Welsh Actor Gains Respect for Medicine Through The Pitt
Gerran Howell, a Welsh actor from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, who plays a trainee doctor in the Emmy-award-winning hospital drama The Pitt, has expressed a "new found respect" for the medical profession due to the show's highly realistic portrayal of medical scenes.
Set in a US emergency department, The Pitt is noted for being "built on medical accuracy," supported by a team of medical advisers both on and off set, according to Howell.
"There was a boot camp which was intense, they sat us all down in a room, took us through every procedure, showed us very graphic videos of every procedure and they guide us through it,"Howell explained.
Role and Character Development
Howell, aged 35, portrays Dennis Whitaker, a fourth-year medical student in the popular HBO drama that follows the daily lives of healthcare professionals at a Pittsburgh hospital.
In an interview with Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales, Howell described his character's progression, stating that Whitaker began as "very overwhelmed" but by the second series had become "more capable, more knowledgeable, more savvy, which I think he kind of has to be otherwise he'd be fired!"
He emphasized the show's commitment to realism, noting the involvement of "an incredible team of medical advisers" and that "the whole show is built on medical accuracy."
"When we have a trauma scene, a big complicated scene, we're really taken through that in terms of choreography,"Howell said, adding that the medical jargon was "a lot sometimes."
"Every instrument that we're holding, we're told its purpose and, you know, maybe given some stories."
Thoughts on a Medical Career
When asked if he would consider a real medical career, Howell responded candidly about the show's graphic nature.
"It's extremely gory,"he said.
"[But] I have such a new found respect for the medical profession."
Production Team and Connections
The series is executive produced by Noah Wyle, who also stars as Dr Michael "Robby" Robinavitch. Wyle is widely recognized for his role as Dr John Carter in the 1990s US medical drama ER, which was a major success and helped launch George Clooney's career as Dr Doug Ross.
Howell met Clooney on the set of the 2019 World War Two mini-series Catch-22, describing him as "charming, full of anecdotes, a lovely man and a great actor."
Recently, Howell revealed he had heard rumors that Clooney personally recommended him for his role in The Pitt.
"I haven't talked to Noah about it yet, but I've heard in interviews that there were words between them, and George recommended me,"Howell said.
"It just goes to show, you know, keep everyone happy."
Early Influences and Personal Life
Howell credited his drama teachers at Barry Comprehensive School for igniting his passion for acting, as well as an after-school improvisation club he attended in Cardiff Bay.
"I found something that I was semi good at and I ran with it,"he said.
He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and London but makes frequent visits back to Barry, especially during Christmas.
"I've been back quite recently [and] I try and go back as much as I can,"Howell added.
