‘Big Bang Theory’ Nearly Starred Marisa Tomei, New Book Reveals (Exclusive)

In her upcoming oral history about the hit sitcom, author Jessica Radloff reveals the many actresses who nearly played Penny before Kaley Cuoco won the role.

In The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, author Jessica Radloff reveals in the forthcoming oral history of the comedy that Marisa Tomei, Tara Reid and Elizabeth Berkley were all considered to play the role of the lovable neighbor that, ultimately, after a table read and busted pilot, went to the fan-favorite actress.

Radloff’s oral history (due Oct. 11 via Grand Central Publishing) features interviews with 40 people including co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, longtime showrunner Steve Molaro and stars Cuoco (Penny), Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Simon Helberg (Howard), Kunal Nayyar (Raj), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) and Mayim Bialik (Amy).

Below, The Hollywood Reporter shares a sneak preview of the untold stories that readers can expect with this exclusive excerpt that offers a rare glimpse into what could have been for what became television’s longest-running multicamera comedy of all time. And tune in Friday to TV’s Top 5 for an interview with Radloff about her book and the other big reveals she uncovered in her reporting for it.

Now that the roles of Sheldon and Leonard were in place, it was time to cast the female lead, Katie. The character’s name was originally Penny (“Sheldon and Leonard encounter this woman on the street; she’s a lucky penny,” Prady explains), but at the time, CBS had another pilot in contention with a character called Penny and asked Lorre and Prady to change it to something else. They obliged. But even with a new name, the character of Katie was nothing like the character of Penny that audiences would come to know and love. Penny was bubbly with a Midwestern innocence and optimism; Katie was cynical, down on her luck, and off-putting.

Ken Miller [casting director]: Kaley Cuoco went to the network and tested for the first pilot of Big Bang. She’s so sunny and bubbly, and they just loved her, but she just didn’t bring the dark qualities. She just wasn’t the essence of Penny in that first incarnation.

At twenty years old, Cuoco looked a bit too young for the more experienced Katie, who first appears sitting on a curb, crying over a breakup as she talks on her cell phone.

Kaley Cuoco (“Penny Hofstadter”): I loved the role, and I loved Chuck. I had worked with him when I was fourteen or fifteen on a pilot called Nathan’s Choice. I know Chuck really wanted me for the role of Katie, and I was definitely bummed when I didn’t get it, but I kind of have a way of moving on because you have to.

In fact, in the very early days, Marisa Tomei was considered for the series and actually auditioned with Jim Parsons.

Jim Parsons: I had the part of Sheldon for a long time before everything was settled. I read with Marisa Tomei. Johnny was cast by then, but he was doing a play in New York. I had come back to read with her. I remember going to the snack room after we were done and telling Ken and Nikki [Valko, casting director], “I’ve never been in someone else’s audition before!” And they said, “Well, she was kind of really auditioning you.” And I went, “Oh, that makes sense.” But oh my gosh what a different world that would have been.

Bill Prady: Tara Reid also came in for the role of Katie, and I think Elizabeth Berkley went to network for the role, too. She was terrific.

Amanda Walsh, a Canadian actress who was starring as Jenna Halbert on the short-lived ABC dramedy Sons & Daughters, was also brought in for the first round of casting.

Amanda Walsh (“Katie”): Sons & Daughters was on the bubble for a possible second season, but it wasn’t looking good. I went in for the role of Katie for Big Bang and had a really positive first audition, and I loved the script. But I wasn’t cast.