“Hard time getting a job”: The Pitt star Katherine LaNasa reflects on cancer journey and nurses’ help in Emmy win

The Pitt series, which was released earlier this year, became an instant hit with its intense storyline featuring the emergency room of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. This emergency room is always filled to the brim with patients who need to be taken care of. The environment is stressful, yet the medical staff tries their best to provide the best treatment to the patients.

The series has Katherine LaNasa in the role of Dana Evans. Dana Evans is the no-nonsense charge nurse of the emergency room with a distinct maternal instinct. Katherine LaNasa brings in her A-game for this role and wins at the 2025 Emmy Awards. During an interview with Deadline, she opens up about how her past played a significant part in bringing Dana Evans’ character to life.

Katherine LaNasa wins the Emmy Award for The Pitt

Though many were shocked to see that Katherine LaNasa won in the category of Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards 2025, it was undeniably a well-deserved win. She perfectly captures the essence of Dana’s character in The Pitt. Especially how Dana handles tense situations with a distinct demeanor. Did you know Katherine LaNasa suffered from breast cancer, which immensely affected her? In the Deadline interview, Katherine LaNasa says,

“I felt like I was having a hard time getting a job”.

She suffered a lot during her cancer treatment, and she was helped by the nurses. Hence, she wanted to honor the nurses who had treated her with her performance as Dana in The Pitt. Despite the struggles, Katherine LaNasa brings life to Dana’s character. She beautifully depicts how nurses play a significant role in keeping a semblance in the high-intensity work of the medical field.

LaNasa faced a rough period with her cancer and her career. Her role in The Pitt came at a time when she truly needed it. It was a “testament of faith” according to her. The acting world is often denoted as fickle. Many times, talented actors fail to receive opportunities to prove their talents.

Periods of unemployment are a harsh reality in this field of work. This was also the case for LaNasa. During the most vulnerable moments of her life, she found her inspiration from the nurses. The nurses gave her the much-needed encouragement during her treatment. This encouragement gave her the push to keep the fight going. So, it cannot be denied that The Pitt was a calling for her.

The infusion of personal experience while playing Dana’s character in The Pitt pushed her into the path of success. Through her performance, Dana felt like a real person shining with a distinct authenticity that only comes from passionate actors. LaNasa depicted Dana’s character with distinct empathy, leaving a lasting impact on the viewers. Her hard work truly paid off with the Emmy Award.

At the 77th Emmy Awards, The Pitt received as many as thirteen nominations. Katherine LaNasa’s win is a testament to resilience and finding purpose. She channeled her most difficult moments and used them to deliver a breathtaking performance as Dana.

The series truly captures the high-intensity environment of an emergency room where incidents can happen every passing second. The second season’s trailer has already been released, and it is set to release early in 2026. The creator of the series, Scott R. Gemmill, opened up that the next season will have a storyline featuring a baby and will also have a time jump. The anticipation is at an all-time high to see how the story moves forward from the last season.

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