This Marvel Star Almost Played Penny on Big Bang Theory Instead Of Kaley Cuoco
Did you know that The Big Bang Theory almost didn't star Kaley Cuoco? Neither did we, until journalist Jessica Radloff's recent book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series revealed some behind-the-scenes details, including the casting of Penny who is played by Kaley Cuoco.
We are so used to seeing Kaley as Penny that it would be hard to imagine anyone else taking on the role, right? Well, it turns out Kaley was initially rejected, and you're going to be very surprised when you find out who nearly got the part!
First things first, let's talk about the character itself. The Penny that all the fans have come to know and love is bubbly and optimistic, with a touch of Midwestern innocence. However, that wasn't always the idea. See, the thing is, the main female lead was originally called Penny but was at some point renamed to Katie due to another CBS pilot featuring a character with the same name. And Katie was actually supposed to be more cynical and down on her luck, and sunny Kaley didn't exactly fit her vibe.
To find the right person, quite a few actresses were invited to castings. And one actress that came pretty close to getting the role was a Marvel star Marisa Tomei, who is best known for hit movies such as Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Avengers: Endgame.
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Marisa Tomei in 2004, a couple of years before The Big Bang Theory began filming
Other actresses, such as Tara Reid, Elizabeth Berkley, and Amanda Walsh, were also tried out for the role. Interestingly enough, it was Jodi Lyn O'Keefe who landed the role for the pilot. However, even though she did great at the table read with the rest of the cast, to the surprise of many, the producers felt like something wasn't quite right. So, the last pick was Amanda Walsh, though that didn't work out either.
Fast-forward to a year later, Kaley receives a call to come in for a second read for the new version of the character, which landed her the role of Penny. And the rest is history!
When we see our favorite characters portrayed by specific actors, we don't even think someone else could've been in their place. But this just goes to show that you never know what can happen in the entertainment industry. You can be set to start filming and not make it to the actual episodes. Or like Kaley Cuoco – you can be turned down, but if it's meant to be, things can take an unexpected turn!