HBO’s The Pitt has earned 25 Emmy nominations this year for its second season, leading all programs for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Among the nominated actors is Tal Anderson, who plays Becca King, the twin autistic sister of Dr. Melissa “Mel” King (Taylor Dearden). Anderson’s portrayal earned her, her first Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category for the episode “5:00 P.M.”
Anderson is autistic, and since entering Hollywood, she’s been a consistent advocate for change and for garnering support for inclusion and authentic representation both in front of and behind the camera. Her first Emmy nomination further solidifies her impact and commitment to inclusion. “I’ve had a lot of great moments in my life, but nothing compares to this. Being recognized for doing this work means a lot to me. But the best part is being able to celebrate with everyone,” she tells me.
Anderson first received the news at her house among friends. While she was excited to hear of the nomination, she credits the intentional work of the entire cast and crew at The Pitt. “These nominations belong to the whole team at the pit, and also to my personal team. I mean, you don’t get here alone. Nobody does, because successfully reaching people and touching them with a story or character is a team effort. And I’m so grateful for everyone and the opportunity to be part of it,” she says.
For the actress, beyond the personal milestone, this recognition means acceptance for the autistic community in Hollywood. “This recognition means so much to my autistic and disabled community because it feels like acceptance for being who we are. It’s validation that we deserve to be seen and heard. Hopefully, it also means that people are open to hearing more honest and authentic disabled perspectives, and I think that part is so wonderful,” she stated.
Anderson is aware of how her character has resonated deeply with audiences, and has intentionally shaped her role in The Pitt to create a lasting impression. “Even though we’re both autistic, Becca and I are very different people with different circumstances. I try to find a place where we can both exist, where we’re the same, so it’s easier to understand where she’s coming from when I bring her to life,” she said. “Becca has a right to be Becca without my judgment or anyone else’s, for that matter. So it’s my job to bring her to life the way she is, the way she’s written, and when I can do that using my own personal lived experience, it strengthens her existence. So I’m always ready to defend her, or defend my choices when depicting her. I’m also always ready to explain my choices at times when our shared experience shines through.”
Anderson’s scenes with Dearden are among the show’s most memorable. According to the actress, they developed an authentic sibling dynamic by centering empathy for one another. “Taylor is super easy to get along with, as a person. She’s very honest and authentic, and as an actor, she’s really professional and serious about work. She also seems to understand me and is kind and supportive, so she naturally feels like a sister in our interactions. I mean, I think it’s just because she’s good at her job and a really great person. What makes portraying the relationship between Mel and Becca special is that they are both so different and the same; they’re twins, they love each other, and they’re orphans, so they only have each other. So that’s been really fun to explore. It’s kind of an unbreakable bond, but that doesn’t mean they can’t act like sisters and fight and have different opinions, and I have two brothers, so it’s been really fun to have a sister,” she shared.
As The Pitt returns for another season, Anderson is most proud of her personal growth and belief in herself as an actress and person. “It’s taught me to believe in myself and my ability to bring a unique perspective into my work and make my character’s voice louder. It’s convinced me that being authentically myself on set was absolutely the best choice I’ve ever made, and it’s also taught me that, by some kind of miracle, people are interested in my perspective and what I have to say. I’ve learned that I have a lot to say, and that maybe I should be saying more, more often about the things that are important to me,” she said. “That new confidence makes me want to write more and produce. Right now, I’m focusing on getting used to forever being an Emmy-nominated actress and getting ready to celebrate all the achievements and successes of all the cast and crew of The Pitt in the coming months. Because I know there’s going to be a lot of achievements.”
For Anderson, when people look back on her career years from now, she hopes they see her body of work as meaningful. “I hope what they notice is that as an actress and as an advocate for my community, I was consistent in my work. And my message, you know, which is that everyone deserves to go to a theater or turn on a TV and see someone on screen who they can relate to,” she said.
