‘The Big Bang Theory’ Star Kaley Cuoco Ditches Hollywood For Simple Life On Her Ranch

The actress Kaley Cuoco of “The Big Bang Theory” fame has had a successful career in both film and television for decades now. Unlike most stars of her stature, however, she’s decided to forego living in Hollywood, instead opting for a simpler life on a ranch.

In a new interview, Cuoco is opening up about why exactly she’s decided to live far away from Hollywood.

Cuoco Loves Life On Her Ranch

Cuoco, 38, lives on a ranch north of Hollywood, California, in Thousand Oaks with her many pets that include dogs, horses, cows, chickens and even her zonkey (a half-zebra, half-donkey). 

“I wanted something away from L.A.,” Cuoco told People Magazine as she sat in her barn. “I love being an actor and I love the business, I really do, I’ve been in it my whole life. I know nothing else for 30-plus years.”

“But I knew I needed a special place that wasn’t that and that felt more grounded, felt more real, felt more family-oriented because I do love that side of my life, but this is equally as important to me,” she added.

Cuoco has been riding horses for years and is even a show jumper. She spent a long time living in the crazy world of Hollywood, but about six years ago, she decided she wanted a change.

“I was like, ‘I want my own ranch. I want my own place,’” she explained.

Watch Cuoco compete in show jumping in the video below.

Related: Tom Selleck Opens Up About Choosing Family Over Fame And Life On His Ranch

Cuoco Unplugs On Her Ranch

Many Hollywood stars are far too high maintenance for the simple life that Cuoco enjoys on her ranch, but it suits her just fine.

“I come out here and there’s no phone,” she explained. “You’ve got to get on [your horse] and you ride, and then you get off and you grab a carrot, and you go walk in to see all the little animals and they’re all running up to you and it’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh,’ you just feel so honored.” 

Cuoco went on to say that her ranch has an “open door policy” for family and friends.

“This place has brought a lot of joy to my family, my friends, I mean, my friends’ kids come out here,” she gushed. “They stop by anytime. They feed the animals.”

Also living with Cuoco on her ranch is her partner Tom Pelphrey, who she’s been dating for two years, and their 1 year-old daughter Matilda.

Cuoco loves the idea of Matilda growing up on this ranch.

“I think it’s a great place for a kid to grow up,” she said. “Learning responsibility, doing chores, taking care of the animals and seeing how animals live together.”

Watch Cuoco talk about her many animals in the video below.

Related: John Wayne’s ‘Very Masculine’ 2,000 Acre California Ranch Goes On Sale For $12 Million

Cuoco’s Hollywood Career

Though she is not even 40, Cuoco has already been a working actress for decades. She was just 7 years-old when she made her screen debut in the 1992 television movie Quicksand: No Escape, and various appearances in film and television followed throughout the 1990s, according to IMDB.

Cuoco’s big break came in 2002, when she was cast as the late John Ritter’s daughter on the sitcom “8 Simple Rules…For Dating My Teenage Daughter.” Though Ritter died suddenly of a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 54, the sitcom continued on until 2005, with Cuoco starring in all 76 episodes of it.

Of course, Cuoco is best known for playing Penny Hofstadter on the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” from 2007 until 2019. The show was hugely popular, and remains beloved by fans to this day. Thanks largely to the success of “The Big Bang Theory,” Cuoco has built up an impressive net worth of $110 million, according to Parade.

It’s certainly understandable that after so many years in the entertainment industry, Cuoco has no interest in living in Hollywood and prefers her simple ranch life. Here’s hoping that she, her family, and her animals have many years of happiness there to come!