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In addition to starring as Bernadette on the Big Bang Theory, did you know that actress Melissa Rauch also directed and starred in an indie film. The Bronze? Rauch wrote and directed the raunchy comedy with her husband and she played the main role. Audiences did not seem to like the far departure from Melissa’s sweet take on Bernadette, the Bronze was a major flop. But let’s take a more in depth look at Melissa Rauch’s history.
Beginnings
Melissa Rauch was born on June 23, 1980 in Marlboro, New Jersey. She grew up attending an arts summer camp and had always dreamed of being an actress. Once in college, Rauch focused on her passion and studied at Marymount Manhattan College. She earned her degree in 2002. After graduating, she worked as a stand-up comedian and eventually starred in her own one-woman show The Miss Education of Jenna Bush.
The show was a fictional, humorous account of George W Bush’s daughter. The show ran in both New York and Los Angeles. In 2005, The Miss Education of Jenna Bush won an award for “Outstanding Solo Show” at the New York Fringe Festival.
The Big Bang Theory
Rauch’s first job on the small screen was as a commentator on VH1’s Best Week Ever. Some other TV roles she snagged was on Kath and Kim and True Blood. Her breakthrough was from a guest part on The Big Bang Theory. Originally her character, Bernadette Rosenkowski, was only meant to make a brief appearance. But Rauch won over audiences and became a series regular in the show’s fourth season as Howard Walowitz’s girlfriend and eventual wife.
Rauch explained to the Huffington Post in an interview that playing a scientist like Bernadette has been a challenge. “There’s science information that’s given to me in each script that are things I never thought I would learn. . .My character did experiments with rhesus monkeys. I didn’t even know that rhesus monkeys existed.”
Other Roles
In addition to her role as Bernadette on the Big Bang Theory, Melissa has continued to perform stand-up comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. She and some other comedians spoofed the popular reality TV show The Real Housewives Series with their own The Realest Real Housewives. Rauch has also lent her voice to a number of animated series. Some of her recent animated work includes Ice Age: Collision Course as Francine and Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie as Kiki.
The Bronze
Melissa portrayed the main character of The Bronze, Hope Ann Greggory. The film is a sports comedy-drama and is centered on a washed up gymnast who is asked to coach another female gymnast, but instead wishes to sabotage her.
The film had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2015. Unfortunately, the film mostly earned mixed reviews and some describe it as “mostly unpleasant and mostly unfunny.”
Luckily for Melissa Rauch and her fans, there will always be Bernadette on the Big Bang Theory. Though Rauch has already put her vote in for a sequel to the Bronze.
