How Old Was Kaley Cuoco When She Starred in The Big Bang Theory?

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In an interview with TV Insider, Kaley Cuoco revealed that she didn’t initially get the role of Katie in “The Big Bang Theory” because she was considered too young. When the role was revisited a year later, she was called back to read for Penny.

“I didn’t get [the role of Katie] the first time around. I was too young, which I love saying because I don’t get to say that I’m too young anymore. [Laughs]. Then, a year later, I heard they were doing it again, and they brought me back in to read for Penny,” Kaley said in an interview with TV Insider.

Kaley Cuoco was 21-years-old when The Big Bang Theory first aired in 2007Kaley Cuoco was 21-years-old when The Big Bang Theory first aired in 2007 (Credit: CBS)

Kaley Cuoco’s Role as Penny

Portraying Penny Hofstadter, a Cheesecake Factory employee and mostly unsuccessful actress who lives across the hall from physicists Dr. Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), she eventually ends up marrying Leonard.

Kaley Cuoco as Penny shares a scene with Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz on The Big Bang TheoryKaley Cuoco as Penny shares a scene with Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz on The Big Bang Theory (Credit: CBS)

Kaley Cuoco’s First and Last Appearance on the Show

Her first appearance was in the pilot episode and series premiere on September 24, 2007, when Kaley was 21. She was born on November 30, 1985, in Camarillo, California, and turned 22 on November 30, 2007.

Her final appearance was in “The Stockholm Syndrome,” the series finale and the twenty-fourth episode of the twelfth season. It aired on May 16, 2019, when Kaley Cuoco was 33. She turned 34 on November 30, 2019, and reportedly earned up to $1 million per episode.

Kaley Cuoco was 33-years-old when the last episode of The Big Bang Theory aired in 2019Kaley Cuoco was 33-years-old when the last episode of The Big Bang Theory aired in 2019 (Credit: CBS)

Kaley Cuoco’s Red Carpet Style

Initially rejected from the series due to her age, Kaley Cuoco appeared in high spirits while posing for photos on the red carpet and her “The Big Bang Theory” co-stars at the 2016 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.

Kaley Cuoco wears her blonde hair down at the People's Choice AwardsKaley Cuoco wears her blonde hair down at the People’s Choice Awards 2016 at Microsoft Theater on January 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, California

The CBS American sitcom was voted Favorite TV Show and Favorite Network TV Comedy. Kaley was nominated for Favorite Comedic TV Actress but lost to Melissa McCarthy.

The then-30-year-old actress was hard to ignore in a sparkling navy blue and purple sequined minidress by Australian label Manning Cartell.

(L-R) Melissa Rauch, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik and Kunal Nayyar, winners of Favorite Network TV Comedy and Favorite TV Show for 'The Big Bang Theory', pose in the press room at the 2016 People's Choice Awards(L-R) Melissa Rauch, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik, and Kunal Nayyar, winners of Favorite Network TV Comedy and Favorite TV Show for ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ pose in the press room at the 2016 People’s Choice Awards (Credit: Brian To / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / WENN)

The glitzy sleeveless dress featured black sheer mesh panels around the hem and décolletage, offering a subtly alluring glimpse of Kaley’s cleavage.

Kaley Cuoco wears a sparkling Manning Cartell dress on the red carpetKaley Cuoco wears a sparkling Manning Cartell dress on the red carpet (Credit: Brian To / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / WENN)

Kaley kept her accessories to a minimum and allowed her dress to take center stage. Surprisingly, she traded in the standard red carpet style of towering heels for a comfy, casual pair of sneakers.

Kaley-Cuoco-Manning-Cartell-sequined-dressKaley Cuoco pairs a sparkling dress with a comfy pair of Dior sneakers (Credit: Brian To / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / WENN)

She finished off her look with a shoulder-length bob and minimal makeup.

Kaley Cuoco sparkles in Manning Cartel and Dior on the red carpetKaley Cuoco sparkles in Manning Cartel and Dior on the red carpet (Credit: Brian To / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / WENN)

Kaley’s sneakers are from Dior’s Cruise 2016 collection. They are made of nappa leather and feature hand-embroidered floral appliques, hook-and-loop fastenings, and white rubber soles.

Kaley Cuoco's feet in black Dior sneakersKaley Cuoco’s feet in black Dior sneakers (Credit: Brian To / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / WENN)

We have not found these Dior shoes online, but rumors say they retail for about $1,100.

Dior "Fusion" Cruise 2016 SneakerDior “Fusion” Cruise 2016 Sneaker