Kaley Cuoco’s transformative journey from The Big Bang Theory to The Flight Attendant.
Known for portraying the beloved character Penny in the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco once opened up about her career journey. Starting her acting career at a young age, she gained recognition in shows like 8 Simple Rules and Charmed.
While the CBS sitcom established her among some of the most acclaimed and popular TV stars in the industry, it still failed to reach the significant milestone that she later earned through the mystery comedy-drama The Flight Attendant.
Kaley Cuoco Reflected on Success With The Flight Attendant
Following a successful 12-year run with The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco led the Max mystery drama The Flight Attendant. However, the actress was initially skeptical about transitioning from an ensemble to being the sole focus of the show.
In a 2022 interview with Glamour, the actress said,
When I decided to do The Flight Attendant, I was like, ‘Are people going to judge this choice, because they see me as a comedic actress?‘
And she was pleasantly surprised by the industry and the audience’s acceptance and felt recognized as a serious actress in her new role, Cassie. Cuoco said that she was fascinated by the positive reception.
Her performance on the show also earned her a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination in 2021, an achievement she described as a new experience for her. “It wasn’t something that ever happened to me,” Cuoco said, reflecting on her Golden Globe nomination for the HBO mystery drama.
“I don’t know why that is the way it turned out,” Cuoco further said about not getting any significant acclaim prior to the show. The Emmy nominee also shared that she was amused when referred to as the “newcomer” after getting her Golden Globe nomination, despite her long-standing career in the industry.
Kaley Cuoco Opened Up About Heartbreak Over Knives Out Sequel
During her conversation with Glamour, Cuoco also opened up about the lost opportunity to star in the Knives Out sequel. The actress shared that while she was sure about getting the role of Birdie Jay in the sequel, it eventually went to Kate Hudson.
“I was so convinced that my bags were packed for Greece,” she said before adding, “And then I didn’t get it.” Cuoco shared that she had been through the whole process from chemistry reads to Zoom meetings and was devastated when she did not get the part.
“I cried and I cried all night long” she shared. Cuoco felt the role could have been a significant career milestone, especially with the opportunity to share the screen with Daniel Craig.
Despite her initial distress, she acknowledged Hudson’s talent and the inevitability of the casting decision with grace. While she lost the opportunity to star in the 2022 sequel, the actress shared that she remains hopeful about the possibility of joining the third installment of the franchise.
