Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki’s onscreen chemistry as Penny and Leonard on “The Big Bang Theory” got here from a really actual place. In an excerpt from the forthcoming e-book “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series” shared by Vanity Fair on Oct. 3, Cuoco opened up about her earlier crush on Galecki.
“I used to be so not even hiding it,” she stated, per Vanity Fair. “He has such swagger. We had been each relationship folks on the time, however I solely had eyes for Johnny.'” Neither actor has definitively confirmed who they had been with romantically on the time the present started, although Cuoco briefly dated Al Santos in 2007, the primary yr “The Big Bang Theory” aired. But regardless of their excellent relationships, their attraction refused to fade. “It was apparent there was at all times one thing there,” Cuoco stated. “There was chemistry and we had been crushing on one another. That was the entire first season till we really acquired collectively for actual.”
According to Cuoco, their real-life emotions intensified once they filmed the season one episode “The Nerdvana Annihilation,” the place Leonard rescues Penny from an elevator. “I believe we fell just a little in love in that elevator shaft,” Cuoco stated.
The elevator scene modified issues for Galecki as nicely. “We needed to be in one another’s arms — and for fairly a while, as a result of it was a little bit of a stunt that we had been doing,” he stated within the Vanity Fair excerpt. “In truth, she regarded extraordinarily completely satisfied in these arms. That was definitely one of many moments that I believe . . . we felt one thing. I believe that was an enormous turning level [in our relationship]. At that time, each she and I knew that one thing mutual was felt.”
The pair began a relationship in 2008, and initially tried to to maintain their romance a secret — however collection creator Chuck Lorre wound up discovering them “hiding behind a automobile within the parking zone,” Galecki stated.
Lorre, nonetheless, did not bear in mind the event. “That could be a type of issues I compartmentalized like, I am unable to cope with this,” he stated, per Vanity Fair. “I haven’t got the psychological, emotional bandwidth to cope with an on‑set romance.”
Cuoco and Galecki wound up breaking apart in 2009. In the Vanity Fair excerpt, Galecki cited the truth that he wished to be extra personal about their relationship than Cuoco did as the foundation explanation for their separation, together with the period of time they needed to spend with one another on set. Still, their affection for one another helped their chemistry proceed to sizzle on digicam. “I believe a whole lot of what made Leonard and Penny work so nicely was my relationship with Johnny off digicam,” Cuoco stated.
Galecki went on up to now Alaina Meyer beginning in 2018, and shares two kids together with her, although the pair reportedly separated in 2020, per People. Meanwhile, Cuoco was married to Karl Cook from 2018 to June 2022, and she or he is presently relationship Tom Pelphrey. The “Flight Attendant” star additionally just lately appeared onscreen alongside Pete Davidson within the rom-com “Meet Cute.”
Through all of it, Galecki and Cuoco have remained shut. “I am keen on the chums that we’re,” Galecki stated within the e-book excerpt. “I believe I would worth my relationship together with her greater than every other earlier relationship or relationship afterwards.”
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