Kaley Cuoco, known to millions as Penny Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory, says she’s fully on board with reprising her role in any potential revival of the beloved series. “I spent 12 years playing that role, and it really set off my career,” Cuoco shared in a recent People interview. “I owe a lot to that character, to the show, to [creator] Chuck Lorre. Those were some of the best years of my life, and some of the most fun I’ve ever had… I would absolutely reprise that role, 100 percent.”
On The Big Bang Theory, Penny starts off as an aspiring actress who moves into an apartment in Pasadena, right across the hall from nerdy physicists Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). The show featured Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar in their fan-favorite roles as scientists Howard Wolowitz and Raj Koothrappali. Later seasons brought in characters played by Sara Gilbert, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, Kevin Sussman, and Laura Spencer, expanding the sitcom’s quirky and lovable universe.
This stellar cast helped the show become a hit for CBS. At its peak during the 2017-2018 season, The Big Bang Theory was the top-rated broadcast TV show, boasting over 18 million viewers. The series won 10 Emmys out of a whopping 55 nominations. Cuoco herself earned several awards for her role, including two People’s Choice Awards, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, a Satellite Award, and her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Since Big Bang, Cuoco has continued to shine, starring in the hit Max series The Flight Attendant, which earned her three Emmy nominations. She is also the voice of Harley Quinn in Max’s animated series by the same name and stars in the Peacock comedy thriller Based on a True Story. Cuoco, who is now engaged to Ozark star Tom Pelphrey, remains one of Hollywood’s most versatile and in-demand stars.
In the Big Bang world, there’s plenty of fresh content on the way. Max has a new spin-off in the works starring Big Bang alums Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, and Lauren Lapkus. Sussman will reprise his role as comic store owner Stuart Bloom, with Lapkus returning as Denise, Stuart’s coworker-turned-girlfriend, and Posehn as Caltech professor Bert Kibbler.
Meanwhile, CBS has recently launched Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a sequel to Young Sheldon, which is a prequel to The Big Bang Theory. Premiering on October 17, Georgie & Mandy quickly became a hit, drawing in 6.56 million viewers—making it the top broadcast show that night.
As for Cuoco, fans can only hope she’ll have a chance to step back into Penny’s shoes one day, bringing more laughs and heartfelt moments to The Big Bang Theory universe.
