Supriya Ganesh on Playing Dr. Samira Mohan in The Pitt on MAX

[00:00:10] Supriya, thank you for joining today, Pop Culture Unplugged. Of course, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited. Excited times. I'm excited that this is your first interview ever. Yeah, it is. I've never been important enough to interview, so this is absolutely a new experience for me. Amazing times. We see you on The Pitt, which we'll talk about in a few minutes. But I was doing some research on everything. Acting world wasn't always a thing for you at first, I saw somewhere. You were pre-med or something, right?

[00:00:37] Yeah, I mean, it's interesting. I grew up in India, and I always knew I wanted to be an actor. But I was trying to figure out how to get to America to do it. And one of the ways was my parents said, okay, fine, we'll essentially send you off to college if you do something that actually pays you real money. And I mean, I was pretty good at biology. It's still something I really love.

[00:01:06] And, you know, I really enjoyed studying the sciences. And so I ended up going down the pre-med track. I majored in neuroscience. And yeah, really funny how that actually ended up being super helpful for booking this part. So what made you get into acting? How did that happen? I mean, I always kind of was into it as a kid. So growing up in Delhi, Delhi has like this really vibrant theater scene.

[00:01:32] And I ended up, you know, like taking part in a few plays here and there. And then when I came to New York, while I was studying to be a doctor, and how that turned out, I ended up auditioning for student theater while I was there. And I just, I don't know, it was just that pull of like, oh God, it just feels like something is telling me to do this and go down this path.

[00:01:59] And so I started auditioning professionally while I was still in school, which was kind of crazy. And yeah, I started booking a couple things here and there. And it's just, it's been a, it's been a wild ride. Next thing you know, now you have a role on the pit. Yeah, I mean, it felt really slow while I was in it. I remember like feeling like things weren't happening as fast as I wanted.

[00:02:24] And, and, you know, the pandemic happened and the strike happened and it was just so much setback. And then I finally got this role. And then looking back, I'm sort of like, wait, that was like no time at all. Like, I wish I had some time to like experience life before things started, you know, taking off for me like this. Yeah. So how did the pit happen? Was it an audition or was somebody that you knew that like, hey, you know, like we might have a role for you.

[00:02:49] So my agent sent me the script and I remember reading it and I just felt like if I don't get to do this, I'm going to die. Because the, the real time aspect of it just hooked me so instantly. I was like, this has never been done before. And I always knew I wanted to do something that was new and fresh. Um, and so I, I really grabbed onto that, uh, part of it.

[00:03:16] And also it was really hard for me to audition to play doctors before I auditioned for the show because something would always be off. And I didn't know enough to like know exactly why it's off, but it would sort of be like, this wouldn't happen. This feels fake. Like this, it makes no sense that they do this drug. Cause I know that drug does something else. And so it would always like be hard for me to suspend my disbelief.

[00:03:42] Um, but I remember my audition side was, was, it was a trauma scene. It was actually the first trauma scene, um, that you kind of see me leading in episode one. And I just remember doing it. And I was like, oh my God, someone with a medical degree was involved with this. It just, it's, there was a flow of logic. It was like step one, step two, step three. And yeah, I just, I just knew I had to be a part of it. Um, yeah. Well, what was the, what was the description you were given for, uh, Dr. Mohan?

[00:04:11] Um, that she was really knowledgeable and empathetic and that she was also a little bit of a workaholic, which I, I really sympathize and understand with. Um, I think she's a little bit of an overachiever, a little, a little lonely, um, doesn't really have a lot of friends, uh, because of her workaholic tendencies. And so, um, I, I really, I think related to that part of her.

[00:04:37] Cause I, I could see that as a version of myself, had I gone to medical school, that was really how I understood her. I was just like, okay, I think, you know, if I hadn't taken this, this sudden left turn and actually explored myself and, you know, let loose a little, I think, I think that would have been that. And it's a, it's a very weird feeling realizing you and this other version of yourself probably wouldn't be friends.

[00:05:03] Um, so that's also been a weird thing to realize as I have been playing her. So in the series, you know, she's a third year resident doing a residency. Uh, how do you, you know, there's a lot of high pressure in this series, you know, especially in the ER, like, how do you jump in to play a character like this? And I know you had, uh, doctors on set for advice and everything. Cause I spoke to Jalen from the pit also, when, uh, he was telling me, you guys have people on there to pretty much tell you how things are in the ER.

[00:05:32] Yeah. And I mean, the thing is, it feels like it's a lot of pressure and it is, and it feels like it's a lot of anxiety and there definitely is, but I mean, that's real, you know? Um, so we never really shied away from those uncomfortable feelings. Um, and you know, I, I, I do think, I do think the, the medical team that we have behind the scenes is just so amazing. We even have real nurses on set, um, in a lot of scenes. So, you know, if there was anything that was confusing, we could just always ask.

[00:06:00] Um, and so I, I just feel so grateful that, that we had such a strong support system to help us through. I, what, you know, to me, it was really daunting, just like the medical complexity of it. So I'm, I have no idea how my castmates did it at all. So I noticed like with your character too, like some of the scenes that are like, you know, you should be under pressure. Your character seems calm though, through its situations. Yes, she is calm.

[00:06:26] And I think, I think she also moves slowly, um, in order to like keep calm. Um, and, and there is something about, about that, that I think is, is really interesting to play with. Um, like I think everyone is moving quickly because I mean, in the ER time is money. Um, you have to, you have to move through patients and you have to make decisions quick. Um, she, I think doesn't let herself go there. We will see if that changes.

[00:06:55] Don't want to spoil anything too much. Um, but she doesn't really let herself go there. I think cause she's just so worried about making a mistake. That's how I always understood it. Like, it's just, it's analysis paralysis, right? It's, it's, you know, um, I need to make sure that I'm doing the right thing at the right time for everyone because, um, because I, I, I need to make sure I'm, I'm not going to make a mistake. Um, and there's, you know, reasons in our own history as to, as to why she feels that way.

[00:07:21] And, um, I think also reasons, um, that have to do with racial justice, which she cares deeply about. I think she just really wants to make sure she's doing the best by her patients in every capacity. But, um, what I also love about the show is that it shows the flip side of that. It's actually quite hard to do that in ER, right? Um, I think I was worried that, uh, the, the character would come off as like, you know, like everyone would be like, oh my gosh, like I, like she's amazing.

[00:07:50] She spends time with her patients as a patient. I would love that. Right. Worried that they wouldn't communicate like the flip side of that, which is that I'm actually like a burden for the rest of the hospital staff a little bit. Um, because I don't let them move at the pace that they, they, they really need to. Can you tell us a little bit about like that? Uh, I think it was episode five, the intubation scene that you're involved in. Tell us a little bit about that. Oh my God. That was actually so hard to film because it's, it's crazy.

[00:08:19] You have to like pretend you're doing an intubation. Um, when, you know, there is no tube down this person's throat and there is no laryngoscope, laryngoscope, geez, uh, down this person's throat. Um, so it, it definitely is like a little bit of the effects involved in there. Um, but also, uh, I mean, Ashley who plays Joyce, the sickle cell patient was just such an amazing guest star to work with.

[00:08:42] And she, she really, you know, was, was so, um, nice about me having to like put like shorten things down her mouth. Um, yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's incredible because I feel like the show doesn't cut away from like the gory medical stuff in ways that other shows do, but also as an actor, that's, that's kind of tricky, right? Cause you, you really need to make sure you're, you're getting things right.

[00:09:05] Um, and I love that they intercut like this very clean plan intubation I had with the really messy one, uh, that, that Dr. Langdon was doing in the other trauma. Cause it just sort of shows you like the extent of, you know, how like a simple procedure can look really different depending on the circumstances.

[00:09:25] How do you think, uh, your character, like, um, like not blends, but like, like struggles and balances between, you know, you're also, you also have some interns under you and you're also trying to, you're still learning. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I think it was, it was episode four where I do feel like that hierarchy was kind of established. Um, and I, I think, I think you're absolutely right.

[00:09:50] Like it is this weird thing where, you know, uh, I'm, I'm still learning, but I still know more than the interns. And I mean, honestly, even our twos. And so I have to, uh, I have to communicate to them what I know and what they don't, um, whether she has the interpersonal skills to do that effectively is, is absolutely, um, debatable.

[00:10:11] And I think also shows us to, you know, why, um, some of the doctors maybe are like put off by her in, in certain ways, you know, like, I, I think she is like really lonely because she doesn't, hasn't really got that social life figured out. Um, and I think it's also interesting cause I'm, I'm, you know, I, I'm a bit on the younger side playing an R3, but I have people under me that are, you know, older than me. Um, you know, McKay is, has lived like this totally full life before becoming a doctor.

[00:10:40] And Samira hasn't really had that. She, she kind of just kept going, going, going, going, going, going, and has just been totally immersed in, in her work. Is there, uh, the, you know, you know, the pit, the pit also tackles like, you know, like real world issues also. Has there been one, like, would you're like, wow, like I never thought about seeing something like this, like, like that's happened. Yeah.

[00:11:03] Um, my getting emotional thinking about it, uh, the, the sickle cell, uh, the sickle cell scene was, um, was really, it was really impactful for me because I learned about sickle cell, you know, as, as, as a pre-med student and like, I can tell you like what the point mutation is and what amino acid gets replaced, which amino acid and how that changes the shape of the hemoglobin. And, you know, I can tell you all those things textually.

[00:11:29] And, you know, I knew that this is a disease that namely, mainly affected, um, the black population. Um, but I, I didn't really know, or I didn't really put two and two together of like how that could be racialized. Cause it is such a painful disease. And like, I, I, I mean, and it's, I mean, the limitations of my own experience, right? Like I did not even like put myself in the shoes of someone who has sickle cell, who is black, who might be coming to a hospital, ask more pain medication.

[00:11:58] And they're just instantly dismissed and seen as drug seeking and racialized in a certain way. So, you know, when I, it's one thing to learn about it. And then I came on set and I, I mean, I was given this, this incredible opportunity to, to, um, present something like this to the viewers. And also, you know, like the, the medical population, like, it's just great that like people could watch this and then maybe, um, you know, treat, treat a sickle cell patient differently, differently.

[00:12:26] And I just, yeah, I just, I'm so blown away that, you know, they, they did that and they did it really intelligently. So at the same time, you're also learning while you're acting too. Oh yeah. Uh, it's, it's really funny. I was, I was thinking about, you know, maybe applying to medical school this year cause I, or last year. Cause I, um, you know, I just didn't really know where my career was going. And now I always joke that like, I'm kind of being put through medical school regardless.

[00:12:53] So, so, you know, it kinda, it kinda happened, um, either way. Who do you, who do you think she has like the strongest bond with on the show? I mean, this is like really sad to say, but honestly, maybe no one, um, you know, like she doesn't really have a lot. Like she, I think she has the strongest bond with her patients.

[00:13:13] Um, I think there's something to be said in that, you know, uh, Joyce and her wife, Andine, are both her age and people that, that could be her friends. But she doesn't really have that outside of work, you know? Um, like I, I, it's, it's, it's so sad for me to like really think about how absolutely lonely she is.

[00:13:37] Um, I mean, if anything, she, I think she might have like the strongest bond with Robbie because I think, you know, she's missing like this father figure in her life because of the death of her father. And Robbie, I think represents that to her in some ways, which is why I think it is so devastating to her when, you know, he disapproves of her of any way. Cause I, I think like she's maybe like projecting this thing onto him. Um, but I'm, I'm not sure if it's like a two-way bond.

[00:14:07] I think it might just be like a one-way bond, um, right now. When you joined the, when you joined the series and the cast, uh, did Noel Wiley give you any advice or anything to joining a project like this? Oh, I mean, he, he just told us to really soak it all in. Um, and, you know, remember, remember like where we came from and to, to not let it like get to our head while we're, while, while we're soaking it all in. I mean, I just, he's just been such an amazing leader.

[00:14:36] I cannot say enough good things about him. Um, I feel like, you know, you hear all these experiences of number ones on shows that can be, you know, that can make or break your experience. And I mean, I'm just so bowled away by how lucky I have been. He's just been such an amazing guiding light through, through all of this. How do you guys try to pack 15 hours at one hour episode? A 15 hour shift. In, in, in a 15 hour shift.

[00:15:04] And yeah. Um, I mean, it's, it's actually psychotic, um, to, to like really explain because it is just, it is a continuity mind book. Right. Am I allowed to swear? That's okay. That's okay. Um, it is, I mean, it is just such an incredible challenge.

[00:15:22] Um, we, you know, we, we have to make sure we look the same every day for seven months, you know, like a pimple that I get on my face has much, you know, further consequences.

[00:16:03] Yeah. Like props were so that you can only really see in a UV light, like where, where things are, um, just to make sure we're, we're putting things in the right places. Um, yeah, it's, it's just, it's totally crazy. And it's been very weird to like, you know, you leave the set, um, which I, I, I wish I could almost like show you photos of the set. It is, it is a stage. Um, like there's no, you know, it's, it's, it's just like a full hospital floor.

[00:16:32] Like, I'm almost like, should we donate this? Like most of the equipment worked, you know, like, should we give this away? Um, so you go to the hospital and, you know, you live how many ever like minutes or hours or whatever that you, you're, you're living in that moment. And then you leave and then you live your life and then you come back and it's like, nothing's changed. You know, like that person who's on that gurney has been on that gurney for like five months, even though in showtime, it's what probably like six episodes.

[00:17:01] It's just, it's, it's totally insane. That's awesome. How would you describe like her journey, like for, uh, for this whole season? Would you say? Um, I think without giving too many spoilers, I think, I think she, she becomes, actually, I don't know if I could say that. I might, I might be giving too many spoilers, but I mean, people just have to wait and see.

[00:17:32] Is there anything you would change about her? If they told you, Hey, uh, change something about it. Honestly, no, I, I, I think she just represents something that, that, that, that is, you know, like her or hate her is just, you know, important to show on, on an emergency floor like this. Um, so I, you know, I, I, I wouldn't change a thing about her.

[00:17:58] I, I think, you know, even though, even though her and I maybe wouldn't be friends, I have, like, I have like such deep empathy for her. And I think, you know, I think Scott has just written like this amazing character and, you know, the, the entire writing team is just amazing and phenomenal. So I wouldn't, I wouldn't change anything about her. Maybe her clothes. Would you let her be your doctor? Yeah, I would absolutely let her be my doctor, just not my friend.

[00:18:27] I, I, I'd maybe change her clothes. That was actually the biggest thing I, that was like the biggest decision I made in creating her where I was like, okay, if she doesn't have a life, she absolutely has no time to shop unlike me. Um, and, you know, I, I, I just picked like a bunch of really mismatched, odd things to put on her. So she just like feels like a little off putting in a weird way. Um, that's probably what I would change, but that's just me being selfish and potentially vain.

[00:18:58] So if we, if we see a season two, is there anything you want to, you can tease about like what you want to see with the character or what, or something that you hope they add? Uh, I mean, I, I have fingers crossed for season two. I don't know. I mean, I'm, I've been so focused on season one that I haven't, I haven't thought about season two at all. We actually just wrapped yesterday as I'm doing this. So it's just, it's kind of been so crazy. So I haven't, I haven't even thought about where, where I hope, I hope she goes.

[00:19:26] Um, yeah, there's been a lot of, there's been a lot of whispers, but we haven't heard anything, um, official as it yet. So what's next for you now? Are you taking a little break or you got something else you're about to go work on that you're allowed to tell us about? Um, I haven't booked anything, um, but I'm, I'm going back to New York. Um, and I'm so excited about that. I miss New York so much. Um, I've been there for like 10 years now. Um, I, I, you know, I maybe have earned a New Yorker card. I don't know.

[00:19:56] Um, but I, I, I love, I love being there and I love my little apartment and I'm just so excited to be back home and see all my friends. Cause I left very suddenly. Um, I found out that I got this show while I was on vacation in Europe and right when my vacation ended is when I had to be, um, in Los Angeles. And so, you know, I was like texting my friends and just being like, Hey, see ya in seven months. Actually.

[00:20:24] So it's gonna, it's, it's gonna be nice to like go back and like reconnect with people and just, you know, live, live my life. Listen, this by a, how can I, how can the listeners of viewers now find you on social media? Keep up with you. I saw you posting a few pictures on the show. Oh yeah. I'm, um, on Instagram. Um, I'm also on Twitter though. Maybe don't follow me on there. I don't want to get canceled. And yeah, that's, that's pretty much it. Amazing. I want to thank you for giving a few minutes today.

[00:20:53] And if we see season two or new project, let's get you back on. Let's continue this chat. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. This was so lovely. Thank you for making my first interview ever. So such a, such a calm experience. Yeah.