Share and Follow
Kaley Cuoco, beloved by audiences worldwide as Penny Hofstadter from the hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” found herself in an amusing situation with her fiancé Tom Pelphrey, who was unfamiliar with her iconic role when they first crossed paths.
Reflecting on their early relationship days, Cuoco shared an anecdote about meeting Pelphrey’s family. Despite her long-standing presence in the US series from 2007 to 2019, Pelphrey was bewildered when his family continuously referred to Cuoco by her character’s name, Penny.
Appearing on the Graham Norton show, scheduled to air this Friday, Cuoco recounted the incident: “He had no idea about it when we met. The first time I met Tom’s family, his mom’s partner kept calling me ‘Penny.’”
While Cuoco found the gesture endearing and chose not to correct them, she noticed Pelphrey’s puzzled expression. Once they were alone, he apologized, saying, “I am so sorry, I told him your name, so I’ve no idea why he called you Penny all day.”
Cuoco later clarified her role in the popular series to Pelphrey, who is 43. Despite this, he has yet to watch her famed comedic performances. The story highlights the humorous disconnect between Cuoco’s on-screen persona and her real-life relationships.
Kaley and actor Tom, who starred in Ozark and Marvel’s Iron Fist, welcomed daughter Matilda in March 2023, before announcing their engagement the following year.
Kaley Cuoco is known to millions for her role as Penny Hofstadter in smash hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, but her fiancé Tom Pelphrey had never heard of the show when they met
The actress starred in the show from 2007 – 2019 (Pictured with The Big Bang Theory cast)
She recalled meeting the actor’s family for the first time and how he was left flummoxed after they kept referring to her by her character’s name (pictured together 2025)
She was joined on the show by Adolescence star Stephen Graham, Olivier award-winner Adrian Lester, White Lotus and One Day star Leo Woodall, and British band Gorillaz.
Congratulated on the success of the Netflix series, Stephen said: ‘It’s been so surreal, we never expected it. We just caught something in the zeitgeist and its success has been unbelievable. Erin [Doherty] says: ‘It is the gift that keeps on giving”.
‘The awards have been wonderful, but the impact it has had on social awareness is incredible. It has achieved more than I could have ever dreamed of.’
Meanwhile Adrian spoke about his role in a new stage adaption of Cyrano de Bergerac, in which he wears a large prosthetic nose.
He said: ‘There have been a lot of different noses used for the character in the past, but we wanted to make sure it was believable as a big nose. `It started off quite small but gradually we made it bigger and bigger. I can’t turn too sharply on stage as I have the constant fear it will fly off!’.
Then Leo revealed that he almost lost on his career making role in One Day: ‘I nearly didn’t do it because I was filming White Lotus and was covered in fake tattoos when I auditioned for it’.
‘They thought the Cowabunga one on my neck was real. I had two weeks between roles to lose weight, change from an Essex accent to Dexter’s posh voice, and remove all the tattoos, which is a lot harder than you’d think.’
It comes after Kaley revealed the lowest point in her life was in April 2022 – two months before she finalised her divorce from second ex-husband Karl Cook after three years of marriage.
She said: ‘He had no idea about it when we met. The first time I met Tom’s family his mom’s partner kept calling me “Penny”‘ (pictured with co-star Johnny Galecki)
During an appearance on the Graham Norton show, which airs on Friday, she said she had to explain her role in the show to Tom, 43, but said that he has still not watched her in the comedy
She was joined on the show by Adolescence star Stephen Graham (L) Olivier award-winner Adrian Lester (C) and White Lotus and One Day star Leo Woodall (R)
Congratulated on the success of the Netflix series, he said: ‘It’s been so surreal, we never expected it. We just caught something in the zeitgeist and its success has been unbelievable’
Meanwhile Adrian spoke about his role in a new stage adaption of Cyrano de Bergerac, in which he wears a large prosthetic nose
Then Leo revealed that he almost lost on his career making role in One Day: ‘I nearly didn’t do it because I was filming White Lotus and was covered in fake tattoos when I auditioned for it’
British band Gorillaz also performed
At the time, she was still living in their marital home, and she was lying on the floor despondent: ‘I was on the floor sobbing, thinking I ruined my whole life,’
Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast, she said: ‘That is the lowest point of my life I ever had. I couldn’t get up. I was so depressed.’
The three-time Emmy nominee had to get it together so she could glam up for the second season premiere of her HBO Max show The Flight Attendant in West Hollywood.
‘My hair and makeup girls came over. They were literally doing my hair makeup on the floor,’ she recalled.
‘I said, “I can’t go.” I was so sad. The path for me was so complicated. And I just thought, “Oh, man, this might’ve been it for me.”‘
However, the Harley Quinn producer-star has ‘not a single bad thing to say about’ the 35-year-old equestrian, clarifying: ‘He’s amazing.’
By September 2022, Cook had moved on with MiResource founder Mackenzie Drazan, whom he wed in April 2024.
And it only took Kaley two weeks to meet fiancé Tom while attending the fourth season premiere of his Netflix show Ozark in Manhattan on the encouragement of her manager.
The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday 13th February 10.40pm