Why Kaley Cuoco Says Leaving Her Family Behind Was an Emotional Struggle

Kaley Cuoco recently shared how a new acting job pushed her far from home and forced her to make a tough personal choice. The actress spoke about the experience while promoting her new MGM+ series Vanished, which was filmed entirely in France.

The project sounded exciting from the start, but the timing made her pause. Cuoco explained that her daughter Matilda, had just turned two, and the idea of leaving her for weeks did not sit well. She admitted she felt unsure about going at all and spent a lot of time questioning whether the role was worth the distance.

According to Cuoco, the final push came from her fiancé, Tom Pelphrey. She said he reminded her of why she fell in love with acting in the first place and told her this was an opportunity she should not pass up. With his support, she decided to take the leap and treat the job as a personal challenge as much as a professional one.

Before committing, Cuoco did explore the idea of keeping the shoot closer to Los Angeles. That option quickly disappeared once she understood how important the location was to the story. Marseille was not just a backdrop but part of the mood of the show. She realized that moving the production would take away what made the series special.

In the end, she chose to travel alone. She felt the city’s steep streets and fast pace were not the right place for a toddler. Still, she did not go completely by herself. Cuoco brought her Chihuahua, Opal, with her. She later shared that the French crew loved the dog so much they gave her the nickname Opolette.

Cuoco described the experience as a mix of work and escape. She said it felt like being on a long trip with friends, with filming woven into the days. Knowing her family was safe and supported back home helped her stay focused on the role.

Vanished premiered in February. The four-part thriller stars Cuoco as Alice, an archaeologist searching for her missing boyfriend. Sam Claflin plays her partner, with Matthias Schweighöfer and Karin Viard rounding out the cast. The series has been praised for its mystery-driven story and true crime feel, something Cuoco has openly said she loves.

Outside of the show, Cuoco has stayed busy. She has been doing press for Vanished and attending industry events alongside Pelphrey. There is also growing talk that she could return to her famous role as Penny in a possible Big Bang Theory spinoff now in development.

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