The Big Bang Theory star says she accepted the role on trust alone, later discovering she would appear in a Great Depression-era sketch produced by the Obamas.
Kaley Cuoco has revealed that she agreed to join Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness without knowing anything about the project, saying her confidence in comedy icon Larry David was enough to secure an immediate “yes.”
The actress, widely recognized for her starring role in The Big Bang Theory, said the production was shrouded in secrecy, and she accepted the offer before producers had explained the concept or storyline.
“It was such a secretive thing. I just said yes before the producers could tell me what it was,” Cuoco said. “I was like, ‘Anything for Larry.’ I had no idea what the premise was.”
She explained that she only learned about the project after arriving on set.
“They’re like, ‘Okay, you’re going to be in the Great Depression.’ I was like, ‘Wait, what?… Oh yeah, and the Obamas are producing.’ I was like, ‘Wait, what?’ I knew nothing. I knew absolutely nothing.”
The HBO comedy special is executive produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama through their production company.
In the sketch, Cuoco plays Gloria, a woman standing in a Great Depression-era soup line who confronts Larry David over his notorious “chat and cut” tactic—attempting to move ahead in line by casually striking up conversations with people already waiting.
Cuoco described filming the scene as one of the most enjoyable experiences of her career because David repeatedly broke character with laughter.
“He was like, ‘Call me something. Just call me an …..’” she recalled. “So, I called him an …, and he literally just spit out… He was laughing so hard. It’s so fun when he finds you funny. You literally think you won a medal.”
The actress also joked that she completely agreed with her character’s criticism of the “chat and cut” maneuver.
“The chat and cut is f—ed up. You can’t do that… I don’t care if we’re in the Great Depression or in a line today for Taco Bell,” she said.
Following the premiere, Cuoco revealed that Larry David personally called to congratulate her on her performance, a gesture she said meant a great deal.
According to Cuoco, David ended the conversation with a promise that left her thrilled: “Any show I’m on, you’re going to be in too.”