Summary Tom Pelphrey, the actor's partner, didn't know about Kaley Cuoco's role as Penny in The Big Bang Theory until someone called her Penny in front of him. Cuoco's character, Penny, played a crucial role in The Big Bang Theory, serving as a relatable perspective for viewers and impacting the development of other main characters. Cuoco's casting as Penny was essential for the show's success, as her casting convinced CBS to greenlight the show.

Actor Tom Pelphrey confesses that he didn't know that his partner, Kaley Cuoco, played Penny in The Big Bang Theory. Premiering in 2007, the hit CBS sitcom started with five main characters.

Among them, Cuoco's Penny was the only female companion, which continued to be the case until Mayim Bialik's Amy and Melissa Rauch's Bernadette joined as series regulars in season 4. Cuoco was a regular of The Big Bang Theory for 12 years, but despite the show's popularity, it turns out some people are oblivious to it.

One of those people is Pelphrey, who tells W Magazine he was "completely unaware" of Cuocos' high-profile gig. The couple got together in 2022 and recently welcomed their first child, Matilda, but he revealed that he only found out about his girlfriend being in The Big Bang Theory when his mom's partner started calling her Penny.

Read his full quote below:

"'I'm sorry, I don't understand what's happening. Why does he keep calling you Penny?' She's like, 'That's my character in The Big Bang Theory.' I've watched a few episodes with her since, and, obviously, she's fantastic. I live in a cave. Before I met Kaley, I was living in upstate New York, on a dirt road, in the middle of the woods, without much Wi-Fi. She's brought me into modern times."

Why Big Bang Theory's Most Important Character Is Kaley Cuoco's Penny

Penny appeared in all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory, but that also had some drawbacks. Being an original cast member meant she was subjected to its problematic brand of humor, which was prevalent in its first few years. During the early years of The Big Bang Theory, Penny was often depicted as the stereotypical ditzy blonde. She was also objectified and sexualized, which thankfully changed as the sitcom went on. Despite this, it's difficult to imagine what The Big Bang Theory would have looked like if she wasn't part of it.

In fact, The Big Bang Theory may not have happened without Penny. According to former CBS executive Nina Tassler, bringing in Cuoco to replace the worldlier Katie (played by Amanda Walsh) was the final piece in the show's puzzle.

Without her, co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady felt that there was a missing element in the sitcom. Once they reworked The Big Bang Theory pilot with her, CBS was finally convinced to officially greenlight the nerd-centric comedy.

Throughout its 12 years, Penny regularly proved her importance in The Big Bang Theory by functioning as the viewers' perspective in the series. Aside from her own arc, she had a massive impact on the rest of the Pasadena gang, especially Sheldon and Amy. Through her, they learned how to be more social. Suffice it to say Penny was the heart of The Big Bang Theory, and it's unlikely that it would have become a massive hit if she wasn't involved.

Source: W Magazine