateline every single night. I watch repeats, I listen to murder podcasts — There’s a lot of parts from this show that made sense for me.
The actress also shared that the mood and style of the series were something that she found easy to relate to, as it resonated with her previous work in shows like The Flight Attendant.
“It had a tone that felt very comfortable for me,” she said, noting that it fits well with her acting strengths, making the role appealing and natural for her to take on.
Additionally, she also shared that her background in tennis and her desire to work with Chris Messina also served as a significant motivation in her decision to join the series.
Kaley Cuoco Opens Up About Her Fascination With True Crime
During her interview, Cuoco also opened up about her deep obsession with the true crime genre and its surprising impact on her life. “I’ve always loved the genre because of how hard it is to watch,” she told Awards Radar.
Cuoco further noted how her partner frequently questions her choice of viewing. However, the actress said that she finds true crime compelling, as it gives voices to the victims and their families.
It’s giving these people a voice. And if something happens to someone, the family gets to speak, they get to share their story. And if someone hasn’t been caught, it’s a chance for them to be out in the world and they can be brought to justice.
The actress also admitted the unusual comfort the genre brings to her, as she said that such intense stories often soothe her to sleep. “It also soothes me to sleep, which is really weird,” she said before adding, “Murder should not soothe me to sleep, but it does.”
However, the Meet Cute star attributed the unusual comfort to her lifelong exposure to television, arguing that it made her more drawn to real, unscripted content rather than fiction.
Cuoco is set to reprise her role as Ava in the second season of the comedy thriller, Based on a True Story, which is set to premiere on November 21, 2024, on Peacock.
Based on a True Story is available to watch on Peacock.
