Kaley Cuoco got slapped (for real) by Sharon Stone while filming season two of The Flight Attendant—though Cuoco says she’s not holding a grudge. In fact, she encouraged the slap.
The actor retold what she calls one of “the best stories I have ever had” during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 18. Cuoco says that she was all for the scene, and even urged for it to make the final cut. (You’ll get it in season 2, episode 6.)
Here’s how it went down: Stone plays the mother of Cassie Bowen (Cuoco), and as she delivers her final line, she adds a genuine whack across her onscreen daughter’s face.
The audience audibly gasped at the behind-the-scenes story, which prompted Cuoco to smile brightly: “I know!”
Amy Sussman
Before the scene began, the Basic Instincts actor pulled Cuoco aside to ask if she could touch her face during the scene. The 8 Simple Rules actor replied, “Whatever you wanna do, Sharon, you are Sharon Stone.” The 36-year-old actor mimed cupping her hand on her face, probably with the expectation that Stone would play a similar gesture.
Cuoco made it clear the entire time that while she was utterly shocked by Stone’s actions, she was okay with it. But everyone else on set was caught off guard and responded with absolute silence, even after the director called cut.
“No one moves,” she says, recalling the immediate aftermath. “No one makes a sound. No one knows, ‘Is Kaley happy? Did she tell Sharon to slap her?’’”
The producers sprung into action, pulling Cuoco aside to check on her.
“Should we tell her we got it and we don’t need to do another take?” they asked. Cuoco ultimately let it go, because her onscreen reaction to the slap was “incredible.” She adds that she didn’t think Stone would hit her again.
