Annie Potts Calls Young Sheldon Star Iain Armitage 'Difficult' — With Love

Annie Potts, who played Meemaw Connie on CBS's "Young Sheldon," says co-star Iain Armitage "was difficult" at times on set — because he was a child carrying an adult's workload. Her frank assessment appears in a newly released excerpt from Jessica Radloff's oral history, "Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw's-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy," published via US Weekly.

"Young Sheldon" aired its final episode in May 2024 after seven seasons. Armitage was eight years old when the series began, playing the titular Sheldon Cooper — the child prodigy at the center of the "Big Bang Theory" prequel.

What did Iain Armitage say about the experience?

Armitage, now reflecting on the run, called the role a heavy burden for someone his age.

"It was a complete privilege to be on this show and play this character, but yes, it was a big undertaking for an 8-year-old," Armitage said. "I always did the best that I could, and sometimes kids are not perfect. I was grateful to the people who understood that and gave me grace."

He also described his bond with Raegan Revord, who played his twin sister Missy Cooper across all seven seasons.

"Raegan was so much fun to have as a sibling. It definitely did feel like a sibling relationship, and Rae was kind of the only other person on set who understood exactly what we went through, from being on set to going to school," Armitage said.

Did the on-set 'sibling' relationship include friction?

Revord confirmed it did. "It was nice to have someone who understood that process," she said. "But like siblings, you bicker and stuff happens. If you spend 12 hours, five days a week on a set, there's going to be arguments, and people are going to have clashing opinions."

Why does Annie Potts say the pressure explains his behavior?

Potts placed the tension in context: the entire show revolved around Armitage. "That is a lot for a little person to manage psychologically," she said.

"He was asked to work and carry the weight of something that would be difficult for an adult, and we know that a lot of behavior comes out in situations like that," Potts continued. "Yes, sometimes he was difficult. But I've worked with grown-ups who were a lot worse. Sometimes I think he was tired, and sometimes I think he pushed people, and people were kissing his ass! It's a very challenging situation to be 9 years old and be expected to work, behave, and think like a grown-up. And I say that with absolute love and respect."

What comes next for the franchise?

The show's success outlived it. The prequel inspired its own spinoff, "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," which premiered in 2024.

Radloff's book arrives Oct. 20, promising a fuller account of the production — and, if the excerpt is any measure, a candid one about the costs of building a hit sitcom around a child actor.