Kaley Cuoco isn’t just ‘the girl next door.’ And she’s out to prove it

With “The Flight Attendant,” premiering later this month on HBO Max, Kaley Cuoco has her most prominent TV role since the end of hit CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” Kaley Cuoco kicked off her last birthday in a rooftop pool with Michiel Huisman, surrounded by floating candles, champagne flutes and a sweeping view of Bangkok, Thailand. I didn’t think anyone would give me this opportunity, so I felt like I had to get the project made myself and prove that this is actually the kind of work I want to be doing.” Cuoco launched Yes, Norman Productions, named after her first rescue dog, in the final years of “Big Bang,” at the urging of Warner Bros. Television. Our TV critic weighs in Times TV critic Robert Lloyd on the HBO Max original content available at launch, including Elmo, ‘Legendary,’ ‘Love Life,’ ‘Looney Tunes’ and ‘Craftopia.’ Kaley Cuoco, center, in the cast of the hit CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” With “The Flight Attendant” wrapped, Cuoco is already working on producing her next project: a live-action Apple TV+ comedy series called “America’s Sweetheart.” It’s from the creators of Warner Bros. animated series “Harley Quinn,” which she’ll continue to voice in its upcoming third season. She and her production company’s senior vice president, Chuck Lorre Productions alum Suzanne McCormack, are also actively reading from writers of diverse backgrounds, a mission statement they’ve amplified as systemic racism in numerous industries, including entertainment, has been under the microscope since nationwide protests broke out this spring over racial injustice.. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities in my life and in my career, and my goal is to give that same opportunity to somebody else, from whatever walk of life,” Cuoco said. As “The Flight Attendant’s” Thanksgiving Day premiere draws closer, Cuoco is curious if audiences will welcome her new roles, both as a dramatic actress and as a hands-on producer.