The Big Bang Theory: 10 Characters You Totally Forgot Existed
1. Gilda
Season 1, Episode 0: The Unaired Pilot
Even if you've seen every episode of The Big Bang Theory, the name "Gilda" mightn't ring a bell. The reason why even die-hard fans may not remember her is because she technically didn't appear on the show! Gilda, who's played by Iris Bahr, only popped up in the unaired pilot.
Gilda was a geeky scientist who fawned for Leonard and Sheldon. She even deflowered Sheldon while at a Star Trek convention! Learning that Sheldon had sex in the first potential episode would have had a drastic impact in how the character is perceived since he's emphasised he's not a fan of coitus throughout the show.
In this pilot, Gilda comes to Leonard and Sheldon's apartment, only to learn they've let a hot girl (Katie, not Penny) crash there. Assuming they're trying to sleep with her, Gilda becomes jealous to the boys and hostile to Katie.
Even though Gilda was meant to be a regular, her quirky geekiness was pretty similar to Sheldon so it was wise to have her axed. However, Gilda was reworked into the character of Leslie Winkle, who served as Leonard's rebound and Sheldon's science rival.