IN CONVERSATION WITH TAL ANDERSON

interview by JANA LETONJA

Tal Anderson is a multi-hyphenate storyteller using her voice to push for greater inclusion and authentic representation both on and off screen. Currently appearing as Becca King on HBO Max’s critically acclaimed series The Pitt, she continues to expand her creative footprint as an actor, filmmaker, and writer. This April, in honor of Autism Awareness Month, Tal releases the second book in her children’s series, Oh Tal! Not Like That, a heartfelt and empowering story encouraging kids to embrace thinking differently. Alongside her work in television and publishing, she remains a passionate advocate for the autistic community, collaborating with organizations like Disability Voices United and using her platform to spark meaningful change in the industry.

You’re currently appearing on The Pitt. What has it been like stepping into the role of Becca King?

Just being part of this amazing show has been so much fun. Playing Becca in particular, though, has been interesting, because we’ve never seen a character like her on screen before. We’ve also never seen neurodivergence presented on screen like we see in The Pitt with Mel and Becca, so it’s been exciting to be a part of telling that story.

How did you approach playing the twin sister of Dr. Mel King, and what dynamic were you most interested in exploring?

Becca and I are very different, but we’re both autistic, so we share a lot of lived experiences. She has higher support needs than I do, but we both rely heavily on the support of our family. I draw a lot from my own personal experiences to inform my view of who Becca is.

I think one unique thing about Becca is that Mel is her caregiver, and Mel very much gives Becca input into her life, and her care. They’re also very close, and Becca looks out for Mel’s well-being in return. That isn’t often the case when someone needs as much care as she does, so we’re able to see how a mutually supportive environment helps, even in just the few scenes where we meet Becca, that she really strives for autonomy, and looks to live her life to the fullest. The element of autonomy and how that affects the sisters’ relationship is the dynamic I was most interested in exploring. 

What do you think makes The Pitt resonate so strongly with audiences?

I think one of the biggest reasons people love the show so much is because everything about this show is incredibly real. The set, of course, is amazing, and many people are impressed with the accuracy of the medial procedures. The stories, though, and the voices of the characters and the way their challenges are written and portrayed are also very authentic, and I think viewers can see it, and feel it.

Season two is currently airing. How has your character evolved this time around?

I was super excited by the entire Season 2 story, but the dynamic I found most interesting to play was the relationship between Mel and Becca as things get tense. In Season 1, Becca represented everything calm and good in Mel’s life, and their relationship was the thing that kept Mel grounded. Their scene in Episode 15 of Season 1 was filled with joy and connection. In Season 2, however, all of that flips completely upside down, and Mel is left in the dark, and finds out that her life and relationship with her sister may not be what she thought. The fact that Becca is the reason for sort of pushing her over the edge is an interesting change from the dynamic of Season 1. Becca is also finding her independence in very life changing ways. Life changing for both her and for Mel.

You work across acting, filmmaking, and writing. How do these different creative outlets inform one another?

I’m an actor first and identify that way, but I also have a Bachelor of Science in film, and not only produce my own films, but also work as a freelance video editor when I’m not on set. I didn’t realize when I was in college just how much what I was learning would help me in my career as an actor. I use filmmaking skills every day to keep me on the right path in my career, but also on set I use those skills to better understand what I do as an actor, to help make the process move more smoothly for everyone on the team. 

Also, I say this a lot, but I really have been a story teller my whole life. I’d record every experience as a kid, either on a voice recorder or a little flip camera. At first, it was just so I had a way to playback amazing experiences, but that developed into having a way to show those experiences to others. Eventually, I learned to combine everything I captured, and create original stories and visuals. I was a filmmaker even before I knew what that meant. Being able to now use multiple skills and multiple types of expression in my daily life feels like a gift, and it allows me to be more fully involved in projects.

Your new book Oh Tal! Not Like That continues an important story. What inspired you to create this series?

The concept for the series started after I met the illustrator, Michael Richey White, after working on the Netflix series Atypical.  Michael and I hit it off right away. We’re both autistic, share common lived experiences, and both felt like we wanted to advocate more for the community.  We felt that it was important to create stories to encourage kids to be themselves.

The story focuses on navigating school and expectations. Why was that an important theme for you to explore?

School is where Michael and I both remember getting the most pressure as kids, to be more like everyone else around us. We both remember those early school years as being confusing and stressful, and we felt really misunderstood.

I wanted to center the book around this personal lived experience, but also to show in a positive light that when differences are celebrated, joyful things can happen. I know there are kids out there who are feeling just like Michael and I did, and they deserve to see a character in a book who they can relate to.

How do you hope the book speaks not only to kids, but also to parents?

I hope the book speaks to kids by letting them know that being yourself and following your own path is not “wrong,” and that they should never let go of their individuality. I hope that parents realize that supporting their child’s differences builds confidence and self-esteem.

As someone advocating for the autistic community, what does authentic representation look like to you?

In my opinion, authentic representation means reflecting on screen what exists in the world. We seem to have a long way to go, but a good start would be if we started to see autistic characters who represent the community beyond the typical stereotypes. We need to see more autistic characters of color, who are girls, and adults diagnosed late in life, or who are non-binary, or married with children.  

Your short films are currently on the festival circuit. What themes are you most interested in exploring through your own filmmaking?

A lot of my films have explored disability as a theme within the genre of the film, but my interests fall in horror. I’ve never made a true horror film, so I think at some point I’ll take that on. I also think I gravitate toward comedic drama, because although I like stories that highlight real life and real challenges, I also like to see those stories told with some humor, because my experience has been that life is funny.

How do you balance the creative side of your career with your advocacy work?

I think my career comes first, but my ability to advocate with the small platform I have is a direct result of my acting career, so I’m very grateful for that. I always keep advocacy on my mind, but it sometimes gets difficult, especially these days with the world the way it is. I just do my best to always do the right thing, and try to stand up for my community and those who can’t.

During Autism Awareness Month, what conversations do you hope your work helps spark?

I definitely hope that my work on The Pitt starts conversations about autonomy and the rights of disabled adults to be able to be involved in making decisions about their personal lives. And I hope that the books Michael Richey White and I are creating start conversations between parents and their kids about thinking differently, and the value of expressing yourself authentically. I also hope that my advocacy work can start conversations about the world making specific plans to take action respectfully including autistics in every aspect of our lives.

Looking ahead, what kinds of stories or projects are you most excited to bring to life next?

I’m always working so I have several projects in the works, but most recently I’ve been excited about writing more and the work I’m doing on two television series pitches, which I hope to get people interested in. I’m also attached to a couple of feature projects that I’m hoping to be able to talk about soon.

In addition, I’ll start working on Book 3 of the Oh, Tal! book series, but for now, I’m enjoying my time on The Pitt and engaging more with fans of the show.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography RONNIE SMITH