mayim bialik education phd

Mayim Bialik

Who Is Mayim Bialik?

Mayim Bialik was raised in Los Angeles as a Reform Jew. Beginning her acting career as a child, she played a young version of Bette Midler 's character in the 1988 film Beaches , and went on to star in her own television show, Blossom , from 1990 to 1995. Bialik then pursued a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA and returned to acting, coincidentally playing neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory from 2010 to 2019.

American actress Mayim Hoya Bialik was born in San Diego, California, on December 12, 1975, to first-generation Jewish-American parents who raised her in Reform Judaism. She grew up in Los Angeles, and attended both public and religious schools.

Acting Career

'pumpkinhead,' 'macgyver,' 'beaches'.

Bialik began acting in the late 1980s. Her first acting job, in the horror film Pumpkinhead, was followed by numerous guest appearances on some of the most well-known shows of the 1980s and '90s, including MacGyver , The Facts of Life and Webster . In 1988 Bialik played Bette Midler's character as a young girl in the film Beaches , and she later appeared in a music video for the song "Liberian Girl," by Michael Jackson .

Bialik's breakout role was that of Blossom, the main character on the TV show of the same name. From 1990 to 1995, Bialik enjoyed Blossom 's success, as the show garnered high ratings: Her character, Blossom, was known as "the quirky girl with the signature flower hat."

After Blossom ended, Bialik did some voice-over work for cartoons and appeared as a guest star on several television shows, including Curb Your Enthusiasm , Fat Actress , Saving Grace and What Not To Wear .

'The Big Bang Theory'

Rededicating herself to acting, Bialik appeared in the season 3 finale of The Big Bang Theory in 2010, before joining the regular cast of the hit sitcom for season 4. Her character of neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Jim Parsons ' Sheldon Cooper, mirrored Bialik's real-life educational interests. Her performance on the show garnered her several Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

After her run on Blossom , Bialik took a step back from acting to focus on her school work: She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, despite gaining acceptance to both Harvard and Yale, in order to stay close to her parents and remain on the West Coast. Bialik earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, Hebrew and Jewish studies in 2000, and then went on to the university's Ph.D. program in neuroscience, which she completed in 2007.

Parenting and Religious Views

Having returned to the acting world's spotlight and asked about her religious views, Bialik confirmed that she aspired to be Modern Orthodox. She began writing for the Jewish parenting blog Kveller.com , and is a founding member of the Shamayim V'Aretz Institute, a center for Jewish spirituality.

In her book Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way , released in March 2012, Bialik presented her views on "attachment parenting," and provided insight into the way she and now ex-husband Michael Stone — who converted to Judaism prior to marrying Bialik in 2003 — raised their two sons, Miles and Frederick, together.

Just months later, in November 2012, Bialik announced that she and Stone were splitting in a blog post on kveller.com , writing: "After much consideration and soul-searching, Michael and I have arrived at the decision to divorce due to 'Irreconcilable Differences.'" The couple finalized their divorce in May 2013, after nine years of marriage.

Car Accident and #MeToo

Following an August 15, 2012, car accident in Los Angeles, Bialik suffered severe lacerations to her left hand and thumb. The media frenzy that ensued speculated that she could lose a finger as a result, but, using social media, Bialik confirmed that she would keep all of her fingers.

Following the explosive revelations of Harvey Weinstein 's behavior that sparked the #MeToo movement, Bialik in October 2017 penned an op-ed in The New York Times in which she discussed her experiences in an industry that objectifies women. However, she came under fire for noting how she dresses "modestly" and makes a point of not flirting with men, drawing responses from women who recalled how they were assaulted regardless of their behavior and clothes. Bialik subsequently apologized and participated in a Facebook Live discussion to clarify her points.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Mayim Hoya Bialik
• Birth Year: 1975
• Birth date: December 12, 1975
• Birth State: California
• Birth City: San Diego
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: American actress Mayim Bialik is best known for her roles in the film 'Beaches' and on the hit television shows 'Blossom' and 'The Big Bang Theory.'
• Science and Medicine
• Astrological Sign: Sagittarius

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• Article Title: Mayim Bialik Biography
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• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: June 30, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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Onetime child star Mayim Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience, then returned to acting on TV hit The Big Bang Theory —playing a scientist. It’s given her a unique view of women’s roles, in STEM fields and in general.

Why This 'Big Bang Theory' Star Got a Ph.D. in Science

Mayim Bialik tells Neil DeGrasse Tyson about transitioning from acting to neuroscience—then playing a scientist on The Big Bang Theory.

Neil deGrasse Tyson: So in your childhood, were there any science influences?

Mayim Bialik: There were a few. In junior high school I had a physics teacher who was very eccentric and would sometimes fall asleep while showing us slide shows, but he was a brilliant physicist. I went to a very unusual school: The 1980s sitcom Head of the Class, about a group of very smart and precocious children, was actually based on the school I went to. After junior high I had tutors on set because I was on this show Blossom from the time I was 14 to 19—

NT: No, you were not “on the show”—you were Blossom, to make that clear.

MB: Um, yes. OK. [Laughs]

NT: This saddens me. That one single person made a life difference to you—but how many students are missing that one person?

MB: The first answer is: Many girls are. I’m sure we could run the statistics on it. And that’s because of a historical difference in the representation of women in these STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] fields and probably a cultural bias on the part of teachers and administrators. I think there’s been a shift in education since I was in school in the ’70s and ’80s, but then it was like, Oh, you’re not naturally good at math? Better try English—how’s your Chaucer?

NT: There are people who presume that unless something comes easily to them, they should never pursue it as a career—without realizing that some of the greatest achievements you ever attain are because you busted ass to reach that point.

MB: Yeah. If I had not gone to college, I might have kept acting and been happy like that. But I loved going to UCLA and doing something that was very challenging academically. I loved doing research with adolescents with special needs—that was seven years of my life. It was exciting to get my Ph.D. in 2007. But in terms of time to raise my two sons, the flexible life of an actor was better than the long hours of a research professor.

NT: Fast-forward to 2010 and The Big Bang Theory. Who would have guessed how popular this show would become?

MB: Not me! I had never seen it before I auditioned.

NT: On the show you play Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, who’s a neuroscientist.

MB: She’s actually a neurobiologist … but I get to say neuroscience things.

NT: How much of your professional self do you bring to your character?

MB: Since the job of an actor is to present a character even if you’ve never been in that profession, I guess I have the easiest job—I don’t have to stretch that far.

NT: I try to imagine someone pitching the show idea to network executives: “Let’s have six scientists, and they’ll talk but you won’t know what they’re talking about, and they’ll crack jokes and they’ll laugh, but they won’t explain it to you.” I think it was low-hanging comedic fruit because no one had tackled it before.

MB: For sure. All the shows that I grew up with were about attractive people, and who had sex with who on which week. Meanwhile, our show is about the people who watch those shows.

The cast of geeky-scientist characters in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory includes neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) and her boyfriend, physicist Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

NT: Might there ever be room in your show for a female character who’s more sexualized—but also a full-on scientist?

MB: We did an episode where the Bernadette character, a microbiologist, poses for a “sexy scientist” photo shoot and Amy has a very big problem with it.

NT: I remember that episode. Your character, Amy, sabotages the photo shoot.

MB: That’s right. When I do advocacy for STEM careers for young women, I’m often asked, What do you think about [the sexy-scientist stereotype of] the white shirt open with the black bra underneath? And you know, I don’t knock women or scientists who want to do that. For me, that’s not the way that I choose to portray women in science. I don’t think that’s the only way to generate interest. It might be the only way to get a certain population of men interested in women in science … But it’s not a personal goal of mine to further that notion of women scientists.

But then I got older and understood. Marine biology, working with animals, working in the environment—all those things are science. You like engineering? You want to do coding? Knock yourself out. There are many STEM careers that involve a lot of variety and a lot of creativity. And that’s what I think we need to try and communicate to girls as young as possible.

NT: That was awesome! That’s like the whole show right there.

MB: Thank you. And I didn’t even have to take my clothes off to do it.

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Actress Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS' "The Big Bang Theory," visited UC San Diego on May 27 to share her story. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

‘The Big Bang Theory’s’ Mayim Bialik Shares Experiences as an Academic, Actor and STEM Advocate

She fell in love with the neuron during her first semester in college, and from there her passion for science took off with a bang. As a trained scientist, Mayim Bialik’s portrayal of neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” comes naturally. The show is currently the top-rated comedic television series in the nation, and Bialik uses her celebrity to serve as a female role model and advocate for STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math), a cause she feel strongly about.

Sixth College Provost Daniel Donoghue presented Bialik with an official proclamation stating that every year on May 27th the college will be known as "Mayim Bialik College" in her honor. Photo by Melissa Jacobs

The three-time Emmy-nominated actress was invited to share her story with the UC San Diego community on May 27 at an event sponsored by Sixth College. To acknowledge her visit, Sixth College was renamed “Mayim Bialik College” for the day of her appearance. More than 700 attendees gathered at RIMAC Arena for her talk, where she shared her experiences as the child star of the 90s show “Blossom,” the pursuit of her doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA and landing her current role on “The Big Bang Theory.”

“We invited Mayim Bialik to UC San Diego because she is highly educated and a great model for our students—plus ‘The Big Bang Theory’ is hugely popular, so it was a win-win,” said Dan Donoghue, provost of Sixth College. “Our goal was to create a memorable program for our students. Listening to Mayim speak as a strong advocate for STEM education, and particularly the challenges that confront many young women in high school and college, was very inspiring. We hope that she will feel a connection to our campus and want to come back each year on the same day—her day at Sixth College.”

The crowd sang the theme song to the “The Big Bang Theory” as Bialik took the stage, led by local guitarist Peter Sprague, bassist Mack Leighton and vocalist Leonard Patton. Sixth College student Oscar Bolanos and recent alumna Shayma Hesari acted as emcees for the event, and alumnus Jeff Curtis presented a basket of memorabilia from UC San Diego and Sixth College, including T-shirts with the phrase, “Mayim Bialik College 5/27.”

More than 700 campus and community members gathered at RIMAC Arena for Bialik's presentation. Photo by Melissa Jacobs

Sixth College promotes experiential and interdisciplinary learning among students and approached Bialik to speak because her career spans the arts, sciences and contemporary media. “Mayim Bialik is someone who embodies all three defining principles of Sixth College—culture, art and technology,” said Christian Olmstead, a Sixth College sophomore who served on the event planning committee. “She is an empowering female figure in the arts and sciences who helps to remind us that you can succeed by following your passions.”

Born in San Diego and raised in Los Angeles, Bialik started acting in 1986 with small parts in series like “MacGyver” and “Facts of Life.” Her star was launched after playing a young Bette Midler in the movie “Beaches,” which led to her being cast in the lead role in the NBC primetime show “Blossom” in 1991 at age 14. During that time she was tutored by a dental student from UCLA, the person Bialik credits not only for introducing her to the enjoyment of science, but also the way she learns.

“This was the person who made me believe I could be a scientist,” said Bialik. “I was never a terrific math or science student at all. I thought it was for boys; all the boys said so.” She continued, “I think having a female role model really helped me, too. To see this bubbly, excited person who just loved biology so much and this was her life. And it wasn’t just that she gave me that passion; she also gave me the skill set.”

According to the actress, science has remained the dominant force in her life, even as her fame as an actress has continued to skyrocket. She uses her celebrity as a platform to promote science education for all, especially young girls. Her goal is to put a female face on science and highlight the importance of educational equity. “Name a newspaper, name a magazine, they won’t do an article about STEM advocacy, but they will do an article about an actress on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and her love for STEM advocacy,” she said.

Before her formal talk, more than 200 students had the chance to attend a meet and greet with Bialik, where she posed for pictures and signed autographs. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

Before her formal talk, more than 200 students had the chance to attend a meet and greet with Bialik, where she posed for pictures and signed autographs. Students donned “Bazinga” shirts and struck funny poses with her—one asked if she would replicate a prom photo, to which Bialik enthusiastically complied. The reception included food based on her recipe book, “Mayim’s Vegan Table.”

Bialik admitted that she doesn’t watch television and had never seen “The Big Bang Theory” prior to being cast in the third season finale. She was brought on as a main character in the fourth season, along with Melissa Rauch who plays another female scientist, Bernadette. Contrary to rumor, Bialik says does not contribute to the script writing, though her cast mates always comment on the fact that she is the only one who “knows what everybody’s lines mean.”

Near the end of the presentation, students had the opportunity to ask the Bialik questions, which ranged from her favorite music to her most memorable fan encounter as well as more serious questions such as ethical challenges in neuroscience. She shared that the monkey used in several scenes on the show is named “Squirt,” and is the same star from the movie, “The Hangover.” She imparted that she cried when she met Stephen Hawking, who appeared on an episode in 2012. And when she was asked who she would switch lives with for a day if she had the chance, she jokingly replied in the guise of her character—“Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting!” (who plays Penny on the show).

On being both an actor and an academic, Bialik says that her first love will always be science.

“Once you become a scientist that becomes the lens through which you see the world, at least that has been my experience,” said Bialik “Once you know about what a rainbow is made of, every time you see one, that’s where your brain goes. I don’t think, ooh, what a pretty rainbow. I think about color and wavelengths and refraction.” She continued with, “I am definitely an artist…but it doesn’t color my world the way being a scientist does.”

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• Published: 30 May 2012

Turning point: Mayim Bialik

• Gene Russo  

Nature volume  485 ,  page 669 ( 2012 ) Cite this article

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14 June 2012 In the original version of this article, it wasn't clear that the quote about Stephen Hawking attributed to Kaley Cuoco was said by her character Penny during the show. This has now been rectified.

A Clarification to this article was published on 20 June 2012

Actress makes the shift from television to neuroscience and then back again.

Perhaps best known for her role as Blossom on the 1990s television programme of the same name, Mayim Bialik took the unusual step of turning away from television after the show ended to study science at university. Then, as she was about to earn her PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, Bialik became a mother. Although Bialik did get her PhD, parenthood ended her pursuit of a research post. It also led her to turn back to acting, this time on the scientist-centered comedy The Big Bang Theory.

How did you become interested in science?

I had tutors for every subject while I was working on Blossom . But it was a biology tutor who gave me the confidence to know that I could be a scientist — even though at first I had the feeling that science and mathematics were more for boys.

How did you end up doing a PhD?

Some of it was momentum. I studied neuroscience as an undergraduate. I was pleased to have a new life after Blossom . After that, I had to choose between medical and graduate school.

Were other students aware of your TV fame?

Blossom was a popular show, and most people knew who I was, even the professors. It was more acute as an undergraduate, but, with the exception of a few foreign graduate students, everyone knew who I was.

Did you have to overcome bias at university to be considered a 'serious scientist'?

I think some professors were harder on me than on other students. After I did poorly in an examination, I got some amazingly insensitive comments from a professor who basically said I was not cut out to be a scientist on the basis of this one test. Another professor brought his children to meet me after I did my final exam. That was actually kind of awkward.

Were you aware of how tough an academic career is?

Well, there is always a need for teachers, and that aspect of being a research professor was always something I was interested in. I figured that my husband and I would get into graduate programmes, and that I would eventually get a research and teaching job.

What role did the birth of your first child have in your decision to leave science?

I needed a lot of adjustment and recovery after giving birth. I was in the data-collection and analysis phase of my dissertation. It was hard. We never used child care, and we had decided that I was going to be the one to take care of our son. Of course, plenty of scientists go back to work after six weeks; new mothers' brains work just fine; but if you want to breastfeed on demand and be there for their formative years, it is hard to pursue tenure at the same time. I talked to some scientist mothers, who said they had chosen less-demanding career tracks. Being at home with your children can sometimes mean not reaching your academic potential. That is the reality. It may mean not running as big a laboratory or not having as many research projects going on.

You have studied the science of attachment behaviour in humans, the basis of your book Beyond the Sling . Did this actually end up pushing you away from science as a career?

Well, what I learned supported what intuitively felt right. Some women feel that if they want to compete in the workplace, they have to not give in to those intuitive feelings of 'I want to be with my child'. I didn't want to not give in.

Why did you return to television?

I wanted to be with my children. Also, we had finished graduate school, and needed health insurance — I got pregnant with my second son the week I filed my thesis. Once he was about one year old, I started going to auditions. All of us would pile into the car. I would breastfeed before running into the audition.

Your character in The Big Bang Theory is a neurobiologist. Did your background help you get the part?

The character wasn't a scientist when I first appeared on the show. When I came back the next season, co-creator Bill Prady made her a neurobiologist. He thought I could help fix things — the science details — if they got them wrong. We have a physics consultant on staff and our writers are generally very intelligent.

Why do you think it is important for a comedy to get the science right?

For a show about 'geekdom', it has to be authentic or it wouldn't work. Our physics consultant is David Saltzberg from the University of California, Los Angeles. Several of the writers happen to have science backgrounds or are just really well-read people. The show was co-created by Chuck Lorre, who loves details, and Bill, who is a genuine nerd from way back. So we are just a meticulous bunch.

Do you worry that the show reinforces scientist stereotypes?

From working in science, I know people who are like all of the characters. But it's entertainment, and it needs to be entertaining.

What was it like to meet British physicist Stephen Hawking when he was a special guest on The Big Bang Theory ?

It was a powerful experience on so many levels, especially to see his caregivers and to see how loving they are and how deeply cared for he is. He did smile at a lot of the jokes during the run-through. The biggest smile came when the character Penny — played by Kaley Cuoco — said, “I know who Stephen Hawking is! He's the wheelchair guy who invented time.”

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Mayim bialik shares her stem inspiration.

The Big Bang Theory actress speaks to the National Science Teachers Association

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By Bethany Brookshire

April 7, 2014 at 9:21 am

BOSTON – Mayim Bialik , an actress famous for her role as a neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory , actually has a neuroscience Ph.D. in real life. But, as she told attendees at the National Science Teachers Association meeting, here, getting that degree was challenging. Rewarding? Yes. But not every neuroscientist is a natural.

“I arrived late to the world of STEM [science, technology, engineering and math],” she says. Bialik explains that she felt talented in art and other subjects but “…when it came to science and math I really shrunk. It did not come naturally to me to understand science and math concepts. That leads to a lot of shame and lot of fear.”

Bialik credits her love of science with a single person: a young biology tutor. At the time, Bialik was a successful teen actress but needed coaching in her science class. “This woman was the first female role model I had,” Bialik recalls, “and it was literally that one woman…who gave me not only the skill set…but the confidence that I could be a scientist.”

She went on to study neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles. Now, as an actress on most watched television sitcom, Bialik seeks to break the stereotype of what a scientist is like. “I try to put a positive face on STEM and a female face in STEM,” she explains, “a lone scientist in a laboratory is not what science has to look like.” She also collaborates directly with scientists and Texas Instruments, sparking student interest with projects like Zombie Apocalypse . It introduces students to the principles of both neuroscience and infectious diseases.

But Bialik notes that while she revels in playing a scientist on TV, every educator has the capacity to become a STEM star in students’ lives. “We are all in a position to touch a student and make them believe in science,” she says. The Big Bang Theory might make the geek chic, but she argues that it really takes a science teacher to inspire.

Power Words

neuroscience  Science that deals with the structure or function of the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Researchers in this field are known as neuroscientists.

Ph.D.    (also known as a doctorate) Advanced degrees offered by universities — typically after five or six years of study — for work that creates new knowledge. People qualify to begin this type of graduate study only after having first completed a college degree (a program that typically takes four years of study).

Follow Eureka! Lab on Twitter: @eureka_labs

Mayim Bialik

Hebrew & Jewish Studies, Neuroscience

In a time when mental health issues are on the rise nationally, and even globally, the benefits of someone using their platform to speak about their personal experience has a ripple effect. And such is the nature of vulnerability. If one person has the courage to speak out about their experience and be open, it gives permission for the next person and so on.

Letting her personal experience and knowledge of neuroscience inform her advocacy, her podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, is her very own iteration of the Big Bang Theory, and it ripples.

Mayim Bialik, born on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California, is a multifaceted talent with a diverse background. Raised in a family that valued education, Bialik's passion for learning and the arts became evident early on.

She embarked on her academic journey at UCLA, where she pursued a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, showcasing her commitment to both intellect and creativity. While studying the intricacies of the brain, Bialik also explored her love for acting. Many remember her breakthrough role as the young Bette Midler in "Beaches," but it was her iconic portrayal of Blossom Russo in the hit '90s sitcom "Blossom" that truly launched her into the spotlight.

After a hiatus from the entertainment industry to focus on academia, Bialik made a triumphant return with a recurring role on the popular TV show "The Big Bang Theory." Her portrayal of Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler not only won hearts but also earned her critical acclaim and several award nominations.Beyond her acting prowess, Mayim Bialik is celebrated for her witty and relatable writing. She has authored books, including "Girling Up" and "Boying Up," where she combines her scientific knowledge with humor to navigate the challenges of adolescence.

In addition to her thriving career in entertainment and academia, Bialik is an advocate for various social causes, using her platform to promote mental health awareness and encourage girls to pursue STEM fields. In a delightful anecdote, Bialik once shared that her interest in neuroscience started when she portrayed a young neurosurgeon in the film "Don't Drink the Water." This on-screen experience ignited her curiosity about the brain, ultimately leading her to pursue a Ph.D. in the subject.

Mayim Bialik's journey is a fascinating blend of intellect, creativity, and a genuine passion for making a positive impact. Whether on-screen, in the lab, or through her advocacy work, she continues to inspire others to embrace their multifaceted talents and pursue their passions with enthusiasm.

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by Michele Byers Last updated June 23, 2021

Actress, author, and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, 2018.

Mayim Bialik is an American actor, writer, and neuroscientist. Bialik began acting as a child and rose to fame when she starred in the sitcom Blossom in the 1990s. After the series ended, she pursued higher education, culminating with a PhD in Neuroscience. As an adult, Bialik became more religiously observant, eventually identifying as Modern Orthodox, something she would later write and speak about publicly. After completing her PhD, Bialik returned to acting. In 2010 she began playing the role of Amy Farrah-Fowler on the hit sitcom Big Bang Theory . Bialik has written books and articles on childhood, parenting, food, and other subjects. She has been criticized for her writings about Arianna Grande and the Harvey Weinstein case, as well as for her promotion of a form of attachment parenting.

Actor, writer, and neuroscientist Mayim Chaya Bialik was born December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California, to a primarily Eastern European Jewish family. Her parents, Barry Bialik and Beverly Winkleman, grew up in The Bronx, where their own parents had landed after immigrating from Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. While raised Reform, Bialik later came to identify as Modern Orthodox. She has one brother, Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik, who is an artist living in California.

Early Career

Bialik came to most people’s attention as a child actor in the 1980s and 1990s, first as the young version of Bette Midler ’s C.C. Bloom in Beaches (1988) and then as the quirky title character in the sitcom Blossom (1990-1995).

Mayim Bialik, like many young sitcom stars, was by turns awkward and wholesome, precocious and star turned. In her pictures she was often styled in a way that conjures Barbra Streisand . She is stunning and stylish, and yet not conventionally beautiful (especially by the standards of the 1980s). Her characters tend to be quirky—always more Amy (the awkward, academic character she later played in The Big Bang Theory ) than Penny (the blond bombshell in Big Bang ). Later, Jewishness and observant Jewishness became the subject of her own and others’ scrutiny (and part of her celebrity brand).

Academic Accomplishments

After graduating from North Hollywood High School and wrapping Blossom , Bialik attended UCLA, earning a BSc in neuroscience with Minors in Hebrew and Jewish Studies. She eventually completed a PhD in Neuroscience at UCLA, graduating in 2007 with a doctoral dissertation entitled Hypothalamic Regulation in Relation to Maladaptive, Obsessive-Compulsive, Affiliative, and Satiety Behaviours in Prader-Willi Syndrome . In interviews, she noted that while she had assumed her career trajectory would be academic, a return to acting offered her the work/life balance she wanted as a mother.

Return to Acting

As luck would have it, a perfect role was right around the corner: Amy Farrah-Fowler, the neuroscientist girlfriend of theoretical physicist (and lead) Sheldon Cooper, in the surprising network hit The Big Bang Theory. She joined the cast in 2010, for season four, and stayed for the next nine seasons. Big Bang catapulted her back into the celebrity spotlight.

Return to celebrity offered Bialik a host of possibilities other than acting that might never have occurred had she steered the less recognized course towards academia. She published several books, including Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parent Way (with Jay Gordon, 2012), Mayim’s Vegan Table (with Jay Gordon, 2014), Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular (2017), and Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant (2018); she also wrote regularly for Jewish parenting website Kveller and founded the website GrokNation , an online magazine about “contemporary issues” featuring blog posts on subjects like “embracing imperfection,” “My first mammogram,” “Life after ‘Big Bang Theory,’” and “I don’t have just one BFF, I have many, and that’s okay.”

Controversies and Complexities

Return to celebrity life was not entirely easy for Bialik, and she has been embroiled in a number of controversies. In 2014, in a blog post on Kveller , she juxtaposed her “liberal” but “old-fashioned” modest, maternal self with Arianna Grande, commenting on a billboard she had recently seen: “I will go ahead and admit I have no idea who she is or what she does. Based on the billboard, she  sells lingerie . Or stiletto heels. Or plastic surgery because every woman over 22 wishes she has that body, I’m sure. Why is she in her underwear on this billboard though? And if she has a talent (is she a singer?), then why does she have to sell herself in lingerie?” While Bialik does not connect her critique to Orthodoxy in this piece (beyond mentioning that “my kids have clothes they only wear to synagogue”), the link is implicit, particularly given that religious observance has been so much a part of Bialik’s brand in recent years. The post was widely reported, but writers expressed less incredulity at Bialik’s critique of Grande than of her claim to have no idea who the pop star was.

More serious pushback came 2017 when, in response to emerging allegations about Harvey Weinstein, Bialik wrote a controversial Op Ed for The New York Times . In that piece, she wrote, “I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy.” Some saw this particular part of her piece as victim-blaming, suggesting that ways of dressing and acting are what lead to rape and sexual assault; actors Gabrielle Union, Patricia Arquette, and Emily Ratajkowski responded angrily on Twitter. Author Ijeoma Olou and others took issue with what they saw as Bialik’s suggestion that she was never assaulted or harassed because she wasn’t conventionally beautiful or sexy. Bialik responded to the storm by insisting that hers had always been a feminist voice.

Bialik also made headlines as an advocate of attachment parenting when she wrote about some of her unconventional ideas, including “diaperless potty-training, co-sleeping, and child-led weaning,” as well as “babywearing” and “no yelling or time outs” (Li 2012). Bialik has also talked about the complexities of being a feminist and of being religious in Hollywood. (See, for example Josephs 2019, Saad 2015, Stone 2015.) Religion is hardly invisible in Hollywood, but, in general, it has been stories about religious people (i.e. Big Love, Unorthodox ) rather than the religiosity of celebrities themselves that have been of interest. The relative paucity of representations of (even Modern) Orthodox Jews in mainstream mass culture only underscores this divide. Bialik herself has tried to live at this intersection. While an extremely successful artist, she has repeatedly pointed to the unique situation she finds herself in, as one of the few observant, working actors in Hollywood.

Jewish Religiosity on Screen

A systematic screening of Big Bang reveals some fascinating (and funny) female-identified characters. But this Jewish-helmed series could only find a space for Jewishness to be explicitly present as Jewish masculinity (through the character of Howard). What would Big Bang have been like if Amy could have been Amy… but Jewish? Maybe instead of a Carrie -esque mother who locked her in the closet and who wrote, in her yearbook: “Dear Amy, self-respect and a hymen are better than friends and fun. Love, mom” (5003 “The Pulled Groin Extrapolation”), Amy could have had science-loving Jewish parents, who gloried in her desire to cut up brains and figure out how things worked and bragged about it to all their friends and neighbours. The hilarious possibilities for scenes in which Sheldon and Amy plan their wedding, bringing Amy’s Jewish relatives together with Sheldon’s Texan mishpocha making a chuppah out of a flag, and signing a Ketubah written in Klingon, cannot be denied. Mayim Bialik certainly does not need to play Modern Orthodox Jewish characters, but this may have been a missed opportunity for Big Bang .

The comedic possibilities of Bialik’s Modern Orthodox identity are revealed in an episode of the little-known Canadian webseries, Yid Life Crisis . The series is set in contemporary Montreal; its two main characters are Chaimie and Leizer, Yiddish-speaking, somewhat traditional (Leizer) and somewhat iconoclastic (Chaimie) Jews. In the second season episode “Double Date,” Bialik appears as Chaya (her real middle name), a neurosurgeon seeking a partner who shares her “traditional Jewish values.” She has been set up on a blind date with Leizer, but Chaimie comes along too. In a reversal of the typical religious match-making interview, she interviews them. At one point, the two men take out their cell phones, and pretend to talk to their mothers while actually talking about her, in Yiddish, to each other. She watches, a strange look on her face, and then takes out her own cell phone, and responds to them, in Yiddish, via her own “mom,” stating that: “She is stuck with two schmendriks, wasting her time.” They all put away their phones, and she continues, asking them a barrage of questions in Yiddish. As the episode ends, she stands and says: “OK gentlemen, I think I have everything I need. I’ll be in touch and I’ve already taken care of the cheque.” “Wait,” they clamour after her, “That’s it? We didn’t get to ask you any questions.” To which she responds: “Oh, you’ll get the opportunity to do that next time... And I may choose to show you that I am warm, affectionate, sensitive, charitable, pretty witty, and very, very sexy… but it really just depends on how it goes.”

“September 1994.” JustSeventeen , Sept. 30th, 2016. < https://justseventeen.tumblr.com/post/151151089591/september-1994-we-tr… ;

< https://superradnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tumblr_l1tp2jxvbp1qz7q2… ;

Yidlifecrisis.com

Bialik, Mayim. “Mayim Bialik: Being a Feminist in Hervey Weinstein’s World.” Op-Ed. New York Times, October 13, 2017. < https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/mayim-bialik-feminist-harvey… ;.

Bialik, Mayim. “The Problem With That Giant Billboard of Ariana Grande.” Kveller . September 12, 2014. < https://www.kveller.com/mayim-bialik-the-problem-with-that-giant-billbo… ;

Faghaly, N. and Eden Leone, eds. The Sexy Science of Big Bang Theory: Essays on Gender in the Series . Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2015.

Josephs, Allison. “Excvlusive Interview with Mayim Bialik on being most Observant Actress in Hollywood.” Jew in the City, May 22, 2019. < https://jewinthecity.com/2019/05/exclusive-interview-with-mayim-bialik-… ;

Li, Anita. “Big Bang Star Mayim Bialik writes controversial parenting book.”  https://www.thestar.com/life/2012/03/06/big_bang_star_mayim_bialik_writ…

McIntosh, Heather. “Representations of Female Scientists in The Big Bang Theory .” Journal of Popular Film & Television 42 (4) 2014: 195-204.

Saad, Nardine. “Mayim Bialik on Religion in Hollywood.” Los Anegeles Times , August 24, 2015. < https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/mayim-bialik-feminist-harvey… ;

Sartain, Jeffrey A. “Geeksploitation: Gender and Genius in The Big Bang Theory .” Genius on Television , edited by A. L. Carlson, 96-112 Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2015: 96–112.

Spiegel, Julia. “The Big Theory on the (Not So) Bangin’ Jewish Mother.” In The Sexy Science of Big Bang Theory: Essays on Gender in the Series . edited by N. Faghaly and Eden Leone, 51-71. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2015.

Stone, Natalie. “Mayim Bialik: It’s not ‘trendy to be observant or religious’ in Hollywood.” CNN.com , August 25, 2015. < https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/entertainment/mayim-bialik-religious-thr… ;

Weitekamp, Margaret A. “’We’re Physicists’: Gender, Gender and the image of scientists in The Big Bang Theory.” The Journal of Popular Television 3 (1). 2015: 75–92.

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How to cite this page

Byers, Michele. "Mayim Bialik." Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women . 23 June 2021. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on November 8, 2024) <https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/bialik-mayim>.

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Mayim Bialik’s educational background is as illustrious as her acting career. The Big Bang Theory star is not only known for her portrayal of the quirky neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on the hit show, but also for her impressive academic achievements. From studying neuroscience and Hebrew studies to earning a Ph.D., Bialik’s educational journey has been nothing short of inspiring. Let’s take a closer look at the educational path that has shaped the multifaceted talent of Mayim Bialik.

Mayim Bialik’s Early Education and Academic Achievements

are a testament to her strong intellect and passion for learning. She attended Walter Reed Junior High School in North Hollywood, where she excelled in her studies and demonstrated a keen interest in science and mathematics.

After completing junior high, Bialik went on to graduate from North Hollywood High School with honors. During her time there, she was actively involved in the school’s drama and debate clubs, showcasing her diverse range of talents and interests.

Following her high school years , Bialik pursued higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience, Hebrew, and Jewish Studies. Her dedication to her studies and her impressive academic accomplishments at UCLA set the stage for her successful career in both the entertainment industry and the scientific community.

Mayim Bialik’s educational background reflects her commitment to both her artistic pursuits and her scholarly endeavors, highlighting her multifaceted talents and unyielding intellectual curiosity.

Higher Education and Specialized Studies of Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik, best known for her roles in “Blossom” and “The Big Bang Theory,” has an impressive educational background to match her successful acting career. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she conducted research on obsessive-compulsive disorder in adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome. Bialik’s passion for science and education is evident through her academic achievements and career choices.

In addition to her Ph.D., Mayim Bialik also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Her dedication to higher education and specialized studies showcases her intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning. Bialik’s educational background has undoubtedly contributed to her ability to portray the intelligent and quirky characters she is known for on screen.

Furthermore, Bialik is also an advocate for STEM education and has used her platform to promote the importance of science and education, particularly for young girls. Her background in neuroscience and her advocacy work make her a role model for those interested in pursuing higher education and specialized studies in the STEM fields. Mayim Bialik’s educational journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring students and professionals alike, demonstrating the value of academic pursuit and lifelong learning.

Influence of Mayim Bialik’s Educational Background on her Career

Mayim Bialik’s educational background has played a significant role in shaping her career as an actress, author, and neuroscientist. Bialik holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, which has not only informed her portrayal of the character Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory but has also fueled her passion for advocating for women in STEM fields.

Her educational background has also influenced her work as an author, with Bialik penning several books on topics such as attachment parenting, veganism, and her experience as a neuroscientist. In addition, she has used her platform to promote the importance of education and encourage young people, especially girls, to pursue their interests in science and technology.

Furthermore, Bialik’s academic achievements have provided her with a unique perspective on the entertainment industry, allowing her to approach her career with a depth of knowledge and understanding that is not common among many Hollywood stars.

Implications of Mayim Bialik’s Education for Future Generations

Mayim Bialik’s educational background is an inspiration for future generations, as it showcases the importance of pursuing higher education and the impact it can have on one’s career and personal growth. Bialik, best known for her roles in “The Big Bang Theory” and “Blossom,” holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish Studies from UCLA, as well as a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the same university.

Her educational journey is a testament to the value of pursuing a diverse range of interests and the doors that can open as a result. Bialik’s background in both the arts and sciences highlights the potential for individuals to excel in multiple disciplines, challenging traditional notions of specialization.

Furthermore, her experience serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and dedication in achieving one’s educational goals. Bialik’s pursuit of higher education while also maintaining a successful acting career exemplifies the possibility of balancing multiple passions and commitments.

Overall, the are far-reaching, emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary learning, dedication to personal growth, and the potential for individuals to pursue diverse paths in their careers and education.

In conclusion, Mayim Bialik’s educational journey is a testament to the importance of pursuing knowledge and utilizing one’s intellect. From a young age, she showcased a thirst for learning and her passion for education only continued to blossom throughout her academic endeavors. Through hard work, perseverance, and a keen interest in science, Mayim managed to excel in her studies, earning degrees in Neuroscience, Hebrew, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA.

Bialik’s educational pursuit was not without challenges. Despite facing the demanding nature of her acting career, she managed to balance her professional commitments with academic rigor. Her determination to succeed led her to explore various facets of higher education, actively engaging in research and publications that contributed to the scientific community.

With her extensive knowledge in neuroscience, Mayim Bialik became a vocal advocate for education, particularly for girls and underrepresented groups in the STEM field. Her unwavering dedication to promoting intellect and academic growth has successfully inspired countless individuals to pursue their own educational endeavors.

Mayim Bialik’s educational journey not only highlights her intellectual capabilities but also serves as an inspiration for those who aspire to balance multiple passions successfully. By proving that one can attain a thriving career in both the entertainment industry and academia, she challenges societal norms and encourages individuals to pursue their unique passions without compromise.

As we reflect on Mayim Bialik’s remarkable educational journey, it becomes evident that education is a lifelong pursuit that knows no boundaries. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination, hard work, and passion, one can break barriers, challenge expectations, and achieve greatness in any field they choose. Mayim Bialik’s impact extends far beyond her successful acting career, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of education and inspiring countless individuals to follow in her footsteps.

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The Entire Truth of Dr. Mayim Bialik

Scientist and actress discusses new girling up book.

Posted May 9, 2017

For years, Dr. Mayim Bialik has been challenging our notion of what it means to be a girl and woman.

In a world that has a clear bias against women in science, Dr. Bialik received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA. And in a world that presents few and stereotypical roles for women in television and movies, Dr. Bialik has a long history of playing norm-challenging characters. From her portrayal of a young, outspoken and ambitious CC Bloom in the movie Beaches to her role as Blossom Russo in NBC’s Blossom – a teenage girl living in a house run by men after her mother left to pursue a new life and career – to neurobiologist Amy Farah Fowler in CBS’s The Big Bang Theory , Dr. Bialik has been presenting us with a different perspective on girls and women for 30 years.

And now with her new book, Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular , Dr. Bialik is continuing in this tradition – by challenging stereotypes and trying to tell the entire truth about what girls face while growing up.

There is a critical need for a different perspective. Too often, girls and women face cultural stereotypes that suggest what they can or should do, resulting in bias and discrimination , particularly in academic and work settings. And the effects are severe; not only does discrimination against girls and women result in worse physical and mental health, but also in lower pay and opportunity to be hired for jobs.

For Dr. Bialik, stereotypes against women are not an abstract concept, but rather they are hurdles that she personally faced early on both as an aspiring neuroscientist and actress. “The roles for women, especially in television and movies, have been fairly narrow for most of entertainment history. I grew up watching the sitcoms of the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and females were either the slut or the nerd – and there was nothing in between,” Dr. Bialik said. “We’ve come a long way, but our perception of women is pretty narrow. And women have been historically underrepresented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field for a lot of reasons.”

At the same time that girls and women face bias and discrimination in work and school, our culture over-emphasizes physical appearance. In particular, throughout history, random body ideals for women have been presented in culture, contributing to body image dissatisfaction among girls and women. In fact, negative views of one’s body are so pervasive among women that this is often referred to as “ normative discontent .”

Dr. Bialik reflected on how she experienced having to compare herself to conventional societal norms of female attractiveness . “As an adult, I don’t look like a lot of women. I have ethnic features. I’m several dress sizes larger than your average actress in Hollywood … being a non-traditional looking female can be a challenge in a culture that really celebrates conventional leading ladies and attractiveness,” Dr. Bialik described. “I think part of that is having a broad understanding of how significant culture is. And how much notions of what is considered attractive varies by culture … One of the most confusing things, especially for young children, and for teenagers as well, is when their reality is not reflected by the adults around them.

“We’re not seeing entire truths presented to them.”

When culture emphasizes the importance of female attractiveness and presents a rigid concept of what is attractive, while also de-emphasizing the notion that girls and women can achieve at school and work, it can be difficult for girls and women to feel in control of their lives and self-concept . And so, Dr. Bialik wrote Girling Up as a way of presenting a fuller view of her experience growing up and the science of female development, in order to help girls and women gain back a sense of control.

“That was a goal of the book … to present all sides of a perspective – of growing up or ‘girling up’ as we called it – but also a lot of the more complicated aspects of growing up and in particular growing up female, with all of the challenges to body image, and our more modern progressive understanding of what it is to cope with things,” Dr. Bialik explained. “The general purpose of this book was to empower young women with information – having more information and understanding yourself as part of a whole.

“I hope that’s what young women and the people who love them will take away from this book – a full treatise on what it is to be female.”

As such, Dr. Bialik talks about a range of issues such as sexuality , menstruation and body image. “The notion for me was to present all aspects of what it means to process information – in particular, sexual information, romantic information. What is emotional intimacy ? We’re growing up in a culture that is already wired to make us think – especially with women – there’s this certain way we should be,” Dr. Bialik explained. “Even something as simple as knowing how your menstrual cycle works and why, and what happens if it’s not right … Even the section on body image and the emphasis on breasts and things like that. I do mention that in the twenties, breasts were not in. I do mention that those things shift and fluctuate. And the idea is to be comfortable and understand that variability is normal in the female body. That’s actually something we have with the illustrations of the book. There are girls of every size, shape, color and variety represented.

“I specifically said I don’t want drawings of only skinny white people.”

Talking about difficult issues that are often ignored, and presenting a more full and complete explanation of how girls develop can be empowering – something that helps regain control from societal bias. “Those are sometimes some of the most empowering things that we can know about. A lot of those things in our culture in particular are pushed to the side. We shouldn’t see it. We shouldn’t talk about it. But that’s the general notion of this book – that when you know some things – whether it’s about your body, about dating , about the world, about the ways other cultures perceive stress – those are the ways that we know ourselves better,” Dr. Bialik said. “I wanted to take the focus off of, this is the society you’ve been thrust into – how do you adjust to it? I really want to focus on, this is the structure of how our society frames us, especially with women – and here’s what you can do to take back your control.”

Dr. Bialik hopes that rather than need to conform to stereotypes, girls and women celebrate their individuality. “Celebrating what’s special. … I share a lot of the experiences I’ve had in my life – divorce , death – it’s something as an adult I’m seeking to figure out, as an adult who doesn’t quite fit in with many other adults,” Dr. Bialik explained. “I think the notion of finding differences and being comfortable with what is special about you is so important.”

Girling Up is just another step in Dr. Bialik’s taking on these broader societal issues. In 2015, she established a website GrokNation , which has and will continue to address issues that young people face. And she hopes that more role models step forward to challenge societal bias and discrimination.

“Part of what I do not only as an actress who is a scientist, but also someone with a public platform … is to put a positive face on female scientists, and all of the amazing things that happen when you choose to live your life as a scientist,” Dr. Bialik described. “So I think the more positive role models we can have, and the more women who speak up about how they got into positions like that and what their life is like is important. And I think it’s important for us to have mentors and women we can look to to say, ‘You’re a scientist and you’re a mom? How did you do it? You’re a scientist and you work with animals? What does that look like?”

Ultimately, she’s optimistic that people are getting the message. “We are going to grow up and be in a world where we are half of the population. And the perspective that women have is unique, and should be fostered and cared for when we are young,” Dr. Bialik said. “With so much emphasis being on sexualization and clothing and dating and all of those things, it’s important to acknowledge that there is a very big world that women are going to be part of. When we grow up, we become women of the world. Then all of the decisions we make are impactful.

“And things that we do matter.”

Michael A. Friedman, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with offices in Manhattan and South Orange, NJ, and is a member of EHE International’s Medical Advisory Board. Contact Dr. Mike at michaelfriedmanphd.com . Follow Dr. Mike on Twitter @drmikefriedman .

Michael Friedman, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist specializing in how social relationships influence mental and physical health.

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The Famous Info

Mayim bialik bio, wiki, age, height, husband, children, net worth, blossom and jeopardy.

Mayim Bialik is an American actress/neuroscientist/author best known for playing neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory.

Mayim Bialik Biography

Mayim Bialik is an American actress, neuroscientist, and author who is best known for playing neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory from 2010 to 2019. She also played the title character of the NBC sitcom Blossom from 1991 to 1995.

Mayim Bialik Education

Bialik attended North Hollywood High School in North Hollywood, California where she graduated in 1993. She then joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) after being granted a deferred acceptance at the University in acknowledgment of her acting commitments. In 2000,  Bialik earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, with minors in Hebrew and Jewish studies.

Bialik then went on to study for a doctorate in neuroscience wherein in 2005 she took a break from studies to return to acting. She then went back to earn her Doctor of Philosophy degree in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2007.

Mayim Bialik Blossom

Bialik played the title character of the NBC sitcom Blossom from 1991 to 1995. The show premiered as a mid-season replacement on January 3, 1991, and aired until May 22, 1995. She has as well appeared in several YouTube cameos as Blossom and Amy Farrah Fowler asking questions about Jewish beliefs.

Mayim Bialik The Big Bang Theory

Bialik played neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory from 2010 to 2019. She first appeared in the season 3 finale as a potential love interest for the character of Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). She became part of the main cast beginning with the 8th episode of season 4.

For the latter role, Bialik earned her Emmy Award nominations in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2015 and 2017, she won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Mayim Bialik Beaches

In 1998, Bialik appeared in Beaches, playing Bette Midler’s character as a young girl. Many contemporary reviews singled out Bialik’s performance as a strong point in an otherwise emotionally contrived and formulaic film.

Mayim Bialik Jeopardy

On August 11, 2021, it was announced that Bialik will host the primetime version of Jeopardy!, while executive producer Mike Richards will host its syndicated daily shows succeeding Alex Trebek. Will continue co-hosting the show alongside Ken Jennings in 2022.

Mayim Bialik Call Me Kat

Call Me Kat is an American sitcom that is mainly based on the BBC UK original series  Miranda by Miranda Hart. In the sitcom, Bialik takes up the main character Kat who is a 39-year-old single woman who is expected by society and her mom to be married by now and have children. However, for many reasons, she is still single and okay with that, thus she is her mother’s (Sheila) personal failure.

Kat struggles every day against society and her mother to create a balance between her fulfilling life and her unending sense of loneliness. In addition, she used all of her savings to open a cat café in Louisville, Kentucky, and is focused on living a fulfilling life.

Mayim Bialik Books

As an author, Bialik has written two books with pediatrician Jay Gordon and two by herself. Her book, Beyond the Sling, is about attachment parenting, while Mayim’s Vegan Table contains over 100 vegan recipes. Girling Up, which is her third book is about the struggles and ways in which girls grow up while showing the scientific ways in which their bodies change. In 2018, she released The successor to Girling Up, Boying Up which analyzes the science, anatomy, and mentality of growing up as a boy and discusses the physical and mental changes and challenges boys come across while transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

Mayim Bialik Age

Bialik is 46 years old as of 2021. She was born Mayim Chaya Bialik on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California, United States. She celebrates her birthday on the 12th of December every year.

Mayim Bialik Height

Bialik stands at a height of 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m or 163 cm) tall.

Mayim Bialik Family

Bialik is the daughter of Barry and Beverly (née Winkleman) Bialik. Bialik’s family were Jewish immigrants who resided in The Bronx, New York City, and three of her four grandparents migrated from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.

Mayim Bialik Jew

Bialik was brought up as a Reform Jew but she now considers herself Modern Orthodox Jewish. Her name, Mayim (“water” in Hebrew), originates in a mispronunciation of Miriam, her great-grandmother’s name.

Mayim Bialik Husband / Mayim Bialik Michael Stone

Bialik was married to Michael Stone from 2003 to 2012. The two tied the knot on August 31, 2003, in a Victorian-themed ceremony that included traditional Jewish wedding customs. They divorced in November 2012.

Mayim Bialik Boyfriend

Bialik is in a relationship with Jonathan Cohen who is a poet, writer, and futurist. When Bialik was asked about her single life by Jewish News Syndicate, she told them: ” I am in a relationship. I got divorced eight years ago, so I’ve been single plenty in my life.”

Bialik and Jonathan co-host a Spotify podcast called Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown. “The podcast is me using my science brain to break down concepts and talk about the myths and misunderstandings that we have about mental health,” Bialik has said about the podcast.

Mayim Bialik Children

Bialik and Michael Stone have two sons, Miles Roosevelt Bialik Stone (born in 2005), and Frederick Heschel Bialik Stone (born in 2008). In 2010, she returned to television so she could spend more time with her children. Bialik said, “I’m glad that I completed my Ph.D. and I’m very proud of it, but the life of a research professor would not have suited my needs in terms of what kind of parenting I wanted to do.” She also explained that her “health insurance was running out”, via the COBRA program. Bialik had sought out Screen Actors Guild (SAG) health insurance for herself and her sons, Miles, and Frederick.

Mayim Bialik Net Worth

Bialik has an estimated net worth of $25 million which she has earned through being an actress, neuroscientist, and author.

Mayim Bialik Vaccines

Bialik admitted to not vaccinating her children but despite that, she clarified that she’s vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mayim Bialik Podcast

Bialik has a podcast called Bialik Breakdown, it is a quirky, informative, and interactive podcast.

The table below answers some of the frequently asked questions about Bialik.

Mayim bialik movies and tv shows, bialik movies.

• 1988: Beaches – playing a role as Young Cecilia “CC” Carol Bloom
• 1988: Pumpkinhead – playing a role as Christine Wallace
• 1990: The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten – playing a role as Petey
• 2006: Kalamazoo? – playing a role as Maggie Goldman
• 2011: The Chicago 8 – playing a role as Nancy Kurshan
• TBA: As Sick As They Made Us

Mayim Bialik Tv Shows

• 1987: Beauty and the Beast – playing a role as Ellie
• 1988: The Facts of Life – playing a role as Jennifer Cole
• 1990: Molloy – playing a role as Molloy Martin
• 1990–1995: Blossom – playing a role as Blossom Russo
• 1994: Don’t Drink the Water – playing a role as Susan Hollander
• 1995–1996: The Adventures of Hyperman – playing a role as Brittany Bright
• 2010: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – playing a role as Herself / Expert
• 2010–2019: The Big Bang Theory – playing a role as Amy Farrah Fowler
• 2011: The Dog Who Saved Halloween – playing a role as Medusa
• 2014: Candid Camera – playing a role as Host
• 2021: Call Me Kat – playing the role as Kat
• 2021: Jeopardy! – playing a role as Herself

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Mayim Bialik -

One of the joys of acting is the chance to create a truly indelible character. Realistically speaking, few performers are afforded this opportunity during their careers; even fewer are able to actually pull it off. Mayim Bialik is two-for-two. As a teenager in the early 1990s, she played the title role on the hit NBC series Blossom. In the ensuing decade-and-a-half, she focused on her education (she has a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA) and started a family—but kept her hand in the acting game. In 2010, Mayim played an unnamed character in the final episode of Season 3 of The Big Bang Theory . During hiatus, the show’s producers realized they had stumbled upon a “love interest” for quirky theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper. In Season 4, Mayim’s character got a name (Amy Farrah Fowler) and a job (neuroscientist!), and brought new depth and dimension to an already sparkling ensemble cast. Gerry Strauss caught up with her over the summer as she wrapped up Season 9 of the series.

EDGE: Unlike many child actors, you had a relatively normal childhood.

MB: Yes, I had a normal elementary school kind of life. I was active in school plays. I felt comfortable in drama class when we had to do plays and stuff, but I was not a hammy kid. I wasn’t an exceptionally outgoing or theatrical kid. When I would meet other child actors they were very theatrical and always kind of “on.” That wasn’t me at all. Actually, I’m considered a late bloomer for a child actor because I started acting when I was almost in junior high school.  Even though I was in Beaches when I was 12—and that came out when I was 13—I had just started acting about a year before that. Most child actors have been acting since they were toddlers. That’s a very different kind of personality. It’s a different kind of structure, as far as how you’re raised and the expectations of you.

EDGE: Did that help you avoid some of the pitfalls other young actors often experience?

MB: I do think part of it is that I wasn’t in the industry for my formative years. I had a different kind of perspective on it. As I said, when people start acting and they’re always given expectations and given positive reinforcement for being good—and negative reinforcement for not obeying direction—I think that sets up a complicated system. For me, my parents are first-generation American, so I come from a pretty strict immigrant mentality. My parents tried to still have me do chores and homework and all the things that kids do. I wasn’t emancipated—a lot of teenagers at 15 get to be considered legal adults if they’re in the acting world—my parents didn’t do that. Also, I wasn’t really a party person, so I wasn’t around drugs and alcohol. I think I was also really lucky that on the Blossom set I was 14 to 19 years old, and I never saw anyone drinking or doing drugs. They had a very clean set, and I think that’s really important.

EDGE: At what point did you start thinking about acting as a career path?

CBS/Warner Bros. Television

MB: I didn’t think of having a career. I knew that I liked acting in school plays, and I thought, “Oh, I should be an actress—kids do commercials and stuff like that.”  I had no idea that I would have my own television show by the time I was 14. None of that was part of any grand plan at all. There are so many talented people in this industry, the chances of succeeding are so rare. I didn’t see any of that. It really just happened very quickly. Once I got Beaches , I felt like everything kind of free-fell, and all of a sudden I went from just being this kid who liked acting to a person with her own TV show.

EDGE: In that year before Beaches , you made your screen debut in the horror movie Pumpkinhead.

MB: Yeah, I had five lines. When you start acting, you try out for any audition. It was a very small part, because you don’t get big parts when you first start. I didn’t have the typical path to success that most child actors do in commercials and things because, in 1986, when I started, there was a notion that people on television needed to look what they called “All-American.” I didn’t look All-American. I’ve always had prominent features and I’ve always looked ethnic, so I ended up doing a lot of character roles on shows like Webster and Facts of Life. That’s why there are things like Pumpkinhead on my résumé, because as a young character actress you do quirky things instead of generic commercials.

EDGE: In Beaches you played Bette Midler as a girl. Did you realize what a big deal that was?

MB: Not really. My parents had always said I look like Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand, so I knew who Bette was. I didn’t really think I looked like her. I thought I looked like myself with a red wig (laughs). I had seen some of her movies, but I didn’t really grasp the full notion that I’d be on a big screen, or that people would be considering the film for awards and things like that. I think I’ve only maybe seen it all the way through once, at the premiere (laughs). It’s just not my kind of movie.

EDGE: Did you have to deal with the celebrity crush young TV stars do today?

MB: It felt very intense because I was a teenager and those are the hardest years of your life—so to live them publicly is very hard. But no, it wasn’t fame like people think of fame now. Our show was not a Top 10 show. Our show was not even a Top 20 show. We didn’t get that much attention, not like people do now. We also did that show at a time when there was no Internet, so the notion of celebrity as something fascinating, that just literally didn’t exist. Of course, we got recognized everywhere we went. If you go places where young people are, they’re going to recognize you. But no, it wasn’t the same as being on The Big Bang Theory . There was no notion of anyone caring what our personal lives were like. It just wasn’t like that then.

EDGE: After the series, you moved on—to school, to marriage, to motherhood and other endeavors away from the limelight. Did you lose your passion for acting?

MB: I made a conscious decision to leave acting because I wanted to pursue a degree in neuroscience. I had other interests, as everyone tends to, and I think women in particular should be encouraged to try lots of different things—especially with the under-representation of women in science. It just felt like an amazing opportunity. I took 12 years off, and I also had two children, so that became my main job in life. I’m very happy to return to acting and to be acting again, but my heart is still as a mom. That’s how I think of myself primarily, as a mom with two kids. They’re now seven and nine and a half, and I still do a lot of work in advocacy for STEM [Science Technology Engineering & Math] and things like that. I wasn’t planning on being a regular on a TV show again. But I’m very grateful that I’m employed now as an actor.

EDGE: The character that brought you back in the public eye was Amy Farrah Fowler, who would become a very unique counterpart to Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory . How did you get that role?

MB: I was called to audition for this part along with hundreds of other actresses in Hollywood who were trying to get work. I didn’t get any special offers. I went and auditioned with a bunch of other women. The initial part was in the finale of Season 3 and it was maybe six lines. The character didn’t have a name, she didn’t have a career or a job—we didn’t really know anything about her—so I was just brought on to do these few lines. They didn’t even know if this character would continue.

EDGE: In Season 4, Amy starts as a female version of Sheldon. Over time, we’ve learned that she has a very emotional, even somewhat bawdy side to her. Have you had any reservations about some of the outrageous things that have come out of Amy’s mouth?

MB: Not really. As an actor, you have to sort of do whatever’s on the page. There are things I’m not great at as an actor, and those are things that our director, Mark Cendrowski, gets to work out with us. Acting drunk was not easy for me, but we made it through that. A lot of the things that Jim [Parsons] and I have where Amy and Sheldon are more intimate, I don’t want to say that those are difficult or out of my comfort zone, but those are new things for us as actors together. There are always new things to learn, and I guess that’s the fun thing about having a great job like this one. Our writers are constantly challenging us, and I’m fortunate to be working with amazing actors who are ready to take on that challenge.

EDGE: Do you have any input in the fleshing-out of the Amy–Sheldon relationship?

Photo by James Banasiak for EDGE Magazine

MB: None. As actors, our job is to take a script and make it right, make it funny in how it performs. Every single thing that you see that you love is an expression of our writers. There’s a little bit of all of our characters in each of our writers, and that’s what you’re seeing. They’re really, really talented people, and they seem to me a lot more like a group of intellectuals or academics rather than a group of comedy writers. They’re just a really smart, interesting group of people and they’ve produced all of these characters.

EDGE: Big Bang has impacted popular culture in some interesting ways. It has shown science and scientists in a very positive and relatable light. It has also validated “nerd culture” for lack of a better term. What else do you feel the show has accomplished?

MB: Well, I think our show demonstrates that there’s someone for everyone. We have these characters who—a lot of people would acknowledge—are the kind of people that get teased and left out of things. We are showing a group of characters that all have jobs and they have romantic relationships and they have social lives, and no one’s trying to medicate them or change them. Of course, they’re not always happy with the way the others act, but it’s not a show about changing people who are different. It’s about living with people who are different. And I think that’s really special. I also think the Amy and Sheldon relationship might be the longest running non-sexual intimate relationship we’ve seen on television. I think that’s really sweet. It shows a lot of patience and it shows a lot of love. Obviously, last season’s finale shows that Amy’s a little bit fed up and needing to take some time to think. But for the most part, it’s a very interesting relationship we’ve shown.

EDGE: Your audience knows you so well from sitcoms, which makes me wonder: Do you think of yourself as a comedic performer who acts, or as an actor who happens to do comedy?

MB: Gosh, that’s a hard question. I guess I would prefer the more general term “actor.” But obviously, I’m known for being a comedian. But when I think of “comedian,” I think of people like [Big Bang co-star] Melissa Rauch, who’s an amazing comedian. She’s a stand-up, and when she goes on a talk show she can tell stories and anecdotes and things like that. I don’t think of myself as a comedian like that, but I guess I’m an actor known for comedy. How’s that?

EDGE: A lot of doors are open to you now. What type of work would you like to do going forward?

MB: There are a lot of things I haven’t done. I haven’t really done movies as an adult. I haven’t really done drama as an adult. As I said, I also do a lot of advocacy for science and women in science, so that’s something I might explore. So yeah, there’s a lot left to do.

Editor’s Note: Gerry Strauss has interviewed a number of television stars for EDGE in the past two years, including Lisa Kudrow and New Jerseyans Wendy Williams, Laura Prepon and Jason Biggs.

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ABOUT TRINITAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Trinitas Regional Medical Center , an RWJBarnabas Health facility, was established in 2000 following the consolidation of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. Previously in 1990, Elizabeth General acquired the Alexian Brothers Hospital, also in Elizabeth. The spirit of the three Elizabeth hospitals lives on in Trinitas, a major center for comprehensive health services for those who live and work in Central New Jersey. Trinitas is a Catholic teaching medical center with Catholic oversight provided by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. With 12 Centers of Excellence across the continuum of care, Trinitas has distinguished itself in cardiology, cancer care, behavioral health, renal care, nursing education, diabetes management, wound healing, breast health, senior's healthcare, women's healthcare, and sleep medicine.

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