Kaley Cuoco Goes Independent: ‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Has Gritty Upcoming Role In ‘Burning Bodhi’
Kaley Cuoco is best known to audiences as Penny, the easy-going, attractive next-door neighbor on The Big Bang Theory. Penny was a struggling actor right up until Season 8, when she took a job at a pharmaceutical company. Her biggest role was in the independent flick Serial Ape-ist and its sequel, Serial Ape-ist 2. It’s a career The Big Bang Theory will reference on Thursday night’s episode, as Penny appears on Wil Wheaton’s podcast to discuss her less-than-celebrated film appearances.
While Penny has had little success on-camera, Cuoco has been a working actor since her early years. In her upcoming film, Burning Bodhi, she seems to take a departure into a grittier role. The independent film, which boasts notable stars such as Cuoco, Virginia Madsen, Landon Liboiron, and Cody Horn, follows the story of a young man who returns to his hometown after receiving news of his close friend’s death.
In a trailer for the film, which is viewable on Vimeo, Cuoco, credited as Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting in the film, is seen as a bit of a rough-and-tumble character with an affection for cigarettes and heavy eye-makeup. The distinction from her other roles, where Cuoco is usually seen as the all-American, amenable blonde, is implied through the few short scenes in the clip.
#burningbodhi pic.twitter.com/3lwk6mjcmf
— Kaley Cuoco Sweeting (@kaleycuoco) March 7, 2015
Despite Kaley’s long career, she only made her silver screen debut a couple of months ago in the comedy The Wedding Ringer, which also starred Kevin Hart and Josh Gad. She told MTV that her nerves on-set were heightened by the tendency of her co-stars to make her laugh while working.
“I had to be very zoned in and focused. But it was hilarious. I’ve never seen a more talented duo: Josh and him together. I just hope they do like a million more movies together.”
Perhaps due to the popularity of her character on The Big Bang Theory and the show’s continued high ratings, Cuoco is under constant scrutiny from the press. Her style is followed closely by fans, and the status of her relationship with husband Ryan Sweeting is often the source of gossip.
On that last point, she took to her Instagram to shut down rumors of a split.
“I’m so proud of [Ryan’s] passion and his inner strength to fight back, but most of all [I am] proud to be his wife. So all of you who take it upon yourselves to trash our marriage, daily workings of our relationship and everything in between, go ahead and keep doing it, cause it only makes us stronger.”
The Big Bang Theory airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on CBS.
