Johnny Galecki recalls how Kaley Cuoco first hit on him while filming 'Big Bang Theory'

vt-author-image

By Phoebe Egoroff

Article saved!Article saved!

Big Bang Theory actor Johnny Galecki recalled how co-star Kaley Cuoco first hit on him while they worked on the CBS sitcom.

The pair starred in Big Bang Theory from 2007, a series about four nerds and their super hot blonde neighbor. Galecki played experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter, while Cuoco depicted the ditzy but lovable aspiring actress Penny, who lived across the hall from him and his fellow physicist roommate, Sheldon Cooper.

Leonard and Penny formed an unlikely bond, eventually having romantic feelings toward each other and getting married in the show.

Though, Galecki and Cuoco's bond extended offscreen too, resulting in a two-year romance between 2008 and 2010 - however, until now, the pair have remained famously tight-lipped about their relationship.

wp-image-1263172448 size-full
Galecki and Cuoco starred in Big Bang Theory from 2007, a series about four nerds and their super hot blonde neighbor. Credit: AJ Pics / Alamy

Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair for the show's 15th anniversary, Cuoco admitted that she developed feelings for Galecki while in a relationship with someone else.

Cuoco revealed: "I had a very big crush on Johnny early on. I was so not even hiding it. He has such swagger. We were both dating people at the time, but I only had eyes for Johnny. Then, when I found out he had eyes for me too, I was like, 'Uh-oh, this is going to be trouble.'"

"I have a healthy ego, but you really have to kind of club me over the head to let me know you're flirting with me. I had zero idea of any sort of crush before Kaley and I began dating," Galecki chimed in.

wp-image-1263172451 size-full
Galecki and Cuoco (pictured in 2013) have remained rather tight-lipped about their previous two-year relationship, which lasted from 2008-2010. Credit:  Tsuni / USA / Alamy

Cuoco detailed how their spark became too much to bear after their first kiss onset while filming an episode where Penny is dressed as a cat for Halloween.

"I knew I looked real cute in that outfit, so I was feeling really good about myself [...] And I knew he thought I looked cute because he commented on how cute I looked in that outfit earlier. But I was definitely nervous before that kiss," she said.

Cuoco and Galecki recounted the moment she made a move on him, when several of the cast members had decided to go to Montecito for the weekend. Galecki invited her last minute, and Cuoco - fresh from a recent breakup - jumped at the chance to join.

wp-image-1263172452 size-full
Cuoco made the first move on Galecki during a trip to Montecito. Credit: TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

Once there, Cuoco had asked Galecki to come over as there was a bug in her room, as Galecki recalled: "I don't know if this story is bulls**t or not, and if she was flirting with me because she had just broken up with her boyfriend, but I did not go over to her cabin."

"But apart from the bug, I smelled a rat and was thinking, 'is this your way of inviting me into your hotel room basically?' Which she later admitted it was. That was her way of flirting that night. And poor thing, she had just broken up with her boyfriend and we all know what that feels like [...] But at that point it felt a little bit premature," the 47-year-old added.

The couple eventually got together, but initially kept it quiet from the rest of the cast and crew, who slowly put the puzzle pieces together on their romance. After the pair broke up, they also remained secretive about this fact as well.

Speaking of the friendship they maintained after their split, Galecki stated: "We just had different interests. But I adore the friends that we are. I think I might value my relationship with her more than any other previous relationship or relationship afterwards."

Featured image credit: dpa picture alliance / Alamy