‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ star Jennifer Stone opens up about her shocking ‘The Pitt’ audition

Jennifer Stone has revealed that her experience working as a nurse made auditioning for The Pitt unexpectedly intense. The former Wizards of Waverly Place star discussed her connection to the medical drama while appearing on the CHEERS! with Avery podcast, explaining that the material felt unusually close to her real life.

Stone said she auditioned for one of the series regular roles when The Pitt was initially being developed. At the time, she was already working as an emergency room nurse, a career she began in 2022 after years in the entertainment industry. She also took on work as a disaster relief registered nurse in 2023.

The actress explained that she prepared for the audition during spare moments at work. While waiting for patients to be admitted, she would read through the script and practise her lines alongside her nursing responsibilities.

The process became particularly difficult when she reached the final pages of the audition material. Stone recalled that the script included scenes involving Noah Wyle's character and memories connected to the COVID pandemic, which brought back an emotional reaction because of her own experiences working in healthcare.

"I started having a panic attack, just even hearing about that," Stone said during the podcast appearance. She described experiencing heavy breathing and having to ground herself by focusing on objects around her.

Stone explained that the realism of The Pitt can make the series difficult for her to watch. The HBO medical drama is known for its intense depiction of emergency department work, including the pressure placed on medical professionals as they deal with patients, colleagues and difficult decisions during long shifts.

Her comments also highlight the unusual position she occupies as both an actor and a practising nurse. Stone became widely known as Harper Finkle on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, appearing alongside Selena Gomez and David Henrie during the original series' run from 2007 to 2012.

Stone later returned to the character for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, reprising Harper during the final season of the revival. Her professional life outside acting has developed in a very different direction, with her nursing career giving her firsthand familiarity with the situations depicted in medical television.

The actress said the closeness to her own experiences has affected how she watches The Pitt. "I have a hard time watching it 'cause it's too close to home a little bit," she said.

Stone ultimately did not join the cast of The Pitt, but her account of the audition offers insight into how closely the show's medical situations can resonate with healthcare workers. Her experience also adds another layer to her career, which has continued to combine acting with frontline nursing work.