Cuoco. It has not only boosted her acting career, but has also brightened her
star and made her a household name. In her cover interview with Breeze Magazine, Cuoco says the show has had a redeeming
effect on its fans as well.
As evident in the
show’s title, the CBS sitcom revolves around science, specifically a group of
scientist friends, barring Cuoco’s character, “Penny,” who is an
aspiring actress.
Although she isn’t a
scientist or vaguely close to being an intellectual, Penny is integrated into
the group, and even dated one of them (Johnny Galecki’s “Leonard”),
which she maintains has given hope to the average “nerd” that they
too might date a pretty girl-next-door.
“I definitely
get a lot of contact from scientists and physicists,” Cuoco tells Breeze Magazine. “I think that the show has made it OK
to be a scientist and be a smart person. They say, ‘Oh my God, I watch the show
and I feel like I can finally come out of the nerd closet!’ They feel so good
about themselves, because we’ve made nerdy sexy.”
Since the Chuck
Lorre-created comedy, which just wrapped its sixth season, premiered in 2007,
Cuoco’s Penny has been a fan-favorite—at the forefront of billboards and the
center of promos.
Although the initial
allure of her character resided in her sex appeal, the 27-year-old actress says
Penny has evolved as the seasons have progressed to become a more relatable
character.
“Penny might
have started out as some crazy sexpot, but it’s not that way any more,”
Cuoco says. “She really is the girl-next-door, and I think that’s why
girls and guys have grown to love her character—she’s lovable, not
intimidating. She’s an approachable character, not some unattainable woman,
which is important. Everyone wants to be near this character.”
In addition to
landing her face on the cover of FHM, a U.K.-based magazine originally slated
as “For Him Magazine,” Cuoco has also been ranked No. 6 on the
magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll—two slots above supermodel Kate
Upton.
She says she was
taken aback by the ranking.
“I’m very, very
flattered because I certainly don’t look in the mirror and think I’m the
sixth-sexiest woman in the world!” the California native says. “I’m
thrilled. I am definitely honored—I know that it’s a big deal. I don’t feel
like I totally deserve it, but I’m going to take it and run so when I’m older,
I can show my kids and tell them, ‘Look, I told you I was top 10!’ because they
won’t believe me.”
