Interview: Isa Briones Talks Playing Dr. Santos And The Authenticity Of ‘The Pitt’

One of the most talked about shows of the season is Max’s The Pitt. With 10 million viewers per episode, it’s easily the runaway hit of the season.

The medical drama gives the long-fatigued genre a facelift, showcasing a high-stakes drama that often runs at a frenetic pace. It’s appropriate since the show centers on a trauma medical hospital and a single 15-hour shift. The Pitt is a true ensemble cast led by a powerhouse performance by Noah Wyle (ER), and while that would be enough to hook any viewer in, the most exciting part of the show is discovering fresh-faced talents who add layers of humanity, humor, and heart to every doctor inside the Philadelphia trauma hospital.

One of those faces is Isa Briones (Star Trek: Picard, Goosebumps), who plays intern Dr. Trinity Santos. She’s a scrappy, in-your-face doctor with a hardened exterior and an unshakeable confidence. She pushes back against her superiors (with good reason!) and picks on fellow intern Dr. Whitaker early on.

Briones doesn’t have the easiest job. She’s playing a character who’s been criticized by fans since the show started, but the actress takes it in stride.

On playing such a polarizing character:

“From the beginning, when I would hear people being like, ‘Oh she’s the worst!’ I’m like, hey my job is done. I’ve made you feel something and that’s my job, but it’s like, come on, have you never met someone like this and gone, ‘They have a lot of feelings inside and they really need some help.’ Anyone who has that big of a defense mechanism, there’s always something underneath. It’s cool to see the audience go through that ride with her.”

Dr. Santos has many outstanding moments in the 15-hour shift, notably going head-to-head with Dr. Langdon when she realizes he’s been skimming painkillers and pocketing them for his own use. When she tells Dr. Robby (Wylie) about it, it’s a moment that blows up the whole season and has serious repercussions.

The highlight of Briones’ performance is the subtle way in which she brings down Dr. Santos’ walls to reveal a soft center. It’s a performance that leaves you wanting to know more about Trinity, and lucky for viewers, we’ll see Briones in season 2.

I sat down over Zoom to talk to the breakout star of The Pitt on her new role, growing up in an entertainment household and sharing the stage with her father Jon Jon Briones, and what she’s catching during the Tony award season.