When people talk about the cast of The Big Bang Theory, they often refer to the very main actors who starred on the show. Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg and Melissa Rauch are all understandably viewed as the faces that defined the classic Chuck Lorre sitcom.
It is not just the big stars who made the show tick, however. The supporting cast members were crucial in Big Bang’s success, as were the numerous guest stars who often appeared in the series.
Among the actors who became core supporting characters was Laura Spencer. She was first seen in Season 7 of The Big Bang Theory, and carried on in a recurring role for 11 episodes until Season 8.
She was then promoted to the main cast for the ninth season, before finally returning in a guest role in one episode of Season 10. In the three years or so she spent on the Big Bang set, Spencer grew especially close to Helberg and Rauch, who she said were her favorite colleagues.
Spencer’s career has not quite blown up since the end of her time on the show.
What Character Did Laura Spencer Play In The Big Bang Theory?
Laura Spencer’s first cameo in The Big Bang Theory came in episode 17 of Season 7, which was titled The Friendship Turbulence. She appeared as the character Dr. Emily Sweeney, M.D., described as “a [redhead] dermatologist with a quirky sense of humor and likes horror movies and other gory things.”
Emily is introduced as a love interest for Kunal Nayyar’s character Rajesh Koothrappali, although it is also revealed that she once went on a blind date with Simon Helberg’s Howard Wolowitz.
Raj and Emily end up in a relationship for a period, although they eventually break up and pursue other love interests.
When Spencer first auditioned for the role, she knew it was meant to be a short, one-episode arc. In an interview with the TV Watchtower in 2014, she said that she would have been happy with that, but was pleasantly surprised to carry on for as long as she did.
“It was cool to work on the show once, and then to get to come back and to learn more about the character and to work with everyone on the cast has just been a dream come true,” Spencer said.
Laura Spencer Was A Guest Star In Reservation Dogs
Many of Laura Spencer’s colleagues from The Big Bang Theory have gone on to accomplish some incredible feats since the series finale aired on CBS in May 2019. Mayim Bialik and Kaley Cuoco became producers of and starred in the shows Call Me Kat and The Flight Attendant respectively.
Melissa Rauch has continued acting while also writing with her professional partner and husband, Winston Beigel. Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and the rest of the gang have all enjoyed significant roles as well. The same cannot be said of Spencer, who – by default or design – has barely appeared in any screen roles since Big Bang.
Her final cameo on the show came in Season 10, Episode 14, which went by the title The Emotion Detection Automation. The episode aired in February 2017, after which Spencer almost entirely disappeared from professional acting.
After a few years, she finally made her comeback as a character called Ms. Rothrock in the first episode of Taika Waititi’s teen comedy drama Reservation Dogs on FX.
Laura Spencer Also Featured In The Film 13 Minutes
Laura Spencer’s cameo in Reservation Dogs was broadcast in August 2021. About two months later, she made her first big screen appearance in four years, when she played the character Vicky in the disaster film 13 Minutes.
The movie was written and directed by Lindsay Gossling. Starring alongside Spencer were country music legend Trace Adkins, embattled actress Thora Birch and Men in Trees star Anne Heche in what was the final of her films released before she tragically passed away in a car crash in August 2022.
A plot summary for 13 Minutes on the Apple TV website reads: “The largest tornado on record threatens to ravage a small town, leaving residents with only 13 minutes to find shelter, search for loved ones and fight for their lives. In the wake of total devastation, four families must overcome their differences and find strength in themselves and one another to survive.”
13 Minutes was given a limited theatrical run, before later being released on VOD. The film received a mixed reception, with the cast praised for their performances but the plot and writing criticized.
Source: thethings.com