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Kaley Cuoco Reveals Moment On ‘Big Bang Theory’ She Realized She’d Gone Too Far With Botox
Kaley Cuoco in a red top on Big Bang Theory set with a caution sign, showing a skeptical facial expression.

Kaley Cuoco Reveals Moment On ‘Big Bang Theory’ She Realized She’d Gone Too Far With Botox

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Kaley Cuoco, who spent more than a decade playing Penny on The Big Bang Theory, has come forward with an account of the moment she realized her first experience with Botox had gone wrong.

The revelation came during an appearance on Amanda Hirsch’s Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast, where the actress reflected on experimenting with cosmetic injectables for the first time while still filming the long running CBS sitcom.

Highlights
  • Kaley Cuoco said her first Botox experience left her unable to move her forehead during filming
  • The actress realized the injectable was affecting her comedic timing and facial expressions
  • Experts recommend using Botox in smaller amounts to avoid stiffness

“I couldn’t believe how bad it looked,” Cuoco admitted. 

RELATED:

    Actress Kaley Cuoco shared how her first experience with Botox almost ruined her performance on The Big Bang Theory

    Kaley Cuoco speaking into a microphone during a podcast, discussing her experience with Botox on Big Bang Theory.

    Image credits: Not Skinny But Not Fat

    The injectable had become a real liability.

    Cuoco said the problem became impossible to ignore during a specific scene that required elaborate facial expressions and comedic timing. Instead of reacting naturally, she found herself physically unable to move part of her face.

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    Kaley Cuoco on Big Bang Theory set, wearing red dress with caution tape in background, moment Botox realization.

    Image credits: CBS

    “There is a scene where I have to do this thing with my face, I could not move [it],” she recalled.

    “The fact that no one said anything, they probably were thinking it, I couldn’t believe how bad it looked.”

    As she continued filming, she started noticing a disconnect between her delivery and her appearance, ruining her performance.

    Kaley Cuoco laughing with co-star on Big Bang Theory set, revealing moment she realized she'd gone too far with Botox.

    Image credits: CBS

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    “I was like literally doing these jokes and nothing moved. My forehead didn’t move and it looked like I was trying to move it,” she said.

    Botox works by temporarily paralyzing targeted muscles, blocking nerve signals that allow them to contract.

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    While that can smooth wrinkles and prevent future ones from forming, it also limits micro-expressions that actors rely on to convey emotion, especially in close up shots.

    Experts recommend injecting smaller amounts on key areas of the face to avoid stiffness

    Kaley Cuoco as Penny talking to Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory set in a living room scene.

    Image credits: CBS

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    Following the on set realization, Cuoco said she made a conscious decision to slow down before cosmetic tweaks overtook her natural expressions completely.

    That decision, however, did not mean abandoning injectables altogether.

    Kaley Cuoco smiling with a friend indoors, sharing a moment related to Botox and Big Bang Theory insights.

    Image credits: notskinnybutnotfat/Instagram

    Cuoco acknowledged that she still “loves a bit of Botox,” but now approaches it with restraint. Instead of her forehead, she opts for injections around her eyes and in her neck, areas she feels allow her to maintain movement while still achieving the effect she wants.

    Kaley Cuoco on Big Bang Theory podcast, sharing moment she realized she'd gone too far with Botox.

    Image credits: Not Skinny But Not Fat

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    According to Suresh Mohan, a cosmetic surgeon based in Wimbledon, the key to preserving expression while still enjoying the smoothing effect of Botox can be achieved by asking skilled practitioners to use lower doses and treat specific areas.

    Kaley Cuoco with long blonde hair and layered necklaces, sharing her Botox experience during Big Bang Theory days.

    Image credits: kaleycuoco/Instagram

    In particular, crow’s feet around the eyes or preorbital regions were singled out as being able to refresh a customer’s appearance without limiting their facial movement too much.

    Cuoco has been outspoken about her cosmetic surgeries, saying they improved her self-esteem

    Woman smiling and lifting hair at party with festive lights and Happy 4th sign, reflecting on Botox moment on Big Bang Theory.

    Image credits: kaleycuoco/Instagram

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    During the same conversation, Cuoco also revisited her history with surgical cosmetic procedures, including her breast augmentations.

    The actress has had her breasts done twice, with the first one being done when she was 18, and has said she hopes to undergo a third procedure in the future, describing the initial surgery as the “best decision” she has ever made.

    Image credits: Gage Skidmore/Flickr

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    In a 2014 interview with women’s fashion magazine Redbook, the actress explained that the decision stemmed from long standing discomfort with her proportions rather than any desire to project appeal.

    “I always felt ill-proportioned. My implants made me feel more confident in my body. It wasn’t about trying to be a p*rn star or wanting to look hot and s*xy,” she said at the time.

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    Kaley Cuoco at a black star-patterned backdrop event, discussing her experience with Botox on Big Bang Theory.

    Image credits: Monica Schipper/Getty Images

    Cuoco has also been open about undergoing a nose job, another decision she has consistently defended.

    “As much as you want to love your inner self … I’m sorry, you also want to look good,” Cuoco said in a 2016 interview with Women’s Health.

    “I don’t think you should do it for a man or anyone else, but if it makes you feel confident, that’s amazing.”

    “She looks different.” Netizens discussed the changes the actress went through in The Big Bang Theory

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    Kaley Cuoco from Big Bang Theory discussing the moment she realized she had gone too far with Botox treatments

    Kaley Cuoco discussing her experience with Botox during Big Bang Theory and realizing she may have gone too far.

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    Kaley Cuoco open about realizing she'd gone too far with Botox during Big Bang Theory years in candid interview text.

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Read more »

    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

    Read less »
    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

    What do you think ?
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A lot of people go into having cosmetic Botox without seeming to realize or understand that there can be side effects. Some of these side effects can last a LONG time. It's literally a paralytic derived from a toxin produced by the bacteria that causes botulism. It's a paralytic. So yes, sometimes your face can get paralyzed by it after you have it injected. Sometimes the paralysis won't go away for weeks or months. A friend's mom had it done in the early 2000s and the side of her face was paralyzed for nearly a year. It's not from having a "bad batch" or a "bad doctor/cosmetologist", it's a side effect that can happen with ANY cosmetic Botox injection in the facial area. I'm not saying it isn't "safe", but I am saying that side effects DO exist and CAN happen.

    RomanceRadish
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She looks great. I enjoyed that show's characters and humor a lot, although the fake laugh track ruined the experience for me.

    Tyranamar Suess
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She still looks like she's had too much Botox in her forehead. That is one smooth forehead.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A lot of people go into having cosmetic Botox without seeming to realize or understand that there can be side effects. Some of these side effects can last a LONG time. It's literally a paralytic derived from a toxin produced by the bacteria that causes botulism. It's a paralytic. So yes, sometimes your face can get paralyzed by it after you have it injected. Sometimes the paralysis won't go away for weeks or months. A friend's mom had it done in the early 2000s and the side of her face was paralyzed for nearly a year. It's not from having a "bad batch" or a "bad doctor/cosmetologist", it's a side effect that can happen with ANY cosmetic Botox injection in the facial area. I'm not saying it isn't "safe", but I am saying that side effects DO exist and CAN happen.

    RomanceRadish
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She looks great. I enjoyed that show's characters and humor a lot, although the fake laugh track ruined the experience for me.

    Tyranamar Suess
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She still looks like she's had too much Botox in her forehead. That is one smooth forehead.

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