From 2010 to 2019, Mayim Bialik portrayed Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory. Amy's relationship with Sheldon Cooper, played by actor Jim Parsons, became a program fixture, and she became one of the show's breakout characters.
While she became a popular icon in the series, the actress did not intend to become a main cast member when she auditioned for the role. In fact, she originally tried to land a job in the show because she needed the Screen Actors Guild’s help.
Why Did Mayim Bialik Audition For 'The Big Bang Theory'?
Mayim Bialik was a well-known child star throughout the 1980s, and she rose to fame on NBC’s Blossom. She even co-starred with Jennifer Aniston in Molloy, in which she played a pretentious 11-year-old who moves with her obnoxious older stepsister Courtney (Jen’s role) after her father remarries. She has been a professional actor for the majority of her life.
Since then, Mayim has gone on to accomplish an impressive array of feats in her career and personal life as well. On top of being an accomplished actress and mother of two, she is also a neuroscientist, with a Ph. D. in discipline from UCLA. She was even dubbed by many as a genius just like her Big Bang Theory character, Amy Farrah Fowler.
Mayim rose to stardom after becoming a main cast member of the series. She never planned on making acting a full-time career, but her role on the show ended up resonating with fans. She revealed, “I figured actors never work, so it’s the perfect job to have.”
Mayim further explained, “I started auditioning, and I had never heard of Big Bang Theory, then I did the guest spot and a year-and-a-half later, it’s turned into a regular job. It’s kind of amazing, I’m really shocked…” When asked about why she auditioned for the role, she admitted that she needed health insurance.
“It is true that after I got my doctorate I had an infant and a toddler and I was running out of health insurance. I had been teaching neuroscience for about five years after getting my degree, and I figured if I could just get a job here or there I would be able to get health insurance,” she explained.
The actress also added, “And I had never seen The Big Bang Theory, I didn’t know what it was. It was a guest spot, possible recurring role, and that’s how I ended up auditioning…Then it led to this.”
In the same way, she did not know fans would love her character Amy in the series. She also did not know Sheldon and Amy’s relationship would leave a huge impact on viewers.
What Did Mayim Bialik Do After 'The Big Bang Theory'?
Mayim Bialik's performance as bright (if eccentric) neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS' The Big Bang Theory earned her a slew of prestigious entertainment industry awards, as well as a legion of loyal fans and a sizable wealth.
However, the series ended in May 2019 after a run of more than a decade, allowing its cast members to explore new interests, passions, and opportunities. That includes Mayim, who has been very busy since wrapping up her last scene in the series. In an interview with USA Today, she admitted that the season finale was very emotional.
She said, “It is very, very emotional. But also, it’s the start of a new chapter of all of our lives, which is also exciting.” Thankfully, she has a perspective on her life’s path that seems to give her a sense of assurance. “I don’t want to say everything happens for a reason, but every day is lined up right next to the other one for a reason,” she added.
The success of her choices is certainly evident with what she has done and is doing after the Big Bang Theory. Her time in the series may be over, but she’s not done with her work on camera. She is hosting the game show, Jeopardy, following Alex Trebek’s death. She also leads her podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, and stars on the sitcom Call Me Kat.
While she’s busy with her thriving career, fans are hoping that she can become a permanent host in Jeopardy. But among other things, fans surely want to see Mayim and her onscreen partner Jim for a possible The Big Bang Theory reunion.
Will There Be A 'Big Bang Theory Reunion'?
The famous series hasn’t been off the air for long. The show’s final episode aired on CBS in 2019. However, fans shouldn’t expect a cast reunion to happen anytime soon, if ever at all, as Mayim Bialik notes that “legal stuff” makes things complicated when it comes to reunions.
She explained, “Again, there’s a lot of legal stuff which is very boring about why shows do have reunions and don’t, but I think it’s probably too soon.” As far as whether the show will earn a reboot, she claimed that there aren’t any plans “that she knows of.
