Zoe Perry Wants To Learn More About Mary's Past On Young Sheldon
"Young Sheldon" is basically one giant flashback, giving audiences a look at what Sheldon Cooper's childhood was like prior to the events of "The Big Bang Theory." As the title suggests, the show focuses on how Sheldon's (Iain Armitage) intelligence puts him on a fast track to college at a young age, but the narrative also takes time to establish the other members of the Cooper family. Viewers get to meet the younger versions of Missy (Raegan Revord), Sheldon's twin sister, their older brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), family patriarch George Cooper Sr. (Lance Barber), and the kids' maternal grandmother, Meemaw (Annie Potts). However, Sheldon wouldn't be the same without the support of his mother, Mary.
Portrayed by Zoe Perry, Mary Cooper is quick-witted, stalwart, and religious, but above all, she's a devoted parent. Perry is actually playing a younger version of her real mother, Laurie Metcalf, who originated the character on the parent series. Compared to some of the other characters on the show, Mary could use some expansion. Over the course of six seasons, viewers get to see her adjust as her kids transition from childhood into adolescence, though we've yet to get a deeper glimpse of her life before motherhood beyond a few quick mentions. The prequel series is all about the past, and Zoe Perry thinks it's about time for audiences to learn more about Mary's backstory.
Zoe Perry wants to see Mary's wild child phase in a flashback episode
Zoe Perry does a great job of portraying a younger version of the woman who cuts smiley faces into Sheldon's grilled cheese sandwiches on "The Big Bang Theory." We've seen Mary in several stages of her life, but the narrative only offers passing remarks about her younger years. In an interview with the New York Post, Perry admitted that she hopes to explore more of her character's past going forward.
"They've dropped in great little nuggets and I'm like, 'Oooh, when do we get to explore that or do we ever get to do a flashback episode?' I learned in a piece of dialogue that Mary wasn't a total prudish teenager, she was kind of a wild child and that's how she met George. It's so interesting to think about that and what that might've looked like," the actor explained to the outlet, adding that she'd also like to explore the relationships Mary and George have with the members of their extended family. "There are so many avenues we can delve into."
The show doesn't have much time to examine the couple's relationship before George's inevitable death, which is expected to happen in the next few seasons now that Sheldon is getting older. Perry has said that the show's producers have gone above and beyond to help the cast feel like a real family, a dynamic that will make the character's death that much sadder.