Katherine LaNasa keeps the heart of “The Pitt” beating. As charge nurse Dana Evans, she offers a cool head and brassy wit to the HBO Max medical drama, created by R. Scott Gemmill. And in the latter half of the season, she shows how even the most capable people can crack.
What character choices felt essential to making Dana seem authentic?
The most obvious is the voice. I knew that she needed to have a blue-collar voice, and I knew that if I didn’t learn a specific accent, it would come out sounding vaguely East Coast. I thought that would be pretty disrespectful to the people of Pittsburgh. Being from Louisiana, or being a Southerner in general, we have so many different dialects. If someone’s supposed to be doing an Atlanta accent, and they sound Cajun, it bothers us. I wanted my dialect to be very specific to Pittsburgh.
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My mother is from a big Catholic family of eight kids. Dana reminded me of a lot of my mother’s sisters—just tough, working women that have families, kids, and a lot of heart.
Credit: Warrick Page/Max
You’re also a dancer. Did that training inform your physicality?
In general, it gives me a lot of specific expression through my body. I can easily type a character in and start to feel the way that they move. It’s sort of subconscious for me. I’m not particularly analytical.
The movement of Dana is informed by the stage and by the set. The set is really expansive, so that changes everything. When you get to move across large swaths of space, you really can see how a person moves. You really have that freedom to move. It’s exciting to work in a space like that.
I viewed Dana as a basketball coach. I think some of that came into her movement. She’s always looking around, seeing what’s going on. It’s very “in the moment.” It’s an emergency. It’s happening right now. Who needs to be in? Who’s not okay? Who needs help? What’s needed here?
What’s one of the best acting lessons you’ve ever learned?
I studied with [legendary acting coach] Sandy Meisner, and I use what he taught me every day. What’s coming to mind right now is that a truth will lead you to a truth, but a lie will not lead you anywhere.
Who gave one of your favorite 2025 screen performances?
Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl in “The Phoenecian Scheme.” That was brilliant. Just a subtle change from nun to whore. She was incredible.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
