Taylor Dearden has stepped into the world of medical dramas with her role as Dr. Mel King in The Pitt, and fans are loving it. Known for her roles in Sweet/Vicious and American Vandal, Dearden takes on a completely new challenge in the Max series, playing a socially awkward but incredibly determined resident. In an exclusive interview with Pop Culture Unplugged, Dearden opened up about the audition process, the fast-paced nature of medical dramas, and what’s ahead for her character.
Landing the Role of Dr. Mel King
With The Pitt making waves, Dearden reflected on the journey that brought her to the show.
“I think in general, every actor just wants a job,” she laughed. “I’m just lucky that the job that wanted me was this one.”
Unlike previous roles where she was often cast as the sarcastic, punky character, Mel was something entirely new for Dearden.
“I’ve never played a character like Mel, ever,” she admitted. “It was really fun to step into something completely different. But also, medical? Daunting. Very daunting.”
Her audition process was a whirlwind, especially given the unpredictability of casting timelines.
“I auditioned a while ago as part of a group of auditions. When I got the callback, I almost forgot about it because so much time had passed. Then, suddenly, I was doing a producer session with Scott, John, and the big guys. After that, more waiting—and then, finally, I got it.”
Bringing Mel to Life: Social Anxiety and Medical Jargon
Dr. Mel King has already become a fan-favorite due to her anxious but endearing personality. However, Dearden revealed that the character was originally described quite differently.
“The description I got was ‘peppy,’” she said. “And I was like… I don’t even know how to play peppy. I can play anxious. I can do that really well.”
To make Mel feel authentic, Dearden leaned into her own neurodivergence.
“I just kind of played a less masked version of my anxiety. I figured if I couldn’t naturally do ‘cheerleader peppy,’ I could make her excitable and eager but in a more neurodivergent way.”
That unique approach has resonated with audiences, who see Mel’s nervous energy as both relatable and refreshing in the world of medical dramas.
Still, learning the medical dialogue and keeping up with the intensity of the show was a challenge.
“It’s Greek and Latin words, procedures I have no business even pretending to know,” she joked. “And it’s fast. Our scripts were like 70 to 90 pages for an hour-long episode, and then they cut it down to 45 minutes. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had.”
The Dynamic Between Mel and Dr. Langdon Frank
In the series, Mel shadows Dr. Langdon Frank, played by Josh Close, a senior resident with a strong personality. Their dynamic has become one of the most interesting mentorships on the show.
“Langdon has always wanted to be a mentor, but no one’s ever really taken the bait,” Dearden said. “Then he gets Mel, who is so eager to be mentored. She will follow him anywhere. And I think that finally gives him a sense of responsibility, which softens him in some ways.”
She also shared a funny behind-the-scenes story about filming the first episode.
“John whispered in my ear, ‘Be his shadow at all times.’ But no one else knew. So I was constantly cutting people off just to stand next to him. I think I annoyed the other actors a lot,” she laughed.
Episode 10’s Big Plot Twist: Dr. Frank’s Substance Abuse
One of the biggest twists in The Pitt so far was the reveal of Dr. Frank’s substance abuse problem, which left fans shocked.
“Yeah, that was a big one,” Dearden said. “But what’s interesting is, if you go back, the signs were always there.”
She also noted that fans were slow to pick up on another major storyline.
“People were so focused on Langdon’s story that they kind of missed what was happening with Santos,” she pointed out. “She had that whole monologue about abuse, but it kind of flew under the radar for a lot of viewers. That’s what’s cool about this show—it’s subtle. You might miss big things the first time around.”
The Challenges of Playing Mel
Dearden admitted that the most difficult part of playing Mel has been balancing the rapid pace of medical drama storytelling with her own neurodivergent processing.
“Often during rehearsals, there’s background noise—people talking, things happening on set,” she said. “And my brain just does not work that way. I literally have to put earplugs in and keep the script in front of me to focus.”
Beyond that, she and the cast often have to quickly determine what their character should realistically know at a given moment.
“We’ll be like, ‘Wait, have I done this procedure before? Should I be nervous, or is this routine for me now?’ Sometimes we don’t get those answers in advance, so we just have to make it work.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Dr. Mel King?
With five episodes left in the season, Dearden teased that things are about to get even more intense.
“If you’re pregnant or just had a baby, maybe skip the next episode,” she warned. “It’s heavy. But after that, everything gets crazier. The pressure brings out things in every character that you haven’t seen before.”
As for Season 2?
“I was exhausted by the end of filming, but I definitely want more,” she said. “It’s that weird feeling of ‘I need a break, but also, please don’t take this away from me.’”
When asked if she’d like to explore more of Mel’s background, she was enthusiastic.
“Absolutely. I’d love to dive deeper into Mel’s personal life, especially now that she’s working with military veterans. There’s so much to explore with her.”
Working with Noah Wyle and the Cast
Dearden also had nothing but praise for her co-stars, especially Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Rob.
“Noah has been such a huge help. Because he’s also a writer, he knows everything. So if we have character questions, he’s the guy to go to. He won’t give away spoilers, but he’ll give just enough hints to help us shape our performances.”
She also hopes to have more scenes with certain cast members in the future.
“Mel and Dana have a really sweet dynamic, and I’d love to explore that more. And I think Mel and Javadi together would be hilarious—just a lovable disaster.”
Final Thoughts
While Dearden is currently taking a well-earned break (“My next project is fixing my house,” she joked), she’s eager to see where The Pitt goes next.
“If we get another season, I hope we can keep diving deeper into these characters,” she said. “It’s exhausting work, but it’s so worth it.”
Until then, fans can catch The Pitt streaming now, with new episodes keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.