Jim Parsons Shares Even More With Sheldon Cooper Than You Think

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory was a CBS sitcom that aired from 2007 to 2009.
• Jim Parsons portrayed one of the show's main characters, Sheldon Cooper, whose past was better explored in the prequel Young Sheldon.
• Both Jim Parsons and Sheldon Cooper are Texans who dropped their accents when they moved.

One of the best things about The Big Bang Theory, and one of the biggest reasons why the show has resonated with so many viewers around the world, is the way that everyone can relate to at least one of the characters. If you are an adult, you have probably faced all kinds of career, relationship, and family struggles that the characters face, so you can understand exactly how they feel.

That must have made it easier for the actors on set. When the characters feel real and are going through all the things that ordinary people go through, it's not so hard to find the points of connection and strengthen them for a better performance.

Jim Parsons, who portrayed the eccentric but genius scientist Sheldon Cooper, not too understanding of social quirks, had the hardest time. But even he managed to put aside any differences with Sheldon and focus on what the two had in common. If anything, this unlikely coincidence only enhanced his performance.

What Does Jim Parsons Have in Common With Sheldon?

Aside from sharing an entire face and body, the actor actually connects with the character he plays on another, much deeper level. Both Jim Parsons and Sheldon Cooper are from the state of Texas, and both are always ready to dispel the myths about their state with nothing but hard facts.

“I try to explain, having grown up in the suburbs of Houston and having gone to [college] in Houston, done theater in Houston, it’s a major city. I never rode a horse to work,” the actor once said.

While Parsons is clearly proud of his heritage, you wouldn't know it from his performances. As Sheldon Cooper, the actor let his accent slip from time to time when it suited the narrative. His own accent, however, was toned down a notch after his classical theater training.

Sheldon's own relationship to accent is as complex as Parsons'.

Although the character's origins are well established, and his life in his home state was thoroughly explored in the prequel series Young Sheldon, many could not help but notice the lack of accent in his everyday speech. In the pilot episode of the prequel, the mystery was solved: being the genius that he is, Sheldon simply decided to change his way of speaking.

If you are feeling nostalgic and want to spend a little more time in the company of Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Howard and Penny, you can re-watch The Big Bang Theory by streaming the show on Max. Tune in to CBS on Thursdays to catch the finale of Young Sheldon.

Source: Entertainment Weekly