Sarah Chalke Reflects on Taking Over Becky Role in Roseanne

Actress Sarah Chalke is revisiting her time on Roseanne, recalling the challenges of stepping into the role of Becky in the 1990s after Lecy Goranson had already made the character a fan favorite. Chalke joined the sitcom in 1993 during its sixth season, after Goranson left to attend college. While Goranson occasionally returned, Chalke carried the role through much of the sixth season and later appeared in the eighth and ninth seasons.

Audience Reactions

Speaking on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s on Me podcast, Chalke admitted that the transition wasn’t easy. “There was for sure a lot of opinions,” she said. Without social media at the time, reactions came in person. She recalled being heckled at a Freedom Tibet rally: “Someone yelled at me, ‘I like the first Becky way better.’ And I was like, ‘OK, yeah. She was fantastic. I agree.’” The heckler later apologized, admitting he had always wanted to yell at an actor.

Naivety Helped Her Cope

Chalke explained that her youthful naivety helped her handle the pressure. “I think the only reason I was able to even go and do the job was because I didn’t fully comprehend the pressure cooker that situation was,” she said. Despite the criticism, Chalke embraced the role and continued to appear in later seasons. When Roseanne was revived in 2018, she returned in a different role on The Conners.

Career Beyond Roseanne

Chalke went on to star in the medical comedy Scrubs, which ran from 2001 to 2010. The series became a cult favorite, cementing her place in television history. Now, Chalke is reuniting with her Scrubs co-stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison for a revival premiering February 25, 2026, on ABC. Her reflections highlight the unique challenges of stepping into an established role, as well as the resilience required to navigate audience expectations.