Kaley Christine Cuoco (born November 30, 1985) is an actress from the United States. She landed her breakthrough role as Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules after a series of supporting film and television roles in the late 1990s (2002–2005).
Cuoco then played Brandy Harrington on Brandy & Mr. Whiskers (2004-2006) and Billie Jenkins on the final season of the television series Charmed (2005–2006). She went on to play Penny on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019), for which she received a Satellite Award, a Critics’ Choice Award, and two People’s Choice Awards.
Cuoco has been starring in and executive producing the HBO Max comedic thriller The Flight Attendant since 2020, which has received widespread critical acclaim. She has received nominations for this performance at the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki recall falling in love on the set of ‘The Big Bang Theory.’
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki revealed the moment they fell in love while filming “The Big Bang Theory.”
According to excerpts from “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,” published by Vanity Fair on Monday, the former co-stars, who dated in real life from 2008 to 2010, were “crushing on each other” while playing Penny and Leonard on the CBS show.
Cuoco, now 36, has been “crushing so hard” on Galecki, 47, since the beginning, but their relationship reached a “tipping point” during a specific scene.
They “fell a little in love in that elevator shaft” while filming Season 1 episode “The Nerdvana Annihilation,” which features Galecki’s character saving Cuoco from an elevator shaft in a dream sequence.
“We had to be in each other’s arms — and for a long time, because it was a bit of a stunt,” Galecki recalled. “Kaley didn’t seem alarmed at all. In fact, she appeared to be very happy in those arms.”
The “Roseanne” star went on to say that they were both feeling “something mutual” at the time.
The pair realized that “trying to ignore it would be more of a distraction from the work than actually recognizing it and surrendering to it,” Galecki explained.
Galecki and Cuoco reflected on their first off-screen kiss after describing some of Cuoco’s “flirting” attempts.
At the time, Galecki invited Cuoco to Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank, Calif., for a post-rehearsal drink, and Cuoco “hauled ass” to meet him.
By accepting the offer, the actress “knew” she was in “trouble,” and the couple did “kiss at the bar” and in the parking lot.
“She said, ‘You gotta come over to my house,'” Galecki added. As a result, I did. And then she was gone. She returned to my lap after showering and wearing nothing but a towel. “OK, I guess we’re dating!” I exclaimed.
Cuoco added that she “loves this story” despite remembering “being in a robe and fully clothed underneath.”
Later in the excerpts, the Emmy nominees discussed how they kept their romance a secret, as well as how they continued to collaborate after their divorce.
Galecki and Cuoco even accused co-creator Chuck Lorre of inserting sex scenes “to f-k with,” which the director denied.
Since their split in 2010, Galecki has dated Alaina Meyer and welcomed son Avery, now two. In 2020, he and the 25-year-old called it quits.
Cuoco has married tennis pro-Ryan Sweeting and equestrian Karl Cook in 2013 and 2018, respectively.
The divorced couple Yes, the Norman Productions founder is currently dating “Ozark” alum Tom Pelphrey, who told “Extra” last month that their relationship was “love at first sight.”
“It was like the angels started singing,” Cuoco exclaimed. ‘Hallelujah,’ I exclaimed. It was truly magical. It was ideal.”