Sepideh Moafi has earned her first Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in the medical drama "The Pitt." The nomination marks a significant milestone, making her the first Iranian woman and the first woman from the Middle East to be recognized in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. Moafi's journey to this point has been marked by years of dedication to her craft, including periods of significant financial and emotional struggle.
Moafi joined "The Pitt" in its second season, portraying a veteran attending physician who arrives to take over for Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) during his sabbatical. The actress described the experience of joining an established show as both overwhelming and exciting. The Emmy nomination itself was a moment of disbelief for Moafi, who initially missed the announcement while watching the livestream with her parents.
"It’s actually kind of funny because I was watching the livestream with my parents, and we didn’t realize that they were only doing a select number of categories," Moafi recalled. "You know when you’re watching something on YouTube, and you get a call, and it just pauses? That kept happening because my team kept calling me, and I kept declining their calls. I would text them like, ‘You guys, I’m watching the broadcast. Hang on.’" Little did she know, those calls were carrying major news.
Reflecting on her career, Moafi shared a story from a difficult period in Los Angeles when, after a grueling audition schedule and two car accidents, she considered quitting acting. Her mother's advice, "So don’t do it," followed by "Good. Then find a way," has stayed with her, reminding her of the perseverance required to pursue her passion. This Emmy recognition, she stated, is not just about the award but also about reflecting on her 25-year career and the hard work it entailed.
Moafi found a strong connection to her character, Dr. Al-Hashimi, despite noting they are "couldn’t be more different." Both were newcomers to the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, but Dr. Al-Hashimi's first day was fraught with conflict as she clashed with Dr. Robby over new protocols and technology, all while concealing a neurological condition that caused her to experience seizures. Moafi identified with the character's hyper-focus, attention to detail, and tenacity, as well as her awareness of potentially being misunderstood due to her values, such as advocating for AI in medicine.
Working with the show's writers, Moafi's Iranian American background and advocacy experience were woven into Dr. Al-Hashimi's backstory. The character is a half-Iranian, half-Iraqi humanitarian doctor who has worked in conflict zones. Moafi explained that her character's experiences, including her own seizure disorder, have not hardened her but rather softened her, deepening her empathy and commitment to care. "Her own neurological condition has made her even more caring and understanding, and made her live in close proximity to her own mortality, having the experience of being both patient and doctor in these situations," Moafi said.
While Dr. Al-Hashimi's condition is portrayed as a source of her compassion, her relationship with Dr. Robby deteriorates throughout Season 2, culminating in a confrontation where he threatens to report her to the hospital. Moafi confirmed that her character will return for the upcoming third season, hinting that the unresolved tension with Robby will be explored.
The series has also sparked discussions online about workplace dynamics, particularly regarding Dr. Robby's interactions with his female colleagues. Moafi believes the show mirrors real-life situations, stating, "I personally don’t think Dr. Robby is a misogynist. I think the system is misogynistic, and he is functioning within the system that he has learned misogyny." She sees this as a nuanced exploration of how individuals function under pressure within flawed systems, which are prevalent in healthcare and other industries, including Hollywood.
Moafi expressed pride in portraying a character who challenges Hollywood's often "simplistic" approach to diversity. "Diversity isn’t about who appears on screen," she said, "it’s about broadening the range of human experiences that we’re allowed to see. … These experiences just deepen the complexity of the character rather than reduce them to a single identity."
As "The Pitt" continues into its third season, Moafi looks forward to audiences seeing how the characters metabolize past events and how dynamics shift, reflecting the complexities of life. She hopes her portrayal of Dr. Al-Hashimi offers a more nuanced representation of women from her region of the world, emphasizing shared human experiences over superficial differences.