Career
As a child, Cuoco was once a nationally-ranked amateur tennis player, a sport she took up when she was three years old but had to give up in 1992, when she was six.[1] Her role as Maureen McCormick in the 2000 TV movie Growing Up Brady brought her much attention, as well as a role on the CBS sitcom Ladies Man. In 2004 in addition to her role on 8 Simple Rules in which she played a teenager, she had starring roles on the NBC miniseries, 10.5, on the ABC Family original movie, Crimes of Fashion, and in the independent film, Debating Robert Lee.[1] In 2000 she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Alley Cats Strike.
Cuoco was named number 77 on FHM-Us 100 Sexiest Women in 2005 and number 21 in 2008.[3] She was also named number 28 on Maxim's annual Hot 100 list in 2010 and number 13 in 2011.
She began voicing the character of Brandy Harrington on the Disney Channel's cartoon, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers, later in 2004.
Cuoco played Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules. Bridget was the eldest child, despite Cuoco being six years younger than her on-screen little sister (Amy Davidson), and was portrayed as "the most beautiful girl in the school." She had several boyfriends throughout the series and used her feminine wiles to exert significant control over the boys she encountered.
In the eighth season of the hit cult TV show Charmed, Cuoco appeared as Billie Jenkins a young powerful witch who was also one of whitelighter Paige Matthews' charges. Executive producer Brad Kern stated Kaley's character was initially brought in as a possible spin-off. In 2004 Cuoco co-starred in the movie The Hollow with Nick Carter and Kevin Zegers.
In September 2007, Cuoco began a starring role in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. She plays Penny, an aspiring actress and employee at The Cheesecake Factory who lives across the hall from two nerdy scientists, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki). Prior to the 2010–2011 season, she earned $60,000 an episode for the series, the same as Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons. In 2010 the cast negotiated a raise for each actor to make $200,000 per episode.[4] On September 13, 2010, she broke her leg in a horse-riding accident and missed two episodes of the series.[5]
Cuoco also starred in the Lifetime film To Be Fat Like Me, which premiered on January 8, 2007.[6] She also played a minor role in the Prison Break episodes "The Message" and "Chicago" as well as taking the leading female role in the comedy horror spoof Killer Movie in 2008.
In 2011 Cuoco appeared in Allure magazine's annual "Naked Truth" feature. The photograph, which appeared in the May issue, was taken by Patrick Demarchelier.[7] That same year, she appeared in the films Hop and The Last Ride.[8] She was also chosen to host both the 2011 Teen Choice Awards[9] and the 2012 People's Choice Awards.[10]
[edit]Personal life
While working on The Big Bang Theory, Cuoco dated co-star Johnny Galecki for two years. They kept their relationship private until they broke up.[11][12]
In October 2011 Cuoco announced her engagement to boyfriend Josh Resnik, an addiction specialist and former bassist for Danzig.[13] However, in March 2012 she revealed that she was no longer engaged.[14]
Cuoco has admitted that she is a big fan of both Game of Thrones and Harry Potter.[15]
[edit]Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Quicksand: No Escape Connie Reinhardt Television film
1995 Virtuosity Karin Carter
1997 Picture Perfect Little Girl
1997 Toothless Lori Television film
1998 Mr. Murder Charlotte Stillwater Television film
2000 Alley Cats Strike Elisa Bowers Disney Channel Original Movie
2000 Growing Up Brady Maureen McCormick Television film
2000 Can't Be Heaven Teresa Powers Credited as Kaley Cuaco
2003 A Merry Mickey Celebration Herself
2004 Debating Robert Lee Maralee Rodgers
2004 10.5 Amanda Williams Television film
2004 Crimes of Fashion Brooke Television film
2004 The Hollow Karen
2005 Lucky 13 Sarah Baker
2006 Separated at Worth Gabby Television film
2006 Wasted Katie Cooning
2006 Bratz: Passion 4 Fashion — Diamondz Kirstee Smith
2007 To Be Fat Like Me Alyson Schmidt Television film
2007 Cougar Club Amanda
2008 Killer Movie Blanca Champion
2010 The Penthouse Erica Roc
2011 Hop Samantha O'Hare
2011 The Last Ride Wanda Post-production
2012 Drew Peterson: Untouchable Stacy Peterson Television film
2013 Psychotic Carly Banks Pre-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1994 My So-Called Life Young Angela Chase Episode: "Father Figures"
1994 Northern Exposure Miranda (Randi) Episode: "Hello, I Love You"
1996 Ellen Little Ellen Morgan Episode: "The Bubble Gum Incident"
2000 Homewood PI Lauren Crane Episode: "Pilot"
2000 Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Ashley
2000–
2001 Ladies Man Bonnie Stiles 8 episodes
2001 7th Heaven Lynn Episode: "Relationships"
2002 First Monday Alyssa 1 episode
2002 The Ellen Show Vanessa Episode: "Shallow Gal"
2002 The Nightmare Room Kristin Ferris Episode: "My Name Is Evil"
2004 The Help Carly Michaels Episode: "Pilot"
2004 Complete Savages Erin Episode: "For Whom the Cell Tolls"
2004 Punk'd Herself Season 3 Episode 3
2002–
2005 8 Simple Rules Bridget Hennessy Main role
2005–
2007 Loonatics Unleashed Paula Hayes/Weather Vane Episode: "Weathering Heights"
Episode: "Acmegeddon: Part 1"
Episode: "Acmegeddon: Part 2"
2006 Secrets of a Small Town Misty Anders Episode: "Pilot"
2004–
2006 Brandy and Mr. Whiskers Brandy Harrington Voice; main role
2004–
2009 6teen Chrissie Baldwin Voice; supporting character
2005–
2006 Bratz Kirstee Smith Voice
2005–
2006 Charmed Billie Jenkins Main role (Season 8)
2007 Prison Break Sasha Episode: "The Message" and "Chicago"
2007–
present The Big Bang Theory Penny Main role
[edit]Awards
Awards
Year Result Award Category Nominated work
1993 Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Young Actress in a Cable movie Quicksand: No Escape
2000 Nominated YoungStar Awards Best Young Actress/Performance in a Miniseries/Made-For-TV Film Growing Up Brady
2003 Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama): Leading Young Actress 8 Simple Rules
Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Won Choice TV Breakout Star: Female
2004 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Young Adult Performer in a Teenage Role
2006 Won Method Fest Best Ensemble Cast Debating Robert Lee
2010 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy The Big Bang Theory
2011 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy
2012 Nominated People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy Actress sd
