Sepideh Moafi, M.F.A. '13, Earns Historic Emmy Nomination for The Pitt
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Sepideh Moafi. Photo by Richard Knapp.
Moafi becomes the first Iranian woman and first Middle Eastern woman to be recognized in the supporting actress in a drama series category
Department of Drama alumna at UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Sepideh Moafi, M.F.A. ’13, has earned her first Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi on HBO Max's The Pitt. The nomination marks a historic first: Moafi is the first Iranian woman and the first Middle Eastern woman to be recognized in the supporting actress in a drama series category.
Moafi's Dr. Al-Hashimi arrives in the second season as a strong-willed physician who challenges Noah Wyle's Dr. Robby for leadership of the emergency room. The character's storyline touches on living with a seizure disorder, being of Iranian and Iraqi descent, and having a background in humanitarian aid, themes and plot points that have resonated widely with fans since the season premiered.
"It's just like so many different parts of a human experience are captured through this one character, and I just feel so grateful to be able to live and learn inside of her and to be acknowledged for that," Moafi said following the nomination announcement.
Moafi drew on elements of her own life for the role. Born in a refugee camp in Germany after her parents fled Iran, she has long served as an ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. She says she hopes the milestone opens doors for other women pursuing careers in the arts, medicine and beyond.
Since earning her M.F.A. in acting from UC Irvine in 2013, Moafi has built a diverse career across television, film and stage, with credits including Apple TV+'s Black Bird, Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q and the upcoming Off-Broadway production New Born opposite Hugh Jackman.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place live on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
To learn more about Sepideh Moafi, visit her Instagram account page @sepidehmoafi. To learn more about the Department of Drama, visit arts.uci.edu/drama.
