From Nervous Rookie to Steely Doctor: Taylor Dearden Reveals the Real ‘Mel’ in ‘The Pitt”s Toughest Shift
Dearden’s portrayal of Mel is not just about medical knowledge—it’s about a battle within. This is a character whose professionalism and intelligence are constantly tested by the weight of her personal life. After all, it’s her sister who is at the heart of Mel’s mission to prove she belongs in the hospital’s demanding world. But what makes Mel even more compelling is how real she feels. She’s not a perfect, polished doctor—she’s a real person, someone whose anxiety and desire to get everything right can sometimes make her miss a beat. And for Dearden, that human aspect of Mel is what makes her so easy to root for.
Dearden explains that her character’s first day on the job is far from easy. “It’s already the hardest day because she wants to make a good impression,” she reveals to Hollywood First Look. “She’s finally in a position where her sister’s care is in a hospital that fits what she wants to do.” Mel’s internal conflict is apparent from the beginning. We see she wants to succeed and prove her worth in a new environment where every decision could be life or death. “This has to work,” Dearden emphasizes, echoing the mental struggle that Mel faces throughout the show.
Despite being a skilled doctor, Mel’s nerves are real, and Dearden captures this in every scene. The pressure of that first day is something Dearden says she channeled into her performance, even if the nerves were her own. “I’m curious too,” Dearden says with a laugh, reflecting on the process of developing Mel’s backstory. “Usually, I have to make up the rest, but this was given to us.”
The Pitt’s depiction of medical life stands out in a way that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. “We had two weeks of medical boot camp,” Dearden says. “And I just picked every doctor’s brain like crazy.” From death to trauma, she immersed herself in the gritty realities of being an R2, trying to get in Mel’s head for every moment on screen.
Dearden worked to perfect the medical terminology and the character’s emotional depth. Her vulnerability and drive demanded attention. The actress notes that Mel is “so anxious to get everything right that she might miss stuff.” Dearden credits that anxiety for making her character feel grounded. “I’m too neurodivergent not to get into the weeds of it,” she adds, hinting at the layers of the character that Dearden herself identifies with.
When it comes to The Pitt, everything down to the set design feels eerily realistic. According to Dearden, the hospital set was designed to make actors—and viewers—feel as though they’re stepping into a real-life ER. “It’s like regular hospital fluorescence. And you know what? It adds to the character,” she says, smiling at the memory of being on set.
Dearden recalls what it was like learning the reality of what happens in an ER. What shocked her most was all the nudity. “I never realized that when patients come into the ER in a life-and-death situation, they’re immediately stripped of their clothes. It adds so much vulnerability and fear to the moment.” For Mel, who’s constantly navigating high-stress situations, these raw moments reflect the kind of person she is—someone who’s constantly juggling her medical knowledge with the anxiety of being human. It’s this humanity that makes Dearden’s portrayal of Mel so authentic.
This role has proven to be a turning point for Dearden, and she’s loving the ride. “I can’t watch a medical show now without talking back to the TV,” she says with a grin. “I’ve learned so much about medicine. Like the fact that you never shock asystole. They always do that on TV, but you just don’t.” Dearden’s newfound medical knowledge is a far cry from her days watching hospital dramas as a casual viewer, but it’s indicative of her approach to playing Mel: nothing is left to chance. Every detail matters.
Dearden is excited about Season 2 but admits she knows nothing about where Mel’s journey will take her. “They don’t tell us anything,” she laughs. “We found out from people texting us that we’re coming back for Season 2. So, yeah, we’ll see what happens.” What Dearden is certain about, however, is the deeper dive into her character and relationships. “I think settling with characters in a second season is important. You get to know everyone well enough to just go deeper.”
As the second season looms, Doctor Melissa “Mel” King remains one of The Pitt‘s most intriguing figures. She’s the kind of character you want on your side in a hospital—competent, smart, and, yes, human.
