“That’s the engine that’ll keep you going”: Zoe Perry’s Answer to All the Young Sheldon Haters Who Claim She Only Got the Role Due to Nepotism
Zoe Perry’s stand on authenticity in acting, while navigating nepotism accusations.
Following the end of the iconic run for the CBS spinoff Young Sheldon, we’re taken back to Zoe Perry’s journey in the show as young Mary Cooper. Unfortunately, helming the famous role originally portrayed by her mother Laurie Metcalf, in The Big Bang Theory, Perry faced accusations of favoritism and nepotism in the industry.
Addressing her fair share of criticism during her interview with Backstage Magazine, Zoe Perry openly admitted to being no stranger to the privileges of Hollywood lineage. However, when it comes to the allegations about her success in Young Sheldon being solely based on nepotism, Perry clapped back with her commitment to her craft and a deep love for acting.
Zoe Perry’s Challenges of Playing a Role Originally Helmed by Her Mother
Known for her role as young Mary Cooper in the hit series Young Sheldon, Zoe Perry addressed the challenges she faced while donning a character originally brought to life by her mother Laurie Metcalf, in the OG show The Big Bang Theory. Perry opened up about feeling pressure on her, considering how she and the fans were initially introduced to the character by her mother.
Therefore, playing the young-age role of Mary Cooper, was indeed challenging for Zoe Perry. Unfortunately, as her industry privileges based on nepotism often eclipsed her challenges, Perry acknowledged the influence of her lineage during an interview with Backstage Magazine.
It was definitely a big consideration in terms of getting my head in the right space when I first went in to audition for the part. I had come to know and love the character from watching her on the show, and I know many fans did, too. So I felt an obligation to get that right and to model what I was doing, to an extent, after her.
Because we’re introduced to this character in a different stage of life, it offered me a fair amount of freedom to discover who this person is separate from what comes later. Generally speaking, I wanted to make sure I had her stature down, the way she carries herself and some of that dialect.
However, despite auditioning for the role and overcoming her fair share of challenges, as Zoe Perry kept getting bugged by haters for nepotism, the actress openly acknowledged the complexities and the influence of her family background.
Zoe Perry Acknowledged the Privileges and Complexities of Hollywood Lineage
Speaking with the magazine, Zoe Perry addressed the impact that her family background had on her career. Openly admitting that it’s a privilege she’s grateful for, Perry also noted the intimidating feeling of being often compared to the standard set by her parents.
I’m really grateful this opportunity came when it did. It came a little bit later for me. Starting out, I don’t think I had the emotional stamina. When I first started pursuing acting professionally out of college, it was very much in my head that there would be comparisons with potentially both of my parents, and I found that pretty intimidating.
Nonetheless, the actress revealed overcoming her fear with her experience in the industry. Now Zoe Perry doesn’t mind getting compared to her parents.
When one is starting out, you’re trying to do right by them and not embarrass myself and not embarrass them. But with time and with experience and getting some jobs and getting more confident along the way, it’s been more and more of a pleasure to encounter some of those comparisons.
But certainly, despite acknowledging the influence of her family background on her career, Zoe Perry isn’t willing to corroborate with the haters, that her Young Sheldon role was a result of nepotism.
Zoe Perry Responds to Nepotism Claims with Her Commitment to Her Craft
Following Laurie Metcalf’s role as Mary Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, when decades later her daughter Zoe Perry landed the young-age role of that very character, critics expressed their dismay. Claiming that Perry simply landed the role because of her mother’s influence, haters slammed the actress despite her skills.
However, responding to the haters, Zoe Perry firmly asserted that her own merit helped secure the role and turn it into a success. Highlighting her passion for acting as the driving force behind her career, Perry claimed that her commitment to her craft and a penchant for acting transcends any accusations of favoritism.
For me, it’s so key. I can’t deny that there’s a great privilege in having parents who are established in the field that I’m pursuing. I try to appreciate the fact that they’re so great at it. They’ve been such great role models not only talent-wise, but also in how they lead their lives and the reasons why they’ve pursued this.
For them it’s always been about a true passion for art and for acting and for theater. That’s a lesson I learned from them. That’s why I would go into it. The ancillary stuff, that all comes and goes—or maybe never even comes—but if you really have a true love of the art, that’s all you need. That’s the engine that’ll keep you going.
While acknowledging the prevalence of nepotism and favoritism in the industry, Zoe Perry remained undeterred in her claims of landing the role and pursuing her career on her own merits. Remaining focused on her passion for acting, Perry has thus carved out her own identity as an actress, beyond familial ties.
