Putting a character next to Jim Parsons’ iconic Sheldon character was a major risk. Given that Amy was very similar to Sheldon was also a bold move from The Big Bang Theory writers. In truth, Mayim Bialik’s role on TBBT could have been short-lived. Instead, it was the opposite, as Mayim thrived in the role. Behind the scenes, Parsons felt the connection as well, and wanted to make sure Bialik wasn’t going anywhere. He advised the writers to keep Amy a crucial part of the show, and that’s exactly what ended up happening.
Although she was the perfect fit, Bialik struggled with certain moments. In one instance, wearing a wedding dress proved to be a burden for the actress. Let’s take a look back at how it all went down, and why Mayim struggled with her confidence prior to the scene.
Mayim Bialik Felt Ashamed Trying On Her Dress For The Wedding Episode With Jim Parsons
It was one of the top-rated episodes in the history of The Big Bang Theory over on IMDb. The Bow Tie Asymmetry aired in early May of 2018. The season 11 episode scored a 9/10 rating, and did not disappoint. However, behind the scenes, it was a different reality for Mayim Bialik. Although Mayim looked beautiful in her dress, she didn’t necessarily feel beautiful while shooting the wedding scene. Bialik had just lost weight prior, but started to gain it back ahead of the episode. Bialik didn’t feel good about herself, and felt judged during the fittings. Bialik revealed on her website, “I had started losing weight a few months ago. Why? Because I needed to,” she wrote. “I was not comfortable at my weight and I started eating much better and exercising and lo and behold; I lost some weight. I felt so much more comfortable in my own skin. And then I got a series of antibiotic-needing bacterial illnesses and was not allowed to work out for a month. And so, I gained the weight back.”
Bialik felt ashamed over it, and didn’t feel like she was at her best during an important episode in the show’s history.
“I felt ashamed. I felt like maybe the wardrobe ladies were looking at me like, ‘Oh, she tried to lose weight and maybe she didn’t have the willpower.’ They probably would never think that; it’s my brain thinking that. But that’s the truth. I didn’t feel my best. And I felt crummy about it. Even though everyone said I looked beautiful, I didn’t feel completely beautiful.”
Bialik’s weight struggles have been well-documented over the years. Bialik admitted in 2021 that she was recovering from anorexia. The TBBT actress revealed when nobody was watching, she had a tendency to overeat. Bialik admits the struggles also hurt her career, feeling uncomfortable during certain roles while being over 30 pounds of her actual comfort weight. Bialik added about her struggles with food:
“I’m a compulsive overeater, in addition to being an anorexic and restricter.”
Given her latest update, Bialik is in a better place when it comes to her relationship with food nowadays. Mayim has learned not to over stress about it, and put extra pressure on herself.
It Wasn’t The Only Time Mayim Bialik Struggled With Her Look On The Big Bang Theory
Along with the Nobel Prize win, fans saw a major transformation in Amy’s appearance. Fans got to see a different side of the character and, although Bialik didn’t object to it, she ultimately felt as though it was a betrayal towards Amy and what she really stood for. Looking back, Bialik wasn’t a fan of the makeover.
Bialik tells TV Line, “This is a case where I don’t know that I agreed with our writers,” she says.
“I loved that I got to wear some nicer clothes, and it was really a thrill to have my hair cut after having the same [style] for all those years… but in some ways, it did feel like a betrayal of our Amy. We didn’t go crazy and have her dressing in ways that completely didn’t look like her… but it was definitely something I had conflict about. I thought it would be, ‘Let’s dress Amy up and take her out for the night!’ I didn’t think it would be, like, here’s her new normal.”
The storyline was one Bialik struggles with now. Credit to the actress who has been completely transparent over her ups and downs throughout her career. In the end, there were a lot more ups, especially when it came to her career in Hollywood. The likes of Simon Helberg and Jim Parsons admitted in the past that Mayim Bialik along with Melissa Rauch completely changed the show’s dynamic, adding an entirely different layer of storylines to the show.
As for Bialik, she took on the audition without having watched a single episode of the hit CBS show. This likely lessened the pressure of it all, and she became the perfect fit for not only Sheldon, but the entire show.
