Celebrity5 min(s) read
Kaley Cuoco name-drops A-list celebrity who snubbed her on set
Kaley Cuoco has revealed one A-list celebrity who snubbed her on set early on in her career.
The Big Bang Theory star, 40, might be one of the best known stars of film and TV right now, but things weren't always as easy when she was coming up in the industry.
During a recent appearance on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast, Kaley revealed one interaction she had on the set of the eighth and final season of Charmed in her early twenties that left her shaken.
She admitted that the experience of working on the series was "intense and difficult", explaining: "I came into Charmed really not thinking anything other than I got this cool job, but it caused a few more waves than I imagined.
"Let me put it this way: from that point on, no matter what job I have, I am so understanding of new people coming in - whether that’s people behind the camera, or on camera, someone with one line."
She added: "There were a few people on that show that were wonderful to me, and there were a few people that weren’t.
"I remember them both very clearly. I’ve been doing this my whole life, and I have had very few experiences that weren’t the best, but I remember thinking: 'I will always make sure every single person feels like they’re part of the group.'
"Because there’s nothing worse than feeling outside of it, especially on a set when everyone is cliquey and has been together for so long, and there’s a comfort level. When someone new comes into that, it’s tough."
Shepard asked her: "The one question I didn't ask you last time that I was curious about is when I look at your resume, the thing that feels like it could have been a very dicey situation was walking into Charmed season 8."
Kaley admitted: "I was 21 when I - because I remember I turned 21 on that. Can you imagine? If I knew what I knew now, I don't think I would have ever let this happen."
She revealed that her first day on set was not a casual chance to meet and get to know the cast as it was the show's official gallery shoot for the new season.
She explained: "For those - a gallery shoot, you're starting season eight, you're going to go do new photos with the cast. It's an all-day thing.
"So I'm the new girl. You got Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, and Holly Marie Combs. I've never met them. Do you think about that? I'm joining their family photo and I'm 21."
Kaley joked that she should have been feeling confident as she was "the hottest I've ever been" and "thinking I'm like the coolest thing ever," but was actually "terrified".
Things only worsened when she arrived during the cast's lunch break, adding: "I walk in that gallery and I am so freaking nervous. It's on their lunch break. They're all in the corners eating."
She revealed that Alyssa Milano immediately made her feel welcome on set: "I walk in. Alyssa Milano sees me and I will always tell this story about her.
"She got up, ran over to me, welcome to the show. Gave me the biggest hug in the world. We're so happy. You're so kind. So kind. I will never forget that."
She revealed that Alyssa's warm actions shaped how she treats new people on her own sets, but not everyone was as welcoming to her when she arrive on the Charmed set.
Kaley added: "That was the nicest thing she could have ever done to me. In fact, ever since then I make sure I do that to anybody. You've got to go the extra mile in a situation like that.
"Rose [McGowan] maybe not as happy. I don't know. I don't know. I still don't know if she liked me. I don't know. But Alyssa was amazing. I was terrified."
While she felt a bit snubbed by Rose, Kaley acknowledged that it isn't easy joining a long-running series so far down the line.
She explained: "It's a weird thing coming into a show with how many years. I was year eight. And I only did the one season. It's walking into someone's family dinner. It's so weird."
Kaley went on to have an even longer tenure when she starred as Penny on The Big Bang Theory for 12 seasons, and made sure she always made new people feel welcomed no matter how far into the run they arrived.
"I think about that with Big Bang … We were on that show for 12 years. It's a weird - you know each other so well.
"So anyone that came in, I was very aware of like, this must be so weird for you. I always remembered that from Alyssa," she said.
Rose's representatives have not shared any comment on Kaley's claims as of yet.
Charmed began in October 1998, with Rose joining as Paige Matthews in the fourth season. Kaley joined in the eighth and final season as Billie Jenkins in 2005.