Mayim Bialik facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayim Bialik
Bialik in 2018
Born	Mayim Chaya Bialik (1975-12-12) December 12, 1975 (age 49) San Diego, California, U.S.
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BS, PhD)
Occupation	Actress author
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Michael Stone ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2013)​
Children	2
Scientific career
Fields	Neuroscience
Thesis	Hypothalamic Regulation in Relation to Maladaptive, Obsessive-Compulsive, Affiliative, and Satiety Behaviors in Prader-Willi Syndrome (2007)

Mayim Chaya Bialik (born December 12, 1975) is an American actress, author, and former game show host. She is well-known for playing the main character in the TV show Blossom from 1991 to 1995. Later, from 2010 to 2019, she starred as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory. For this role, she won awards and was nominated for an Emmy Award four times. Mayim Bialik also shared hosting duties for the game show Jeopardy! with Ken Jennings from 2021 to 2023.

Early life and education

Mayim Chaya Bialik was born on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California. Her parents were Beverly and Barry Bialik. Her family came from Jewish backgrounds in Europe. Three of her grandparents moved to the United States from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.

Mayim was raised in the Reform Jewish faith. Now, she considers herself Modern Orthodox Jewish. She had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony, which is a special coming-of-age celebration in Judaism. Her first name, Mayim, means "waters" in Hebrew. It came from a family nickname for her great-grandmother.

Bialik finished high school in North Hollywood, California, in 1993. She then went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience in 2000. She also studied Hebrew and Jewish studies.

After her bachelor's degree, Mayim continued her studies at UCLA. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in neuroscience in 2007. Her research focused on how the brain affects certain behaviors.

Career

Child actress and early roles (1987–2009)

Bialik at the 1989 Academy Awards rehearsal

Mayim Bialik started acting when she was a child in the late 1980s. Her very first acting job was in the 1988 horror movie Pumpkinhead. She also appeared in TV shows like The Facts of Life and Beauty and the Beast. From 1988 to 1989, she played Frieda in the sitcom Webster.

She also appeared in three episodes of MacGyver. In 1988, she played a young version of Bette Midler's character in the movie Beaches. Many people praised her performance in this film. She even appeared in the music video for Michael Jackson's song "Liberian Girl".

In 1990, Mayim got two big TV roles. She starred in the Fox show Molloy and the pilot for NBC's Blossom. Blossom became a hit show, starting in January 1991 and running until May 1995. Mayim played the main character, Blossom Russo.

After Blossom ended, Mayim mostly did voice acting for cartoons. She lent her voice to shows like The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Disney's Recess and Kim Possible, Johnny Bravo, and Hey Arnold!. She also had a recurring role as a high school guidance counselor in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

The Big Bang Theory (2010–2019)

Bialik at the Gracie Awards in 2011

In 2010, Mayim Bialik joined the cast of The Big Bang Theory. She played Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, a neurobiologist. Her character became a love interest for Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons). Amy's job as a neurobiologist was a fun nod to Mayim's real-life PhD in neuroscience.

Mayim's acting on The Big Bang Theory was highly praised. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series four times. She also won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2015 and 2017.

While working on The Big Bang Theory, Mayim also wrote several books. She co-authored two books with pediatrician Jay Gordon. Beyond the Sling is about a parenting style called attachment parenting. Mayim's Vegan Table shares over 100 of her vegan recipes. Her book Girling Up talks about the challenges and changes girls go through as they grow up. Its follow-up, Boying Up (2018), explores the science and challenges of growing up as a boy.

Jeopardy! host and director (2021–2023)

From May to June 2021, Mayim Bialik was a guest host for the popular game show Jeopardy!. In August 2021, it was announced that she would host the show's special prime-time episodes and spin-offs. She later shared hosting duties for the regular syndicated version of Jeopardy! with Ken Jennings. They continued to host together for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. In May 2023, Mayim competed on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and won money for a mental health charity.

Mayim Bialik also wrote and directed her first movie, As They Made Us (2022). The film is about a divorced mom dealing with her family and looking for love. It stars famous actors like Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergen, along with Simon Helberg, who was her co-star on The Big Bang Theory. The movie was released in April 2022.

In May 2023, Mayim temporarily stepped away from hosting Jeopardy! to support the Writers Guild of America strike. In December 2023, it was announced that she would no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!.

Advocacy and activism

Grok Nation

In 2015, Mayim Bialik started a website called Grok Nation. The goal of Grok Nation was to create a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to talk about important issues. It aimed to encourage online discussions that could lead to real-world actions and community change. The word "grok" means to understand something very deeply.

Veganism

Mayim Bialik is a vegan, which means she does not eat any animal products. She is also a founding member of the Shamayim V'Aretz Institute. This is a Jewish organization that supports the kind treatment of animals. In 2017, she and a vegan chef opened a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles called Bodhi Bowl. However, it closed in 2020 due due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life

In 2014, Mayim Bialik received an honorary degree from Boston University.

Marriage and family

Mayim Bialik married Michael Stone on August 31, 2003. Their wedding included traditional Jewish customs. Michael Stone converted to Judaism before they married. They have two sons together. Mayim returned to acting in 2010 so she could spend more time with her children. Mayim and Michael announced their divorce in 2012, and it was finalized in 2013.

Religious beliefs

Mayim Bialik has described herself as an "aspiring Modern Orthodox Jew". She has appeared in several online videos where she discusses Jewish beliefs. She also often writes for Kveller, a Jewish parenting website.

Vaccination beliefs

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayim Bialik stated that she planned to get vaccinated against the flu and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. She also mentioned that her children have received a "delayed" vaccination schedule, meaning they got their vaccinations over a longer period of time.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Video games

Podcast

Written works

Non-academic books

• Bialik, Mayim (2017) Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular. Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-0399548604.
• Bialik, Mayim (2018) Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-0525515975.
• Bialik, Mayim (2021) Flash Facts. DC Comics. ISBN: 9781779503824.

Academic works

• Bialik, Mayim Chaya (2007). Hypothalamic regulation in relation to maladaptive, obsessive-compulsive, affiliative, and satiety behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome (PhD thesis). OCLC 732917927. ProQuest 304879069.

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Mayim Bialik para niños

• List of artists and entertainers with advanced degrees