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{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character| name = Penny| image = [[File:Penny bigbangtheory.jpg]]| caption = [[Kaley Cuoco]] as Penny| first = "[[Pilot (The Big Bang Theory episode)|Pilot]]"| last = | cause = | portrayer = [[Kaley Cuoco]]| episode = 50 <!--As of 1/19/2009. However, this count may or may not be accurate. Some characters might not have been present in all the episodes -->| nickname = "Cheesecake-scented goddess," "Queen Penelope" online, "Slugger" (by father), "Woxanne"/Roxanne (by Barry Kripke) <ref name="S02E15"/>| alias = | gender = Female| age = 22<ref name="S02E03" /><ref name="S02E11">{{cite episode|title=The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=December 15, 2008|season=2|number=11}}</ref>| born = | death = | title = | occupation = [[Waitress]]/aspiring [[actress]]| family = | relatives = Bob (father), Sister, Brother| religion = | nationality = [[United States|American]]}}
|name = Penny
'''Penny''' is a fictional character on the [[CBS]] television series ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', portrayed by actress [[Kaley Cuoco]]. Penny is Leonard and Sheldon's neighbor across the hallway and is a "[[cheesecake]]-scented [[goddess]]" in the words of Wolowitz.<ref name="S01E02"/> Originally from [[Omaha, Nebraska]], she is a beautiful waitress at the local [[Cheesecake Factory]] who, apart from auditioning for several acting positions, is also writing a semi-autobiographical screenplay about a girl from [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], who travels to [[Los Angeles]] to become an actress but ends up working at the Cheesecake Factory.<ref name="S01E01">{{cite episode|title=Pilot|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=September 24, 2007|season=1|number=1}}</ref> The free-spirited Penny is very outgoing, kind and assertive. She also has the [[Chinese character]] for "[[soup]]" [[tattoo]]ed on her right buttock, but insists it's the one for "[[courage]]."<ref>episode "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency"</ref>
|image = [[File:Penny bigbangtheory.jpg]]
|caption = [[Kaley Cuoco]] as Penny
|first = "[[Pilot (The Big Bang Theory episode)|Pilot]]"
|last =
|cause =
|portrayer = [[Kaley Cuoco]]
|episode = 50 <!--As of 1/19/2009. However, this count may or may not be accurate. Some characters might not have been present in all the episodes -->
|nickname = "Queen Penelope" (online), "Slugger" (by father)
|alias =
|gender = Female
|age = 22
|born =
|death =
|title =
|occupation = [[Waitress]]/aspiring [[actress]]
|family =
|relatives = Bob (father), unamed sister and brother
|religion =
|nationality = [[United States|American]]}}


'''Penny''' is a fictional character on the [[CBS]] television series ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', portrayed by actress [[Kaley Cuoco]].
==Summary==
Penny moves in across the hall from Sheldon and Leonard because of her recent split with her boyfriend, Kurt, after four years.<ref name="S01E01" /> She says she still loves him even though he lied and cheated on her. She is messy and disorganized but appears to like it that way.<ref name="S01E02">{{cite episode|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|number=2|season=1|title=The Big Bran Hypothesis|airdate=October 1, 2007}}</ref> She is not intellectually gifted but has great [[social skills]] and a lot of knowledge about pop culture.<ref name="S01E13">{{cite episode|title=The Bat Jar Conjecture|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 21, 2008|season=1|number=13}}</ref> She also has full confidence in horoscopes<ref name="S01E01"/> and often has arguments with Sheldon about their accuracy.<ref name="S01E16">{{cite episode|title=The Peanut Reaction|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=May 12, 2008|season=1|number=16}}</ref> During ''[[List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#Season 3: 2009-10|The Gothowitz Deviation]]'', Sheldon tries to improve Penny using chocolate, rewarding her for what he considers to be correct behavior, as in [[operant conditioning]] with lab rats, despite Leonard's opposition. She is surprisingly good the first time she plays the video game [[Halo 3|''Halo 3'']] and proves to be better than Sheldon, which aggravates him especially when Penny teases him about it.<ref name="S01E07">{{cite episode|title=The Dumpling Paradox|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=November 5, 2007|season=1|number=7}}</ref> She also becomes addicted to [[Age of Conan|''Age of Conan'']], to the point of ignoring her friends and calling Sheldon at all hours for advice, and only overcomes her addiction when she realizes she agreed to go on a virtual "date" with Wolowitz.<ref name="S02E03">{{cite episode|title=The Barbarian Sublimation|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 6, 2008|season=2|number=3}}</ref> Despite her stuffed bear collection and ''[[Hello Kitty]]'' prints on her clothing, she is at times critical of the guys' interests in toys and games.<ref name="S01E14">{{cite episode|title=The Nerdvana Annihilation|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 28, 2008|season=1|number=14}}</ref> While usually very kind, she can become extremely fierce when provoked such as when Sheldon broke into her apartment to clean, <ref>The Big Bran Hypothesis</ref> or when Howard's attempts at hitting on her become too much to take. <ref>The Killer Robot Instability</ref> As Sheldon observed, Penny will often call someone "sweetie" coupled with a thinly-veiled insult. <ref name="S03E04">{{cite episode|title=The Pirate Solution|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 12, 2009|season=3|number=4}}</ref>


Penny is the main female character on the show. She is [[Leonard Hofstadter]] and [[Sheldon Cooper]]'s neighbor across the hallway, and the main love interest of the former. Penny's looks and outgoing personality contrast with the rest of the main male characters, who are all [[scientist]]s and [[geek]]s.
Penny's father always wanted a son, so he would toughen her up and play baseball with her.<ref name="S02E15"/> When Penny was a child, she would even build a tractor engine on the farm<ref name="S01E02"/> and compete in a junior rodeo.<ref name="S02E07">{{cite episode|title=The Panty Piñata Polarization|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=November 10, 2008|season=2|number=7}}</ref> She has a brother on parole, who she says is "kind of a [[chemist]]",<ref name="S03E04" /> and sister, and says she has a 13-year-old nephew.<ref name="S02E20">{{cite episode|title=The Hofstadter Isotope|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 13, 2009|season=2|number=20}}</ref>


== Personality ==
Whenever Penny goes on a rebound relationship, she picks up an attractive man and then has 36 hours of meaningless sex over the course of a weekend; afterward, the relationship deteriorates.<ref name="S01E03">{{cite episode|number=3|title=The Fuzzy Boots Corollary|airdate=October 8, 2007|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|season=1}}</ref> She also has said she likes to "initiate," rather than have men "initiate" it for her.<ref name="S02E03" /> It is also revealed Penny liked to have sex in unusual locations (such as [[elevator]]s).<ref name="S01E17">{{cite episode|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|number=17|season=1|title=The Tangerine Factor|airdate=May 19, 2008}}</ref> She has her first date with Leonard after saying why she wants "to date a guy who truly cares for me" to which he responds "What about me?" Before the date, Leonard gives Penny a very passionate kiss.<ref name="S01E17"/> The two have a successful first date, but Penny is worried after she lies to Leonard about graduating from community college. Leonard eventually learns about this from Sheldon, but makes matters worse when he tries to tell Penny it's not a big deal.<ref name="S02E01">{{cite episode|number=1|title=The Bad Fish Paradigm|airdate=September 22, 2008|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|season=2}}</ref> Penny's introduction to Leonard's mother causes Penny and Leonard to become closer, but ultimately separates them again.<ref name="S02E15">{{cite episode|title=The Maternal Capacitance|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=February 9, 2009|season=2|number=15}}</ref>


Originally from [[Omaha, Nebraska]], Penny is a waitress at the local [[Cheesecake Factory]] with aspirations of becoming an actress.<ref name="S01E01">{{cite episode|title=Pilot|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep1|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=September 24, 2007|season=1|number=1 (1)}}</ref>
While the first season involves the guys' reluctant journey into the world outside of science, the second season shows the guys rubbing off more on Penny. When a new tenant who resembles Penny (in more ways than one) moves into the building, Penny is jealous of her and becomes very protective of the guys, and her inner geek begins to emerge, ranging from getting Sheldon's Chinese food order right (except the mustard), finding the punchline of a physicist joke funny, and even referencing the battle scenes of ''[[Star Trek]]'', much to her own surprise<ref name="S02E19">{{cite episode|title=The Dead Hooker Juxtaposition|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=March 30, 2009|season=2|number=19}}</ref> in an attempt to explain the average nerd. In the second season finale, it is heavily implied that she has strong romantic feelings for Leonard: when she discovers he will be spending three months at the North Pole for a scientific experiment, she is seemingly upset. She later gives Leonard a [[Sleeved blanket|blanket with sleeves]] as a gift, saying she'd miss him and giving him a hug Leonard feels lasts too long to be merely platonic. When he asks her about what the long hug and the blanket mean, she tells him she is just going to miss him and wishes him a good trip. However, after she has closed the door, she whispers to herself, "It means I wish you weren't going."


Unlike the rest of the group, Penny is not intellectually gifted or savvy in a particular technical field, but she has great [[social skills]] and a lot of knowledge about pop culture.<ref name="S01E13">{{cite episode|title=The Bat Jar Conjecture|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep13|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 21, 2008|season=1|number=13 (13)}}</ref>
In the third season premiere, Penny has missed Leonard a great deal during his absence and kisses him right when he arrives at her door. After the guys persuade a depressed Sheldon to return to California after he had left for Texas, Leonard and Penny finally have sex with each other for the first time. However, the encounter is merely "fine"/"okay" for both of them and they immediately decide to try again with more alcohol involved -- which does not work well for both of them. After a talk to Sheldon, Penny decides that she and Leonard should just stay friends. Yet, as soon as they agree on that point, the two give in on their renewed sexual urges.<ref name="S03E02">{{cite episode|title=The Jiminy Conjecture|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=September 28, 2009|season=3|number=2}}</ref> The two characters have been in a relationship from this point in the season onwards.

Penny is messy and disorganized, but appears to like it that way.<ref name="S01E02">{{cite episode|title=The Big Bran Hypothesis|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep2|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 1, 2007|season=1|number=2 (2)}}</ref>
She also has full confidence in horoscopes and often has arguments with Sheldon about their accuracy.<ref name="S01E01"/><ref name="S01E16">{{cite episode|title=The Peanut Reaction|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep16|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=May 12, 2008|season=1|number=16 (16)}}</ref>

While usually very kind, she can become extremely fierce when provoked such as when Sheldon broke into her apartment to clean,<ref name="S01E02"/> when she confronted [[Howard Wolowitz|Howard]] over his [[flirting]],<ref name="S02E12">{{cite episode|title=The Killer Robot Instability}}</ref> or when Sheldon "banished" her from their social group.<ref name="S02E07"/>

=== Enmity towards Sheldon ===

For the most part Penny cannot stand Sheldon's nerdy, crazy personality, and the two of them have clashed several times.

In one occasion Sheldon tried to improve Penny using chocolate, rewarding her for what he considered to be correct behavior, as in [[operant conditioning]] with lab rats.<ref name="S03E03">{{cite episode|title=The Gothowitz Deviation|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep43|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 5, 2009|season=3|number=3 (43)}}</ref>
As Sheldon observed, Penny will often call someone "sweetie" coupled with a thinly-veiled insult.<ref name="S03E04">{{cite episode|title=The Pirate Solution|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep44|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 12, 2009|season=3|number=4 (44)}}</ref>

Despite this, at times Penny and Sheldon have shown to be good friends; Penny took care of Sheldon while he was sick<ref name="S01E11">{{cite episode|title=The Pancake Batter Anomaly|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep11}}</ref> and when he was left out of his apartment<ref name="S02E21">{{cite episode|title=The Vegas Renormalization|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep38}}</ref>; Sheldon lent money to Penny when she needed it<ref name="S02E14">{{cite episode|title=The Financial Permeability|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep31}}</ref> and he took care of her when she [[dislocated shoulder|dislocated]] her [[shoulder]].<ref name="S03E08">{{cite episode|title=The Adhesive Duck Deficiency|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep48}}</ref>

=== Geek traits ===

Although Penny's personality usually contrasts to that of her [[nerd]]y friends, in the latter episodes Penny has shown some [[geek]]iness too, either intentional or unintentional.

Penny was surprisingly good the first time she played ''[[Halo 3]]'', and proved to be better than Sheldon, which greatly aggravated him.<ref name="S01E07">{{cite episode|title=The Dumpling Paradox|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep7|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=November 5, 2007|season=1|number=7 (7)}}</ref>

In one instance, she was critical of the guys' interests in toys and games, but Sheldon confronted her by noting her collection of [[stuffed toy|stuffed bears]] and childish things (''[[Hello Kitty]]'', ''[[Beanie Babies]]'', ''[[My Little Pony]]'', etc.).<ref name="S01E14">{{cite episode|title=The Nerdvana Annihilation|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep14|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 28, 2008|season=1|number=14 (14)}}</ref>

After a brief introduction to the game by Sheldon, Penny became addicted to ''[[Age of Conan]]'', to the point of ignoring her friends and calling Sheldon at all hours for advice. She finally overcame her [[gaming addiction]] when she realized she had agreed to go on a virtual "date" with [[Howard Wolowitz|Howard]].<ref name="S02E03">{{cite episode|title=The Barbarian Sublimation|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep20|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 6, 2008|season=2|number=3 (20)}}</ref>

After [[List of characters in The Big Bang Theory#recurrent characters|Alicia]], a new tenant in the building, stole the boys' attention from Penny, Penny became jealous of her and tried to win over the boys again by making a physicist joke and even referencing ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref name="S02E19">{{cite episode|title=The Dead Hooker Juxtaposition|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep39|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=March 30, 2009|season=2|number=19 (39)}}</ref>

=== Name ===

Unlike most of the characters in the show, Penny's full name is not revealed and is largely kept a secret.

A first reference to her full name was made in ''[[List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep20|The Barbarian Sublimation]]'', in which her online [[nickname]] to play ''[[Age of Conan]]'' was ''Queen Penelope''.<ref name="S02E03"/>

== Family ==

Not a lot is mentioned about Penny's family, but on her accounts they are a [[dysfunctional family]].

In an early episode, Penny talked to [[Rajesh Koothrappali|Raj]] about her sister's problems with her [[husband]].<ref name="S01E02"/> In another episode, Penny accompanied the guys to the comic book store to shop for a present for her 13-year-old nephew.<ref name="S02E20">{{cite episode|title=The Hofstadter Isotope|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=April 13, 2009|season=2|number=20}}</ref>

When Leonard's mother, [[List of characters in The Big Bang Theory#recurrent characters|Dr. Beverly Hofstadter]] who is a [[neuroscientist]] and a [[psychiatrist]], chatted with Penny, Penny revealed some of her childhood issues as her father always wanted a son to play [[baseball]] with.<ref name="S02E15"/>

However, in another occasion Penny mentions having a brother on [[parole]], who she says is "kind of a [[chemist]]".<ref name="S03E04"/>

== Work ==

Penny's main job is as a [[waitress]] in the local [[Cheesecake Factory]].

She considers herself a professional [[actress]] and constantly goes to castings, but she is not very successful.

When Penny was a child, she would even build a tractor engine on the farm<ref name="S01E02"/> and compete in a junior rodeo.<ref name="S02E07">{{cite episode|title=The Panty Piñata Polarization|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep24|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=November 10, 2008|season=2|number=7 (24)}}</ref>

== Relationships ==

Unlike the rest of the guys, Penny is very outgoing and assertive, and has had many romantic relationships over the course of the series. Although her relationships not always end up well, she always moves on.

In the first episode, Penny moved in across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon because of her recent split with her boyfriend, [[List of characters in The Big Bang Theory#recurrent characters|Kurt]], after four years.
She said she still loved him even though he cheated on her.<ref name="S01E01"/> Kurt makes further appearances in the show trying to get back with Penny, and usually being confronted by [[Leonard Hofstadter|Leonard]].

In an early episode Penny described her approach on a [[rebound relationship]]: she picks up an attractive man and then has meaningless sex over the course of a weekend; afterwards, the relationship ends.<ref name="S01E03">{{cite episode|title=The Fuzzy Boots Corollary|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep3|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=October 8, 2007|season=1|number=3 (3)}}</ref>

In one occasion Penny broke up with her [[boyfriend]], after the latter posted intimate details about their sex life on his [[blog]]. This event gave Leonard the opportunity to ask her out on a first official [[date]].<ref name="S01E17">{{cite episode|title=The Tangerine Factor|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep17|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=May 19, 2008|season=1|number=17 (17)}}</ref>
Although the date was successful, Penny became worried after she lied to Leonard about graduating from [[community College]]. Leonard eventually learned the truth about this from [[Sheldon Cooper|Sheldon]], but he made matters worse when he tried to encourage Penny to enrol into a [[College]]. Penny considered his offer an insult to her intelligence, and they broke up.<ref name="S02E01">{{cite episode|number=1|title=The Bad Fish Paradigm|airdate=September 22, 2008|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|season=2}}</ref>

She also has said she likes to "initiate," rather than have men "initiate" it for her.<ref name="S02E03"/>

Penny's introduction to Leonard's mother causes Penny and Leonard to become closer, but ultimately separates them again.<ref name="S02E15">{{cite episode|title=The Maternal Capacitance|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=February 9, 2009|season=2|number=15}}</ref>

It was in the second [[season finale]] that Penny finally showed strong romantic feelings for Leonard. When she discovered that Leonard and the other guys would be spending three months at the [[North Pole]] for a scientific experiment, she became sad and gave him an unusually long hug.<ref name="S02E23">{{cite episode|title=The Monopolar Expedition}}</ref>
In the third season [[premiere]], after the guys returned from the expedition, Penny kissed Leonard right when he arrived at her door. Subsequently, Leonard and Penny finally made love for the first time.<ref name="S03E01">{{cite episode|title=The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation}}</ref>

Initially, Leonard and Penny felt uncomfortable with their new relationship, and they agreed to remain only friends. Yet, immediately after they found renewed sexual urges and remained a couple.<ref name="S03E02">{{cite episode|title=The Jiminy Conjecture|episodelink=List of The Big Bang Theory episodes#ep42|series=The Big Bang Theory|serieslink=The Big Bang Theory|airdate=September 28, 2009|season=3|number=2 (42)}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[The Big Bang Theory]]
*[[Leonard Hofstadter]]
*[[Leonard Hofstadter]]
*[[Sheldon Cooper]]
*[[Sheldon Cooper]]
*[[Howard Wolowitz]]
*[[Howard Wolowitz]]
*[[Rajesh Koothrappali]]
*[[Rajesh Koothrappali]]
*[[Leslie Winkle]]
*[[List of characters in The Big Bang Theory]]
*[[List of The Big Bang Theory episodes]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:10, 31 December 2009

Penny
Kaley Cuoco as Penny
First appearance"Pilot"
Portrayed byKaley Cuoco
In-universe information
Nickname"Queen Penelope" (online), "Slugger" (by father)
GenderFemale
OccupationWaitress/aspiring actress
RelativesBob (father), unamed sister and brother
NationalityAmerican

Penny is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actress Kaley Cuoco.

Penny is the main female character on the show. She is Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper's neighbor across the hallway, and the main love interest of the former. Penny's looks and outgoing personality contrast with the rest of the main male characters, who are all scientists and geeks.

Personality

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Penny is a waitress at the local Cheesecake Factory with aspirations of becoming an actress.[1]

Unlike the rest of the group, Penny is not intellectually gifted or savvy in a particular technical field, but she has great social skills and a lot of knowledge about pop culture.[2]

Penny is messy and disorganized, but appears to like it that way.[3] She also has full confidence in horoscopes and often has arguments with Sheldon about their accuracy.[1][4]

While usually very kind, she can become extremely fierce when provoked such as when Sheldon broke into her apartment to clean,[3] when she confronted Howard over his flirting,[5] or when Sheldon "banished" her from their social group.[6]

Enmity towards Sheldon

For the most part Penny cannot stand Sheldon's nerdy, crazy personality, and the two of them have clashed several times.

In one occasion Sheldon tried to improve Penny using chocolate, rewarding her for what he considered to be correct behavior, as in operant conditioning with lab rats.[7] As Sheldon observed, Penny will often call someone "sweetie" coupled with a thinly-veiled insult.[8]

Despite this, at times Penny and Sheldon have shown to be good friends; Penny took care of Sheldon while he was sick[9] and when he was left out of his apartment[10]; Sheldon lent money to Penny when she needed it[11] and he took care of her when she dislocated her shoulder.[12]

Geek traits

Although Penny's personality usually contrasts to that of her nerdy friends, in the latter episodes Penny has shown some geekiness too, either intentional or unintentional.

Penny was surprisingly good the first time she played Halo 3, and proved to be better than Sheldon, which greatly aggravated him.[13]

In one instance, she was critical of the guys' interests in toys and games, but Sheldon confronted her by noting her collection of stuffed bears and childish things (Hello Kitty, Beanie Babies, My Little Pony, etc.).[14]

After a brief introduction to the game by Sheldon, Penny became addicted to Age of Conan, to the point of ignoring her friends and calling Sheldon at all hours for advice. She finally overcame her gaming addiction when she realized she had agreed to go on a virtual "date" with Howard.[15]

After Alicia, a new tenant in the building, stole the boys' attention from Penny, Penny became jealous of her and tried to win over the boys again by making a physicist joke and even referencing Star Trek.[16]

Name

Unlike most of the characters in the show, Penny's full name is not revealed and is largely kept a secret.

A first reference to her full name was made in The Barbarian Sublimation, in which her online nickname to play Age of Conan was Queen Penelope.[15]

Family

Not a lot is mentioned about Penny's family, but on her accounts they are a dysfunctional family.

In an early episode, Penny talked to Raj about her sister's problems with her husband.[3] In another episode, Penny accompanied the guys to the comic book store to shop for a present for her 13-year-old nephew.[17]

When Leonard's mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter who is a neuroscientist and a psychiatrist, chatted with Penny, Penny revealed some of her childhood issues as her father always wanted a son to play baseball with.[18]

However, in another occasion Penny mentions having a brother on parole, who she says is "kind of a chemist".[8]

Work

Penny's main job is as a waitress in the local Cheesecake Factory.

She considers herself a professional actress and constantly goes to castings, but she is not very successful.

When Penny was a child, she would even build a tractor engine on the farm[3] and compete in a junior rodeo.[6]

Relationships

Unlike the rest of the guys, Penny is very outgoing and assertive, and has had many romantic relationships over the course of the series. Although her relationships not always end up well, she always moves on.

In the first episode, Penny moved in across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon because of her recent split with her boyfriend, Kurt, after four years. She said she still loved him even though he cheated on her.[1] Kurt makes further appearances in the show trying to get back with Penny, and usually being confronted by Leonard.

In an early episode Penny described her approach on a rebound relationship: she picks up an attractive man and then has meaningless sex over the course of a weekend; afterwards, the relationship ends.[19]

In one occasion Penny broke up with her boyfriend, after the latter posted intimate details about their sex life on his blog. This event gave Leonard the opportunity to ask her out on a first official date.[20] Although the date was successful, Penny became worried after she lied to Leonard about graduating from community College. Leonard eventually learned the truth about this from Sheldon, but he made matters worse when he tried to encourage Penny to enrol into a College. Penny considered his offer an insult to her intelligence, and they broke up.[21]

She also has said she likes to "initiate," rather than have men "initiate" it for her.[15]

Penny's introduction to Leonard's mother causes Penny and Leonard to become closer, but ultimately separates them again.[18]

It was in the second season finale that Penny finally showed strong romantic feelings for Leonard. When she discovered that Leonard and the other guys would be spending three months at the North Pole for a scientific experiment, she became sad and gave him an unusually long hug.[22] In the third season premiere, after the guys returned from the expedition, Penny kissed Leonard right when he arrived at her door. Subsequently, Leonard and Penny finally made love for the first time.[23]

Initially, Leonard and Penny felt uncomfortable with their new relationship, and they agreed to remain only friends. Yet, immediately after they found renewed sexual urges and remained a couple.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Pilot". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 1 (1). September 24, 2007. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "The Bat Jar Conjecture". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 13 (13). April 21, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c d "The Big Bran Hypothesis". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 2 (2). October 1, 2007. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "The Peanut Reaction". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 16 (16). May 12, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "The Killer Robot Instability". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  6. ^ a b "The Panty Piñata Polarization". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 7 (24). November 10, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "The Gothowitz Deviation". The Big Bang Theory. Season 3. Episode 3 (43). October 5, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b "The Pirate Solution". The Big Bang Theory. Season 3. Episode 4 (44). October 12, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "The Pancake Batter Anomaly". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "The Vegas Renormalization". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "The Financial Permeability". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "The Dumpling Paradox". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 7 (7). November 5, 2007. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "The Nerdvana Annihilation". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 14 (14). April 28, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b c "The Barbarian Sublimation". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 3 (20). October 6, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "The Dead Hooker Juxtaposition". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 19 (39). March 30, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "The Hofstadter Isotope". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 20. April 13, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "The Maternal Capacitance". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 15. February 9, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "The Fuzzy Boots Corollary". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 3 (3). October 8, 2007. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "The Tangerine Factor". The Big Bang Theory. Season 1. Episode 17 (17). May 19, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "The Bad Fish Paradigm". The Big Bang Theory. Season 2. Episode 1. September 22, 2008. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "The Monopolar Expedition". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  23. ^ "The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  24. ^ "The Jiminy Conjecture". The Big Bang Theory. Season 3. Episode 2 (42). September 28, 2009. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
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