Join us for a panel with some of the 2026 Emmy-nominated actors discussing the actors work of taking lines on a page to capturing a character for the screen. This panel includes Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt), Lauren Weedman (Hacks), Karolina Wydra (Pluribus).
BIOS:
Shawn Hatosy is an Emmy winning actor and director. Shawn stars opposite Noah Wyle in the John Wells Productions / HBO high-octane medical drama, THE PITT. For his role in season 1, he won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series" and is currently nominated for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" for season 2. The series won an additional 13 Emmy’s including "Outstanding Drama Series.” The series has also been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for “Best Drama Series,” and a Golden Globe Award for “Best Television Series, Drama.” They are currently in production on Season 3, where Shawn will return to direct an episode after making his directorial debut on the series with Episode 209 last season. Next, he is set to star in FX’s CRY WOLF opposite Olivia Colman and Brie Larson.
Previously, Shawn spent six seasons as the lead of John Wells’ TNT crime drama ANIMAL KINGDOM. He starred as the very charming yet unhinged criminal ‘Pope,' and directed four episodes of the series. Shawn received incredible attention for his series regular role in TNT’s critically acclaimed cop-drama series SOUTHLAND, starring opposite Michael Cudlitz and Regina King. Prior television credits include major recurring arcs in Amazon’s hit drama BOSCH, AMC’s FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, CBS’s FIRE COUNTRY, Netflix’s dark comedy FLAKED opposite Will Arnett, Showtime’s award-winning drama DEXTER, and a series regular role in the CBS series RECKLESS, to name a few. Film credits include Michael Mann’s PUBLIC ENEMIES opposite Johnny Depp and Christian Bale; UNSTOPPABLE: THE ANTHONY ROBLES STORY opposite Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle and Bobby Cannavale; Robert Rodriguez’s cult favorite THE FACULTY, alongside Elija Wood, Josh Hartnett and Clea Duvall; FACTORY GIRL opposite Sienna Miller; his turn as 'John McCain' in the event biopic FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS; and Nick Cassavetes’ ALPHA DOG opposite Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Justin Timberlake; Lee Pace in SOLDIER’S GIRL; as William H. Macy’s son in THE COOLER; opposite Alec Baldwin in OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE; and with Denzel Washington in JOHN Q. On stage, Shawn garnered rave reviews for his starring role in Neil LaBute’s REASONS TO BE PRETTY in its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Other theatre includes Lyle Kessler’s ORPHANS opposite Al Pacino; Paul Weitz’s ROULETTE opposite Anna Paquin; and the La Jolla Playhouse production of THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID.
Lauren Weedman is an award-winning comedic actress, playwright and author. Lauren is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her hilarious performance as “Mayor Jo” on the HBO Max series HACKS. Lauren recurs on ABC’s ABBOTT ELEMENTARY as “Kristin Marie” and she earned a Critic’s Choice nomination for her portrayal of “Doris,” the lovable best friend and series regular on HBO’s dramedy LOOKING. Lauren is a former correspondent for THE DAILY SHOW and has appeared on television shows such as SIRENS (Netflix), EUPHORIA (HBO), TALES FROM THE LOOP (Amazon), WILL & GRACE (NBC), SINGLE PARENTS (ABC), KEVIN CAN F**K HIMSELF (AMC), SPECIAL (Netflix), PLAYING HOUSE (USA), TRUE BLOOD (HBO), RENO 911 (Comedy Central), CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO), NEW GIRL (FOX), ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Netflix) and as the recurring show stealer “Horny Pattyweedha” on HBO’s HUNG. In film, Weedman has earned acclaim for her role in the Judd Apatow-produced THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT, opposite Eddie Murphy in IMAGINE THAT for Paramount, and opposite Tina Fey and Steve Carell in the FOX feature DATE NIGHT. Weedman played a role opposite Woody Harrelson in Craig Johnson’s WILSON. She also appeared in Jeff Baena’s indie films SPIN ME ROUND, HORSE GIRL, JOSHY, as well as THE LITTLE HOURS.
Karolina Wydra is an Emmy nominated actor known for her distinctive screen presence and versatility, earning recognition for her ability to portray complex and compelling characters. Wydra currently stars as ‘Zosia’ alongside Rhea Seehorn in Vince Gilligan’s Emmy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award-nominated Apple TV+ series PLURIBUS, which is the streamer’s biggest series to date. The high-concept sci-fi drama is set in a world overtaken by a global “hive mind” of unwavering optimism, caused by an extraterrestrial virus known as “the joining.” The series was quickly renewed for a second season after its’ debut. Wydra was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series” for her performance which is one of the show’s incredible 18 nominations. Previously, Wydra built a strong television career with memorable roles on FOX’s award-winning series HOUSE, HBO's TRUE BLOOD, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D, TWIN PEAKS, Amazon Studios’ SNEAKY PETE, and FX's JUSTIFIED. Originally from Poland, Wydra is now based in Los Angeles.
