The Impressive Skill Mayim Bialik Learned For Her Big Bang Theory Role
We all know by this point that Mayim Bialik is a low-key — no, high-key — genius. When the former star of "Blossom" was cast on "The Big Bang Theory" in 2010 as the hilariously nerdy Amy Farrah Fowler, not many people knew that Bialik was actually extremely similar to her character on the show.
After the success of "Blossom," Bialik went on to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, and earn her Ph.D. in neuroscience. So when it came time for the writers of "The Big Bang Theory" to develop her character, they looked to Bialik herself for inspiration. "When I auditioned for the part, on my resume under miscellaneous, it says Ph.D., neuroscience," which caught the eye of the producers, Bialik explained on "Conan" in 2012. "They figured, 'Why not make [Amy] what I am so that I can, ya know, fix small things if they're wrong.'"
Although Bialik is a woman of many talents, there was one unique skill that the actor amazingly learned for the show.
Mayim Bialik learned how to play the harp
When the writers of "The Big Bang Theory" included that Mayim Bialik's character plays the harp in an episode, the actor had to actually learn how to play the giant, stringed instrument. The show wanted Bialik to truly strum the instrument and sing to the tune of "The Girl from Ipanema" for filming, so Warner Brothers hired harpist and instructor Aedan MacDonnell to teach Bialik the ropes.
"I was impressed with Mayim's down-to-earth friendliness," MacDonnell wrote for the Sylvia Woods Harp Center. "She made my job as teacher very easy — understanding everything the first time." Because of Bialik's experience playing the bass, MacDonnell said it took Bialik a mere 10 seconds to learn which notes corresponded to which strings. The actor had to be ready to strum the harp in front of the live studio audience within only three lessons, so Bialik also rented a harp to bring home and practice on. When it came time to do it in front of the cameras, Bialik nailed the harp performance with just two takes!
"If you watch 'The Big Bang Theory' and see [Bialik] playing the harp, you can say definitively that it is actually Mayim playing and doing a remarkable job of playing and singing with only a handful of lessons," MacDonnell assured.
Mayim has experience playing other instruments
Later in "The Big Bang Theory," Mayim Bialik's character would again be required to play the harp on set, but this time with a much more difficult song. The actor continued her lessons with instructor Aedan MacDonnell with the Sylvia Woods Harp Center, this time learning "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. "With lots of encouragement, she played her first two-handed arpeggio," MacDonnell recounted. "I don't know who was more thrilled, Mayim or myself!"
Although Bialik had never played the harp before "The Big Bang Theory," the neurologist had plenty of previous experience with other instruments. In the midst of her budding career, the "Blossom" star also somehow made time to become a musician. Bialik showed off her trumpet skills during her first appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show" after her breakout role in the movie "Beaches." In 2017, she posted a throwback photo from when she was just 17 years looking very cool with her "fiery red bass" guitar.
So while she was in "The Big Bang Theory," Bialik utilized all three of her incredible talents: her acting, her brains, and her music training!