Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki pulled back the curtain on the moment they fell in love filming “The Big Bang Theory.”
The former co-stars, who dated in real life from 2008 to 2010, were “crushing on each other” while playing Penny and Leonard on the CBS show, according to excerpts from “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series” published by Vanity Fair on Monday.
Cuoco, now 36, was “crushing so hard” on Galecki, 47, from the start — but their relationship reached a “turning point” during a particular scene.
The duo were filming Season 1 episode “The Nerdvana Annihilation,” which features Galecki’s character saving Cuoco’s from an elevator shaft in a dream sequence, when they “fell a little in love in that elevator shaft.”
CBS via Getty Images
CBS via Getty Images
CBS via Getty Images
CBS via Getty Images
CBS via Getty Images
“We had to be in each other’s arms — and for quite some time, because it was a bit of a stunt that we were doing,” Galecki recalled. “Kaley didn’t look freaked out at all. In fact, she looked extremely happy in those arms.”
The “Roseanne” alum went on to say that they both felt “something mutual” in that moment.
The pair knew “it was going to be more of a distraction from the work to try and continue to ignore it than to actually recognize it and surrender to it,” Galecki explained.
After describing some of Cuoco’s “flirting” attempts, Galecki and the “Flight Attendant” star reflected on their first off-screen kiss.
Galecki invited the Golden Globe nominee to Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank, Calif., for a post-rehearsal drink at the time, and Cuoco “hauled ass” to meet him.
The actress “knew” that she was in “trouble” by accepting the offer, and the couple did indeed “kiss at the bar” and in the parking lot.
Galecki added, “She said, ‘You gotta come over to my house.’ So I did. And then she disappeared. She came back having showered, wearing nothing but a towel, and sat on my lap. I was like, ‘OK, I guess we’re dating!'”
Cuoco chimed in that while she remembers “being in a robe and fully clothed underneath,” she “loves this story.”
Later in the excerpts, the Emmy nominees broke down how they kept their romance a secret, as well as how they continued working together after their split.
Galecki and Cuoco even accused co-creator Chuck Lorre of writing in sex scenes “to f–k with” them, which the director denied doing.
Since their 2010 breakup, Galecki has gone on to date Alaina Meyer and welcome son Avery, now 2. He and the 25-year-old called it quits in 2020.
As for Cuoco, the “Meet Cute” star wed tennis pro Ryan Sweeting and equestrian Karl Cook in 2013 and 2018, respectively.
The twice-divorced Yes, Norman Productions creator is currently dating “Ozark” alum Tom Pelphrey, telling “Extra” last month that their romance was “love at first sight.”
Cuoco gushed, “It was like the angels started singing. I was like, ‘Hallelujah.’ It was very magical. … It was perfect.”
