'Big Bang' star Kaley Cuoco's career takes a dramatic turn

She lit up TV screens as bubbly waitress Penny on The Big Bang Theory for 12 seasons but now Kaley Cuoco is making a career U-turn.

The blonde beauty is set to transition from comedy to something a bit more serious after signing on to star in the upcoming TV drama/thriller, The Flight Attendant.

The series will be based on Chris Bohjalian’s New York Times best-selling novel of the same name.

The spine-tingling story follows flight attendant Cassandra Bowden, who wakes with a hangover in a Dubai hotel room, only to find a dead body next to her.

Filming is expected to begin later this year, with a release on Warner Bros’ streaming service expected in early 2020.

Kaley, 33, will executive produce as well as appear in front of the camera and is excited to continue an “incredibly collaborative and gratifying relationship” with Warner.

“They're stuck with me now!” she joked.

Getting The Flight Attendant off the ground has been a labour of love for Kaley, who wrote on Instagram:

“After optioning #theflightattendant over a year in a half ago, believing in my heart and soul it could be something, and now seeing it come to life is mind blowing!”

The Big Bang Theory finished up at the end of May, after 12 seasons and 279 episodes.

Additional reporting by AAP

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