While Melissa Rauch is now synonymous with Bernadette Rostenkowski, following her role in The Big Bang Theory, there was a time when the actress was figuring out her way through the glitz and glam of the entertainment industry. Therefore, reflecting on her initial years as an actress, Rauch mentioned the significant hurdles that came her way, when she was trying to break into the industry.
During an appearance on The View, to promote her Night Court sequel series, Melissa Rauch shared a peculiar and somewhat disheartening experience from her early career that nearly derailed her ambitions. Looking back at her challenges, Rauch recalled losing an important job, due to a bizarre reason.
Melissa Rauch Lost an Important Commercial, Due to Her Hands
Before garnering global fame and widespread acclaim for her role in The Big Bang Theory, Melissa Rauch admitted to facing significant hurdles as a young actress in the industry. Therefore, while promoting her Night Court sequel series on The View via EW, Rauch recalled her early career and reflected on the challenges that eventually shaped her as an actress.
After The View cohost Sara Haines inquired about the need to have thick skin for criticism in Hollywood, Melissa Rauch particularly recalled one specific incident during her struggling years. Reminiscing about the time when she lost an impossible commercial job, due to an aspect of her body that was heavily criticized, Rauch revealed the surprisingly harsh feedback about her hands.
When I was first auditioning and going out for commercials, my hands really stood in the way. I sort of have Hobbit hands…. especially when I was living in New York, they were always chapped. I was in the running for a Friday’s commercial, to play a waitress, and I was down to the wire on it. They asked for my availability for the next week.
I was in the callback and they said, ‘Okay, great, so glad you’re available next week. One more thing, can we just see your hands, to the camera? Show them back and front,’ I did that and I heard the director from behind the camera go, ‘Jesus Christ!’ I didn’t get the job.
Despite the incident dating way back to her initial years when she was trying to make it into the industry through commercials, Melissa Rauch’s story made people scratch their heads over how a minor inconvenience cost her the job. More than anything, audiences appeared stunned by how the director chose to single out her hands as a flaw, rather than offering constructive criticism.
Melissa Rauch Eventually Flourished in Her Career, Despite Setbacks
Despite the setback, Melissa Rauch’s career eventually flourished through struggle and determination. Her resilience and sheer talent eventually earned her a prominent role of Bernadette Rostenkowski, alongside Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco on The Big Bang Theory, where she won over audiences with her performance.
Although her initial hurdle might have caused her insecurity and self-doubt, which could have derailed her potential career, Melissa Rauch stood her ground and proved her worth in the industry, despite criticism and failure. Therefore, now, upon looking back on her career, Rauch can easily highlight the subjective nature of casting decisions, and why it’s important to have a thick skin for criticism in the industry.
Thereafter, Melissa Rauch catapulted herself to fame through True Blood, The Bronze, and more significant projects. Moreover, overcoming obstacles as Rauch now continues to shine in her career and succeed despite early setbacks, her journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring stars and underscores the importance of perseverance and self-belief in the face of adversity.
