Jennifer Stone Had Panic Attack Reading 'The Pitt' Script
The 'Wizards of Waverly Place' actress, who now works as a nurse, auditioned for a series regular role in the medical drama and found the script too close to her own experiences
Jennifer Stone, the actress who starred in the Disney Channel sitcom 'Wizards of Waverly Place', has revealed that she auditioned for a role in the medical drama 'The Pitt'. Stone, who has been working as an emergency room nurse since 2022 and began working as a disaster relief registered nurse in 2023, said that she had a physical reaction to the script due to its similarity to her own nursing experiences.
The actress appeared on the 'CHEERS! with Avery' podcast, where she reflected on the audition process for 'The Pitt'. She explained that she studied her lines while working a shift as a nurse and read the script during brief moments of downtime. However, as she read the script, she started having a panic attack, experiencing heavy breathing and having to talk herself down.
The pilot episode of 'The Pitt' features the Noah Wyle character having COVID flashbacks, which Stone said triggered her panic attack. She added that she has a hard time watching 'The Pitt' because it's too close to her own nursing experiences.
Stone's nursing career began in 2022, when she started working in the emergency room. She has also worked as a disaster relief registered nurse since 2023. Despite her nursing career, Stone has continued to work in the entertainment industry, reprising her role as Harper Finkle for the final season of the reboot series 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place'.
## Why it matters The story highlights the challenges that medical professionals can face when watching medical dramas that depict realistic and traumatic scenarios. Stone's experience shows that even actors who play medical professionals on screen can be affected by the realism of medical dramas. The story also showcases Stone's dedication to her nursing career and her ability to balance her work in the entertainment industry with her work as a nurse.
## What happens next It remains to be seen whether Stone will continue to pursue roles in medical dramas or focus on her nursing career. However, her experience with 'The Pitt' has clearly had an impact on her, and she may be more selective about the roles she takes on in the future. As for 'The Pitt', the show has received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of medical professionals and the challenges they face, and it will be interesting to see how the show continues to depict these issues in future seasons.
