The Big Bang Theory: 8 Moments That Were Completely Unscripted
5. Bernadette's High-Pitched Voice
It's always amusing seeing people react with shock when they hear Bernadette actress Melissa Rauch's real speaking voice for the first time, given that it's far from the distinctive high-pitched squeak that she puts on for the show.
Despite seeming like such an inextricable aspect of the character, the original audition notes for Bernadette said nothing about a squeaky voice, and it's something Rauch came up with entirely by herself. She said:
"That was something that I came in with on my own. That was something I did in the audition and then ran with it."
Though Bernadette's original voice on the show was considerably closer to Rauch's real voice, the squeakier version was later eased in, and according to the actress was actually an exaggerated version of her own mother's vocal register. She added:
"Bernadette's voice is very similar to my mother's, except without the Jersey accent. It's not quite that high, but it's in that tone, that range."