Melissa Rauch

Melissa Rauch is an American actress and comedian known for her role as Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. She was born in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, to Susan and David Rauch, and attended Frank Defino Central Elementary School and Marlboro High School. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from Marymount Manhattan College.

Rauch began her career in 2006, appearing in productions like VH1's Best Week Ever and the film I Love You, Man. In 2009, she joined The Big Bang Theory as a recurring guest, playing the girlfriend of Howard Wolowitz. Her character became his fiancée the next season, and Rauch was promoted to series regular. The couple married in the season five finale. In December 2011, she was nominated with the cast for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Beyond television, Rauch has acted in True Blood, The Office, and the American remake of Kath & Kim. She also appeared in Wright v. Wrong and has been part of the stage show The Realest Real Housewives, which began at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in 2011. She is married to writer Winston Beigel, who collaborated with her on The Miss Education of Jenna Bush. On Instagram, she has amassed 2.6 million followers.