I WANTED TO PROVE I COULD DO MORE...
The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco has soared to success again with The Flight Attendant. Georgia Humphreys catches up with her
THERE were days when Kaley Cuoco would cry herself to sleep while making The Flight Attendant. The Californian, best known for playing Penny in hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, is an executive producer on the thriller series, and also plays the lead role, Cassie.
She optioned the book on which the show is based – by New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian – a few years back, because she loved how dark it is.
But, she says, “I also wanted to bring my quirky comedic side to it, and possibly create a tone that was unique”.
And it was a scary process, hence the tears, because she knew viewers would judge her choice of project, especially coming off such a successful show.
“I was taking a risk, because I don’t believe in my heart that someone would have hired me to play this role,” elaborates the 35-year-old, who started acting as a child, and had her breakthrough role aged 16, with the sitcom 8 Simple Rules.
“I could have auditioned, and I might have even given the audition of my life; I don’t think someone would have given me this role. So I wanted to prove that I can actually do more and that I love it. And it was a risk that I’m glad that I took. But, yeah, I was pretty sick to my stomach the night before the show aired just because it was my baby.”
In the show, Cassie, a flight attendant, is on a work trip when she finds herself waking up after a big night out in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed – and she realises the man lying next to her is dead.
She has no idea what has happened but is determined to find out.
The darkly comic show proved to be a hit in the US, where it debuted last November. It was quickly renewed for a second season, and also received nominations at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy, for Kaley.
The star posted pictures on Instagram, showing her attending the ceremony virtually from home.
“My Golden Globes was getting drunk and eating cake and pizza with my family in Oscar de la Renta,” she quips.
“It was awesome. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
It is certainly a different type of comedy from The Big Bang Theory, which focused on a group of scientists and their love interests and came to a close in 2019, after 12 seasons.
“I used to laugh because I was like, ‘If I’m typecast as the girl next door in a sitcom for the rest of my life, I feel like that’s the best thing that could ever happen to me’. I never fought that feeling.
“And so, going into The Flight Attendant, I was not trying to say, ‘Let’s pretend The Big Bang Theory never happened, I’m going to be this new actor’. It wasn’t like that at all. In fact, I actually thought I would do a sitcom again.
“The Flight Attendant was just something that was the right project at the right time, but it wasn’t about getting away from it.
“All of a sudden, they’re like, ‘Look at this newcomer on the scene’. And I’m like, ‘I’ve been here for 30 years!”’
■ The Flight Attendant is on Sky One and NOW TV now