Sepideh Moafi Makes Emmy History, Reveals Why She Kept Declining Calls

Sepideh Moafi’s first Emmy nomination came with an unexpected twist. While anxiously watching the live announcement, the The Pitt actress repeatedly declined incoming calls—unaware they were all from people trying to congratulate her.

The 40-year-old actress, who portrays attending physician Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in the hit medical drama, received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The recognition also marks a historic milestone, making her the first Iranian woman to be nominated in the category.

Moafi said she tuned in on the morning of 8 July to watch the nominations unfold, assuming she would hear her name during the televised announcement. What she didn’t realize was that her nomination had already been announced off-camera, prompting an immediate flood of congratulatory calls.

“I am such a rookie here,” Moafi tells USA TODAY with a laugh. “I had no idea why my phone was blowing up like it was because I thought nothing had happened yet. I kept declining the calls because I’m watching the broadcast!”

She eventually answered a call from her management team, only to discover she had already made Emmy history.

“It was like, ‘Congratulations!’” she recalls. “I didn’t know what these people were talking about.”

Moafi joins fellow The Pitt cast members Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden and Fiona Dourif in the supporting actress category, as the HBO drama emerged as one of this year’s biggest Emmy contenders with 25 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.

Reflecting on the moment, Moafi admitted the news took time to sink in.

“I was in disbelief, and then it felt discombobulated; it was a bit anticlimactic at first,” says Moafi. “But it’s incredible. I can’t quite capture the magnitude of this moment in words. But this nomination is beautiful.”

Although filming for Season 3 is underway, Moafi had just returned from an overseas trip and was away from the set when the nominations were announced. Meanwhile, creator R. Scott Gemmill shared the news with the cast and crew, whose enthusiastic celebration quickly spread across social media.

“I’m having major FOMO right now,” says Moafi, who joined “The Pitt” when the 2025 Emmy nominations were announced. “It looked a lot like last year, where everyone screams and shouts and celebrates.”

Fans can also expect to see Dr. Al-Hashimi return in the upcoming third season despite uncertainty surrounding the character’s future after the Season 2 finale.

Without revealing major plot details, Moafi confirmed that the story picks up four months later.

“Four months have passed, there have been changes at the hospital, I can say that,” says Moafi. “The tone and the temperature with Dr. Robbie and Dr. Al-Hashimi has been altered. That’s all I really even know. I’ll be finding out in real-time as well as the story unfolds.”

Beyond the personal achievement, Moafi said the nomination carries special significance as an Iranian-American actress.

“I keep hearing from people that this is the first time an Iranian woman or one from the Middle East has been nominated for this category. I don’t take this lightly,” says Moafi. “I’m grateful to all the powerhouse actors from my region of the world before me. And I’m moved and honored to show the women and girls that follow that there is a place for them.”

Looking ahead to the Emmy Awards ceremony on 14 September, Moafi said she’s embracing everything that comes with the experience.

“I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to be a wild ride, so I’m buckled up and ready for it all,” Moafi says. “But there’s so much darkness and it’s such a heavy moment in the world. These are moments where we can get together to celebrate in the light. I’m so grateful.”

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