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 Linda Cardellini (DTF St. Louis), Fiona Douriff (The Pitt), Gerran Howell (The Pitt), Christopher McDonald (Hacks), Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt) moderated by Michael Schneider, Variety.
BIOS:
Linda Cardellini is Emmy, SAG and Spirit Award nominated and is one of the most versatile and celebrated actresses of her generation. Cardellini currently stars in the award worthy HBO dark comedy “DTF St. Louis” alongside Jason Bateman and David Harbour. Created by Steven Conrad, the series follows a love triangle between three adults, that leads to one’s untimely demise. Cardellini has earned an Emmy nomination in the category “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie” and a Gotham Television Award in the category of “Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series” for her performance as Carol. Cardellini will next star in the A24 and Peacock series “Friday the 13th,” a prequel story based on the original movies of the same name. Cardellini will star as Pamela Voorhees, who has given up a singing career to raise a special needs child and shifts when she loses her son. The series will premiere on Peacock on October 15, 2026. Cardellini also starred as a lead in Netflix’s dark comedy series, “No Good Deed,” reuniting her with creator/executive producer Liz Feldman (“Dead to Me”) alongside Christina Applegate from showrunner Liz Feldman and Gloria Sanchez Productions. Cardellini also served as a producer on the series. The show was one of Netflix’s most watched series. Cardellini earned both an Emmy nomination and a SAG nomination for her performance in the second season. On the small screen, Cardellini starred from 2015-2017 as ‘Meg Rayburn’ opposite Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, and Sissy Spacek, in the critically acclaimed Netflix drama series “Bloodline.” Created by Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler (“Damages”), the thriller-drama series focused on a family of adult siblings who find their past secrets and scars are revealed when their black sheep of a brother returns home. The same year, Cardellini co-starred in the film “Welcome to Me,” alongside Kristen Wiig, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, James Marsden and Wes Bentley. The film was directed by Shira Piven and had been awarded Top 10 Independent Film for the National Board Review. Additional film credits include her portrayal of ‘Velma’ in Warner Brothers’ pair of popular “Scooby-Doo” films, ‘Joan Kroc’ in John Lee Hancock’s “The Founder” opposite Michael Keaton, Donovan Marsh’s thriller, “Hunter Killer” with Gerard Butler, Billy Bob Thornton, and Gary Oldman, and Paul Feig’s “A Simple Favor,” with Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, and Henry Golding. Cardellini’s talent first came to prominence starring as academic decathlete ‘Lindsay Weir’ on the celebrated Emmy-nominated NBC series “Freaks and Geeks.” She is also well-known for her portrayal of ‘Nurse Samantha Taggart’ on NBC’s highly-rated, critically acclaimed series, “ER.” She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Loyola Marymount University and completed a summer study program at the National Theatre in London. Cardellini currently resides in Los Angeles.
Fiona Dourif is an Emmy-nominated American actress and producer, currently starring as Dr. Cassie McKay on HBO’s 5-time Emmy Award-winning hit series The Pitt. Born in Woodstock, New York to an actor father and professional psychic mother, Dourif went on to study in Ireland and New York before calling Los Angeles home. Dourif began her career as a segment producer for documentaries on The History Channel and TLC, later making her acting debut on HBO's Deadwood. She has since collaborated with three Academy Award-winning directors, appearing in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, Gus Van Sant's When We Rise, and Christopher Nolan's Tenet. Dourif has become a modern horror icon through her portrayal of Nica Pierce across multiple installments of the Child's Play franchise, including the critically acclaimed Chucky television series, where her performance anchors the show's evolution from camp horror to prestige genre television. Her television work demonstrates remarkable range, from the surreal comedy of BBC America's Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency to dramatic turns in True Blood, Shameless, and The Blacklist. This versatility—moving seamlessly between auteur cinema, genre entertainment, and prestige television—defines Dourif's distinctive career trajectory. Most recently, Dourif received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal as Dr. Cassie McKay on The Pitt. Off screen, Dourif is a fierce advocate for mental health, writing a 2022 essay for the Orange County Register on homelessness and mental illness in California, framed by her personal experience.
Gerran Howell is a Welsh-born actor whose versatility and emotional depth have distinguished him as one of the most promising talents of his generation. Howell stars opposite Noah Wyle in HBO’s Emmy-winning medical drama THE PITT, which is currently in production on its third season. His performance as ‘Dr. Dennis Whitaker’ recently earned him a 2026 Emmy nomination for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series,’ as well as a 2026 Actor Award for ‘Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.’ Since its debut, THE PITT has emerged as one of television’s most celebrated dramas, garnering significant industry recognition and major awards attention. Among its many accolades, the series was named ‘TV Program of the Year’ by the AFI Awards and received a 2026 Peabody Award. It also won ‘Best Drama Series’ at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to receiving ‘Breakthrough Drama Series’ at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards and ‘Program of the Year’ at the 2025 TCA Awards. Howell first captivated audiences with his titular role in the BAFTA-winning series YOUNG DRACULA, before delivering standout performances in Hulu’s acclaimed miniseries CATCH-22 and Sam Mendes’ Oscar-winning film 1917. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art graduate still resides in London.
Christopher McDonald is a two-time Primetime Emmy Award-nominated actor whose career has spanned more than four decades across film and television. He currently stars as Marty on HBO Max's acclaimed comedy Hacks, earning Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in both 2022 and 2026. He also reprises his iconic role as Shooter McGavin opposite Adam Sandler in Netflix's Happy Gilmore 2. One of Hollywood's most recognizable and enduring actors, McDonald has built a remarkable body of work with unforgettable performances in films including Happy Gilmore, Thelma & Louise, Quiz Show, Requiem for a Dream, The Iron Giant, and Broken Flowers. More recently, he has appeared in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Ryan Murphy's The Watcher, and Rosaline. On television, McDonald has been a familiar presence for decades, with standout roles in acclaimed series including Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, The Good Wife, Ballers, American Crime Story: Impeachment, and Hacks, showcasing a rare versatility across both comedy and drama. A classically trained actor, McDonald studied at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York before embarking on one of Hollywood's most respected careers.
Sepideh Moafi is a critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated actor whose work spans television, film, and on stage. She can currently be seen in the Emmy Award-winning HBO Max drama The Pitt, where her performance as newcomer Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi led Moafi to her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination, in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.” Moafi became the first Iranian woman and woman from the Middle East to be recognized in the category. The Pitt season 2 premiered in January with a whopping 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently in production on its third season. Moafi recently starred in Off-Broadway production of “New Born,” a trio of monologues written by Ella Hickson and directed by Ian Rickson, opposite Marianna Gailus and Hugh Jackman. Prior to this, the actress starred in in Apple TV+’s limited series Black Bird where she played FBI agent Lauren McCauley. The character marked a pivotal role as the main female lead of the series, which garnered widespread critical acclaim with a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Moafi is also widely known for her fan-favorite role as Gigi in Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q. Her television work includes The Deuce (HBO), Class of ’09 (FX/Hulu), Falling Water (USA), Notorious (ABC), Black Box (ABC) and the animated series Scavengers Reign (HBO Max), among others. On film, she stars in I’ll Be Right There (Paramount+) and the Sundance Film Festival favorite The Killing of Two Lovers (Neon). A versatile performer, Moafi has sung in original off-Broadway musicals, plays, and operas at renowned venues around the world, including Lincoln Center Theater, David Geffen Hall with the New York Philharmonic, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and The John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of California, Irvine. A proud ambassador for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Moafi advocates for the more than 100 million people who have been forced to flee their homes worldwide. She has served on the advisory boards of Talent Beyond Boundaries, Eat OffBeat, and The Other Side of Hope: Journeys in Refugee & Immigrant Literature magazine, and partners with human rights organizations working to expand access to safety, justice, and opportunity for displaced and marginalized communities.
