‘Young Sheldon’ mom hails from a TV dynasty
Zoe Perry grew up in a television studio — specifically the soundstage of “Roseanne.”
If you look at Perry and listen closely when she says her lines as Mary Cooper — mother to Sheldon (Iain Armitage) on the new CBS comedy “Young Sheldon” — you won’t be surprised to learn that her mother is acclaimed actress Laurie Metcalf, who won three Emmys for playing Roseanne’s sister, Jackie.
“I really did grow up on that set,” says Perry, 33. “I was age four to about thirteen. If I had my way, I would be there as much as I could be. What’s not enjoyable being around incredibly funny, sardonic people?”
Perry is not the first actress to play Sheldon’s mother. One of the rich ironies about her co-starring on the new series is that Metcalf plays the adult Sheldon’s mother on “The Big Bang Theory.” Despite the blood relation, Perry insists she auditioned for executive producer Chuck Lorre, who’s known her since she was a little girl.
“I hadn’t really crossed paths with Chuck during my adulthood as an actor. He would have no idea if I was capable or not to do this,” she says. “They found Iain Armitage to play young Sheldon so I was age-appropriate. I got to audition, then it was just a wonderfully happy reality for me that they chose me.”
Although Perry’s naturally effusive personality would suggest a lack of insecurities, the actress admits she walks in the shadow of her mother’s portrayal of Mary Cooper. “I try and do her proud,” she says. “But we’re being introduced to this character as a different stage of life. She’s not as fervent as she is on ‘Big Bang.’ She’ s got three kids running around. I can play the reality and not worry about what’s been established.”
If Perry — who’s single and has no children — seems like a natural in the role, concerned for nine-year old Sheldon’s welfare as he enters high school, chalk that up to “lots of babysitting.” “I’ve had a lot of younger people in my life,” she says. “I have four siblings between my dad and my mom, two brothers and two sisters.”
Dad is “Scandal” star Jeff Perry (Cyrus Beene). Perry has acted in plays (separately) with both parents, who were founding members of the Steppenwolf theater company and divorced when she was eight years old. “I’ve been so impressed with him on that show,” she says of dad Jeff. “It’s rather unlike the things he gets cast in. He personally relishes it.” [She had a recurring role on the ABC drama but didn’t share any scenes with her dad.]
It’s rare to have the father, mother and daughter of one family all acting in three separate TV series at the same time, but that will be the case when Metcalf returns to the rebooted “Roseanne” next year. Perry, of course, has already been to the set of that show.
“It almost feels as if no time has gone by. There are even crew members from the original show,” she says. “It kind of feels like a family got back together. There something pretty special about that.”
Note: “Young Sheldon” will be preempted on WCBS/Ch. 2 in New York by Jets football, and will air at 8:30 p.m. on WLNY. Check local listings.
