Sepideh Moafi, an Emmy nominee for her role as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in the HBO Max drama 'The Pitt,' has spoken about the demanding nature of portraying a character who must suppress her emotions.

Moafi's character faces significant internal conflict throughout the second season, particularly as she experiences seizures on the job, posing a risk to her patients. A pivotal moment occurs in episode seven when Dr. Al-Hashimi struggles to maintain composure in a hospital bathroom, feeling as though the "ground cracking and crumbling beneath her" while she tries to hold it together during a demanding shift.

Another challenging scene involved a conversation with Dr. Robby, played by Noah Wyle, in episode thirteen. After experiencing a second seizure, Dr. Robby probes whether she has anything else to disclose. Moafi described this as a particularly difficult scene to act, as her character initially attempts to conceal her condition. "The best I’ve ever had to lie to him," Moafi stated, explaining the high stakes of feeling under a microscope in a life-or-death situation, where the fear of losing everything prompts deception.

However, the lie proves short-lived, as Dr. Al-Hashimi's true nature compels her to reveal the truth. This leads to Dr. Robby informing her that she cannot continue working in the emergency department, driving, or performing other daily functions due to her condition. The consequence of this revelation triggers a more direct emotional breakdown for her character in the final moments of the season finale, "9:00 p.m.," where she is seen in her car.

Moafi, who is nominated for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series alongside her co-stars Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, and Fiona Dourif, said she had long desired to play such a complex role. She found portraying a character who internalizes emotions more challenging than expressing them. "The reason we get into this is because we’re expressive, emotive people," Moafi explained. "Being able to sort of contain that and hold that and surf the volcano beneath the surface all season was a challenge and it was intensely gratifying."

She recounted instances where she would leave work feeling the need to "scream into a pillow or cry," only to return to set and reapply the emotional control. The opportunity to explore such a "complicated, multifaceted woman with such rich inner life was intensely gratifying."

Moafi also noted the audience's connection to her character, suggesting that many people can relate to holding things in and hiding aspects of themselves depending on the situation. She expressed excitement and gratitude for the appreciation her performance has received.

'The Pitt' Seasons 1 and 2 are available for streaming on HBO Max.