HBO’s hospital drama The Pitt racked up a total of 25 Emmy nominations on Wednesday, including 13 in acting categories. Among them is Tal Anderson, who received a nod for best guest actress — her first ever — for her portrayal of Becca King, the younger, autistic sister of Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Mel King.
“The recognition, it’s so hard to comprehend,” Anderson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “As an autistic actress in particular, it feels like a very big moment. Growing up, I never saw myself onscreen in any character. And I was so engrossed in everything I saw on screen; I loved every story I watched and fell in love with so many characters, but none of them were like me. So, this acknowledgement of my work, doing my best to tell the awesome story the writers on The Pitt gave Becca to tell, also seems like an acknowledgement of me and that it’s OK to be autistic, disabled and different,” she says. “I’m so grateful for that encouragement.”
Season two found Mel struggling with Becca’s independence, particularly as a sexually active young woman, when, during a trip to the ER, she learns her sister not only has a boyfriend but has been having sex. Mel also bumps heads with Dr. Frank Langdon (portrayed by fellow first-time Emmy nominee Patrick Ball) when he tells her he can’t reveal the private details of Becca’s care to her.
