Kaley Cuoco has given hope to nerds everywhere with her winning performance as Penny in The Big Bang Theory. A pin-up in the California girl mold for those with explosive synapses, the heroine of the CBS comedy is the heart at the centre of this hugely popular show. And the 26-year keeps giving, because this photo shoot she's kindly done for the March edition of Zooey magazine is bound to go up on a few walls.

Kaley told Adelaide Now how the show has brought out her inner nerd. She said: 'I think we all have different moods - a nerd one day and cool the next. I think everyone has an inner geek and I know I definitely do. I think we all have a little bit of the characters within us.' And she added about the show's evolution: 'Originally it was just the cute girl next door and the show started that way.'Over the years things have changed, I've dated one of the characters, we're all friends now and it took me a while to get into their group but now Penny is one of them and they all have a special relationship with her.'Before explaining her vision for the future: 'Deep down I want Penny and Leonard to end up together.

 Knowing the crazy, genius mind of (creator) Chuck Lorre that may or may not happen. And I would like to see Sheldon kiss a girl.' Cuoco is set to wed Josh ‘Lazie’ Rusnik after the speech therapist in October.The actress and her addiction specialist fiancé are said not to have set a date for their nuptials and little information about the engagement has been revealed. Kaley, who find fame on the hit show 8 Simple Rules, previously dated her Big Bang Theory co-star Johnny Galecki after meeting him on set.The relationship ended after two years.

 The actress was also dating Chris French from the band Annie Automatic and the couple bought a dog together. After Kaley broke her leg horse-riding Chris was on hand to help her recover and the couple even recorded a song together for the Humane Society of the United States. Kaley has played Penny on the hit Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series since 2007.