“Young Sheldon” aired its final episode in May 2024, and now, a little more than two years later, the cast of the CBS sitcom is speaking candidly about their experience filming the Sheldon Cooper-focused “Big Bang Theory” prequel and working with star Iain Armitage, who was just eight years old when the series began.
In a recently released excerpt from Jessica Radloff’s oral history, “Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy” (via US Weekly), the cast reflected on the challenges of working with a child star, as well as their thoughts on the experience and the pressure placed on Armitage looking back.
“It was a real privilege to be on this show and play this character, but yeah, it was a big undertaking for an 8-year-old,” contributed Armitage, who played the title character for all seven seasons. “I always did my best, and sometimes kids aren’t perfect. I was grateful for the people who understood that and gave me grace.”
The actor also remembers working with Raegan Revord, who played Missy Cooper. “Raegan was so much fun to have as a brother. It really felt like a sibling relationship, and Rae was kind of the only other person on set who understood exactly what we went through, from filming to school,” he wrote.
Revord agreed that it was “nice to have someone who understood this process.” “But like siblings, you bicker and stuff happens,” she admitted. “If you spend 12 hours, five days a week on set, there are going to be arguments and people are going to have differing opinions.”
Annie Potts, who played Meemaw Connie, acknowledged that because the series revolved around Amitage, “it’s a lot for a little person to deal with psychologically.” She continued, “He was asked to work and carry the weight of something that would be difficult for an adult, and we know that a lot of behavior comes out in situations like that. Yes, sometimes he was difficult. But I’ve worked with adults who were much worse. Sometimes I think he was tired, and sometimes I think he pushed people and people kissed his ass! It’s a very difficult situation to be 9 years old and have to work, behave and think like an adult And I say that with absolute love and respect.
“Young Sheldon” was so successful that the prequel inspired its own spinoff, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” which premiered in 2024.
Radloff’s book is scheduled to be released on October 20.
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