The Iranian-American actress, now starring as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in the hit HBO Max series The Pitt, recently shared a defining moment from the start of her acting journey. Before she landed roles in shows like The Deuce, Black Bird, and now the Emmy-winning medical drama, a piece of advice came her way that she simply would not accept.
Moafi, whose parents fled Iran as refugees, was told by her first agent after graduating from graduate school that she should change her name to get more acting work. Her response was immediate and clear.
“When I graduated from grad school, my first agent wanted me to change my name, and I immediately said, ‘F*** no’.”
She made these remarks in a recent interview with People, explaining why she chose to hold onto her identity rather than reshape it for Hollywood.
The Moment She Stood Her Ground
After completing her Master of Fine Arts program at the University of California, Irvine, in 2013, Sepideh Moafi was ready to start her professional acting career. But her first agent had a suggestion: change her name to something that might seem more “universally palatable” to casting directors.
Moafi did not see it as a simple business decision. To her, it felt like a request to become someone else entirely.
“It felt like they needed me to be someone different in order to work or to sell something,” she explained. “I refused. I continued, and I ended up booking my first job and then my second and third, and having a beautiful varied career as a result.”
She acknowledged that the choice to change a name is personal and complicated. Many actors, especially those from diverse backgrounds, face this pressure. Some choose to do it, and others do not. Moafi made it clear she does not judge anyone for their decision.
“I know actors who have changed their names, and there’s no judgment there. And I know a lot of actors, specifically people of color, who have been expected to change their names and haven’t,” she said.
But for her, the line was clear. She hoped that anyone facing that choice would make it for themselves, not because they felt they had to erase part of who they are.
“I hope anyone who makes that choice makes it for themselves and not because they feel like they need to change who they are in order to be more universally palatable,” Moafi added.
From Refugee Background to Hollywood Success
The 40-year-old actress’s story is rooted in resilience long before she stepped onto a film set. Her parents left Iran after the Islamic Revolution in the early 1980s. They came to the United States as refugees, carrying the weight of leaving their homeland behind.
“For any refugee family, it’s rarely a choice. The circumstances were so dire that they were forced to leave. We were very lucky to have a community when we came here, but it’s a loss of identity in so many ways,” she shared.
That background shaped her perspective on identity and the importance of staying true to oneself. When she finally broke into acting, she did so carrying her full name and her full story with her.
Her first role came in 2013 on Blue Bloods. She recalled feeling disbelief that she was actually living the life she had dreamed of.
“I couldn’t believe that I was living this life. And then I booked The Deuce,” she said.
Joining ‘The Pitt’ Season 2
The Pitt returned for its second season on January 8, 2026, on HBO Max. The series, which takes place in real-time across a 15-hour emergency room shift, quickly became a critical and audience favorite. The first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama, with Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Shawn Hatosy taking home acting honors.
Moafi joined the cast as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, a new attending physician brought in to replace Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) during his three-month sabbatical. Her character is an expert in clinical informatics and pushes for modernization in the ER, including new technology and patient intake systems.
She knew stepping into such a well-loved show came with pressure.
“I was a huge fan of the first season. I was so intimidated walking in and I was welcomed with open arms. There’s such warmth and support at all times on the show,” she told People in an earlier interview.
She described joining the cast as a “Herculean challenge” because the show had already gained such a strong following. But the environment on set quickly put her at ease.
“My first day on set, it wasn’t about egos. Everybody was patting each other and themselves on the back. It was about the work that we’re doing and that’s a language I speak. That’s what made me feel welcome and at home.”
Landing the Role at the Perfect Moment
The story of how Moafi found out she got the part in The Pitt is just as surprising as her refusal to change her name.
She had gone on a week-long wellness retreat where no digital devices were allowed. During that time, she worried she might miss important news about the audition. By the time she left the retreat, she assumed the opportunity had passed.
But the night before her flight home, she got the call. She had landed the role of Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi.
“I was elated, and I frantically packed even more, because I was going to be in California for not one week, but eight months,” she recalled.
Just two days after finishing the retreat, she was on set, stepping into the busy ER of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.
A Character That Reflects Real-World Issues
Moafi’s character in The Pitt comes with a background in global medicine, including work with Doctors Without Borders. That detail resonated deeply with the actress, who serves as an ambassador for the International Rescue Committee.
While the show does not focus heavily on that part of Dr. Al-Hashimi’s past, Moafi appreciated that it was part of her character’s history.
“I’m an ambassador with the International Rescue Committee, and advocacy work is a huge part of my life and my existence and my background as a refugee, and so I’m glad that we get to weave some of that in as well,” she explained.
She described Dr. Al-Hashimi as a woman who is “equal parts intellect and empathy.” Her character challenges the old ways of doing things in the ER, pushing for change even when it creates tension.
“She shakes the culture up a bit, and she’s not afraid to challenge hierarchy,” Moafi said in an interview with Vogue. “She’s insanely talented, highly skilled, deeply ethical.”
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Where to Watch ‘The Pitt’ Season 2
The Pitt season 2 is currently streaming on HBO Max. New episodes release every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
The season consists of 15 episodes, with the finale scheduled for April 16, 2026. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions can watch through the HBO Max platform, with availability depending on local licensing.
For Moafi, the journey from refusing to change her name to starring in one of television’s most respected dramas is a reminder that staying true to oneself can lead to success. She took a stand early in her career, and it shaped everything that followed.
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