While Howard Wolowitz was an overly confident — and rather creepy — chauvinist in the early days of "The Big Bang Theory," in reality actor Simon Helberg is much more reserved and self-deprecating. "I think [my wife] finds it hilarious that I could be that confident with the ladies," he joked to Under the Radar, "because she sees my neurotic, insecure side."

Unlike the faux machismo of Howard, Helberg has been open about his struggles with self-esteem, particularly when it comes to his performances. "If I'm awful, don't ever tell me," he told The Guardian in 2016. "I'm deeply insecure. I ask my wife all the time: 'Was that OK? Are people lying?'" Such anxieties have been exacerbated by the toxicity of social media and internet trolls, with Helberg having found himself on the receiving end of online hate. As such, he steers clear of Twitter.

Accordingly, the actor has admitted that he struggles with a lingering sense of self-doubt that has only worsened with his rise to fame. "The more pressure that exists, the more eyes on you, the more criticism that is out there, it gets more intense," he told Spotlight@SDA. "So you're succeeding, but it can be a whole mess of emotions, like, 'Do I deserve this? Am I good enough?'" In time, he was able to utilize his insecurities for his performances and reclaim his neuroses.