The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco has said she would “love” the chance to portray Dolly Parton in a future biopic about the country music legend.
Cuoco, who played aspiring actress Penny for 12 seasons on the hugely successful CBS sitcom from 2007 to 2019, has since carved out a second act in Hollywood as both a producer and dramatic performer. She earned critical acclaim — and Golden Globe nominations — for her role in the dark comedy thriller The Flight Attendant, demonstrating a range that goes well beyond sitcom territory. Most recently, she appeared in the MGM+ thriller series Vanished alongside British actor Sam Claflin.
It was during promotion for the new series that the idea of Cuoco playing Parton surfaced. When Claflin suggested she would be a strong choice to portray the music icon on screen, Cuoco was quick to embrace the concept.
“Oh yes! That is a great idea. I am in love with her, I just hear the nicest things about her.”
She went on to explain why she finds Parton so compelling, pointing to the singer’s famously long and unconventional marriage to her late husband Carl Dean, who largely stayed out of the public eye before his passing.
“You know what I love about her? Her and her husband live in separate houses. I know he’s passed, but she always talked about that, they were together forever and I’m like, ‘That’s how to do it.’ Just live in different homes. That’s great! Knock knock, let’s have dinner, let’s go.”
Parton and Dean were married for nearly six decades, having tied the knot in 1966. Despite Parton’s global fame, Dean remained intensely private, rarely appearing at public events and avoiding the spotlight entirely — a dynamic that Parton often credited as key to the longevity of their relationship.
@entertainmenttonight Dolly Parton always spoke from the heart about late husband of nearly 60 Years, Carl Dean. 😢💔 #dollyparton #carldean ♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight
As for a Dolly Parton biopic, there is currently no confirmed feature film in production, but speculation has swirled for years. The 79-year-old singer-songwriter — whose career spans more than six decades, with over 100 million records sold worldwide — has previously said she would be open to the idea of her life story being told on screen.
In 2022, she indicated that if a biographical film were made, she would want an unknown actress to portray her younger years, though she has not ruled out established stars for other stages of her life.
Parton’s story certainly offers rich cinematic material. Born in rural Tennessee in 1946, she rose from poverty to become one of country music’s most recognisable figures, with hits including “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”.
Beyond music, she has built a formidable business empire, including the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, and has become widely admired for her philanthropic work — particularly her Imagination Library programme, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, including in parts of Ireland.
@mainstreetmads Such an underrated theme park! Youve got to go!! #dollywood #dollywoodthemepark #dollywoodinsiders #themepark #themeparkcreator #dolly #dollyparton ♬ Dollywood - nostalgia
Cuoco’s enthusiasm taps into a broader trend of high-profile music biopics enjoying commercial and critical success in recent years. Films centred on artists such as Freddie Mercury and Elton John have drawn significant audiences, while forthcoming projects about Madonna and the Bee Gees are also in development. A Dolly Parton biopic would likely attract similar attention, given her enduring popularity across generations.
For Cuoco, the role would mark a significant departure from her California-girl sitcom roots and could further cement her post–Big Bang Theory reinvention. Physically, the blonde actress could arguably channel Parton’s instantly recognisable look, while her growing dramatic credentials suggest she may have the range required to portray both the glamour and grit behind the rhinestones.
@bbc How could Kaley Cuoco’s fiancé not know the infamous Penny?!😱 Kaley Cuoco talks meeting her fiancés family for the first time, and being referred to as her Big Bang character Penny! #TheGrahamNortonShow #KaleyCuoco #TheBigBangTheory ♬ original sound - BBC
Whether the project materialises remains to be seen. But Cuoco’s public declaration of interest ensures that, should Hollywood move forward with a Dolly Parton film, her name will now firmly be in the casting conversation.
