‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Mayim Bialik Suspects She Was the Second Choice for Amy Farrah Fowler — Here’s Why

When The Big Bang Theory needed a neurobiologist love interest for Sheldon (Jim Parsons), they found a real neuroscientist. Mayim Bialik has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, and she was a young actor in Beaches and Blossom. Bialik doesn’t believe she was their first choice though. 

Bialik participated in a webinar to raise money for The Groundlings called The Reality of Non-Reality TV on Sept. 22. While discussing the audition process, she told a story about her Big Bang Theory audition and why she believes they wanted someone else first. 

Even before ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ Mayim Bialik never thought she got the part

This is Bialik’s anxiety about auditions. Remember this for later, it’s important. 

“I never think I got it,” Bialik said. “I always think I did something devastatingly awful [and] I need to apologize in writing. I’ll always call my manager and be like, ‘I said this, I did this, I don’t know if I…’ Never think I got it.”

‘The Big Bang Theory’ audition was competitive

Bialik remembered the competition for the role of Amy Farrah Fowler. She hoped she had a competitive advantage. 

“I distinctly remember I auditioned with about five other very talented women, none of whom were neuroscientists,” Bialik said. “They sent four home and kept two of us. So narrowed it down to me and this other woman, and she was a very different type. We both were called back in and then we ended up parked in the same area, so we ended up walking out together.”

Mayim Bialik wanted the role of Amy Farrah Fowler more

They say 80% of success is showing up. Bialik’s competitor showed up, but she wasn’t prepared to stay.

“She ended up saying she had already decided to move out of town, was going to grad school somewhere,” Bialik said. “She was like, ‘So I don’t really know what to do if I get this.’ And I remember thinking, ‘Well, since I probably didn’t get it, if she turns it down maybe I’ll get it.’ I don’t know if they offered it to her and she said no.”

The lesson in the ‘Big Bang Theory’ audition

After 12 seasons, it’s hard to imagine anyone as Amy Farrah Fowler. The Big Bang Theory was meant for Bialik, and that’s the lesson to remember.

“This might sound very floofy woofy, everything that is meant to be is going to happen,” Bialik said. “Any hand wringing you do changes nothing except reinforcing your belief that there’s something wrong with you. Usually it has so little to do with you and that’s just being an actor.”