Kaley Cuoco has discussed Penny’s sexualized wardrobe in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and how it evolved. Keep reading to know more.
When the sitcom first aired in 2007, the actress was the only female lead. Cuoco appeared in all 12 seasons of the CBS hit show, which ended in 2019. During that time, Penny experienced tremendous personal growth in both her personal and professional life and her clothing reflected her gradual evolution.
Highlights
- Kaley Cuoco on being “sexualized”
- Breaking the stereotype overtime
Penny, who began the show as an aspiring actress who moved to California to pursue a career, eventually abandons her Hollywood dreams. Along with Bernadette, the character alters her path and becomes a pharmaceutical sales representative. Penny marries Leonard (Johnny Galecki) after years of dating, and despite a brief disagreement about having children, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ finale revealed that the couple was expecting their first child. Looking back on Penny’s overall arc in the sitcom, she has one of the most defined and satisfying personal journeys of any of the central characters.
Kaley Cuoco on being “sexualized”
In an interview with W Magazine, Cuoco discussed how Penny’s wardrobe became less sexualized throughout the run of ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Penny’s beginnings were described as “the cute girl next door, next to the nerds”, and she was dressed for the part in “booty shorts and juicy couture zip-ups”. Cuoco and Penny, on the other hand, “grew up” and the actress became more vocal about what she wanted her character to wear onscreen to reflect her development. Cuoco claims she began changing Penny’s more sexualized outfits to “long-sleeve shirts”, “slacks”, and “loafers”, which proved much more comfortable.
Breaking the stereotype overtime
Although Penny’s objectification was never explicitly addressed in the early seasons of ‘The Big Bang Theory’, it was heavily inferred in the way she was shown. Furthermore, the character was criticised for her social life, which included going on dates that would occasionally wind up back in her apartment. Sheldon (Jim Parsons) was always chastising her for her decisions. Meanwhile, before meeting Bernadette, Howard (Simon Helberg) was constantly hitting on Penny and making filthy remarks about her. Fortunately, as the show progressed, Cuoco offered her opinions on how Penny was employed in the plot, resulting in a more complex character than the stereotypical “girl next door”.
‘The Big Bang Theory’ has some issues with its kind of humour, and many fans thought it was racist, misogynistic, and otherwise offensive at times. The indecent comments made by male characters in Penny’s case were included for cheap laughs. However, because “nerds” were regarded as social outsiders, they were frequently given a pass for their actions. Given the show’s sexism issues, it’s encouraging to hear that Cuoco’s concerns about Penny’s portrayal were taken into consideration by the creators and that the character was eventually given the more developed storyline she deserved.
