Kaley Cuoco on Turning 40: Parenting and Empathy

Kaley Cuoco has shared her thoughts on the impact of turning 40, describing it as a period of significant personal growth. In a recent interview, the actor explained that she has become more empathetic and less judgmental as she has aged. She believes this shift has positively influenced her role as a mother.

Cuoco, who welcomed her first child later in life, noted that life experience has deepened her understanding of others. She also revisited comments made in a previous interview regarding her approach to health and fitness. The discussion highlights a broader trend among Hollywood figures who have found new perspectives through the aging process.

Turning 40 has brought a new outlook on life for Kaley Cuoco. In an interview published on Saturday, the actor discussed the differences between entering her fourth decade compared to her third. She recalled her thoughts on turning 30 and contrasted them with her current feelings.

Cuoco stated that the aging process has fundamentally changed how she interacts with the world. "It's funny — turning 40, it's a weird thing," Cuoco said. "I remember when I turned 30, and I had all these thoughts about life. And then you turn 40, you're like, 'Oh my God, life is so different now.'"

She attributes this shift to a reduction in judgment and an increase in compassion. "When we're 20 or 30, we judge everything right? So, I think turning 40 has made me so much less judgmental and empathetic," she explained.

The actor believes that her increased empathy has directly benefited her role as a parent. Cuoco shares a daughter with her fiancé, Tom Pelphrey. She noted that having a child a little bit later in life allowed her to utilize her accumulated life experience.

"I feel like my heart got 10 times bigger the older I got," Cuoco said. She added that living through different stages of life deepened her understanding of what other people experience. "You see things differently, and you understand people in a way you can't when you're 20 or 30."

Despite the challenges of parenting, Cuoco expressed gratitude for her current stage of life. She described the realization of these changes as something that cannot be understood until it is lived.

Beyond her emotional growth, Cuoco has also become more conscious about her physical health since becoming a mother. In a November 2023 interview, she discussed the importance of exercise, even when it feels difficult.

She admitted that exercising doesn't always feel easy, but she maintains the routine for her well-being. "But then I remind myself that it's just an hour of my day, and like eating, it's important for my body and my heart," Cuoco said.

Cuoco emphasized the positive feeling that follows a workout. "You never leave a workout and go, 'I wish I didn't do that.' Even if it wasn't the workout you envisioned, even if it was a little bit more low-key. Getting a good sweat sets the whole tone for the day."

Kaley Cuoco is not the only star in the industry to discuss how aging has reshaped their perspective. Other prominent actors have shared similar sentiments regarding their experiences with growing older.

In early December, Jodie Foster spoke about her transition into her 60s. She noted that her 50s felt difficult as she struggled to measure up to her younger self, but turning 60 brought a significant change. "I turned 60, and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. Everything changed," Foster said.

More recently, Kate Winslet discussed turning 50. She told Newsweek that the milestone reshaped her definition of success and self-worth. Winslet now views success as "pulling it off, being a decent person," and having time for friends and family.