What Dr. Melissa King From The Pitt Looks Like In Real Life

"The Pitt" quickly became a hit phenomenon after its debut in January 2025, with the Emmy-winning medical drama thrusting stars like Noah Wyle, who has a sweet love story with fellow actor Sara Wells, and Patrick Ball into the spotlight. While you might recognize Taylor Dearden as the kindhearted Dr. Melissa King, the LA native majorly contrasts her on-screen counterpart. "I'm nothing like Mel," she told Variety. "We're both neurodivergent and that's it. We're done."

The differences between Dearden, whose ADHD helps inform her on-screen portrayal of neurodivergence, and Dr. King extend from personality to looks. Given the time constraints of the show, with each episode taking place over a single in-series hour, fans see limited looks from the second-year resident, but her black-rimmed glasses, simple braid, and practical outfit contrast the more stylish looks that the "Sweet/Vicious" actor has rocked on the red carpet. 

One example comes from the Warner Bros. Emmy Awards Celebration, with Dearden stunning in a black, slip-style dress with a teasing slit at the September event. She styled the floor-length piece with black pumps, a sparkling choker, and frameless, rectangular sunglasses while wearing her hair in a casual updo with face-framing fringe. The sexy ensemble is a far cry from the practical, on-the-job look we typically see from the actor's on-screen counterpart, but it's far from the only time that Dearden has differed from Dr. Melissa King.

Taylor Dearden turned our heads with her pre-Emmy celebration outfit, with "The Pitt" actor serving similar looks for the primetime award show. She walked the red carpet in a drop-waist gown from Christian Siriano, styling the romantic black piece with sneaker-style pumps from Brandon Blackwood. Though the simple red carpet look isn't majorly different from Dr. King's minimal makeup appearance, the luxe ensemble is certainly something we wouldn't expect to see at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.

Additionally, while Dearden isn't the most active on Instagram, her feed provides even more insight into how her real-life looks and style contrast that of her "The Pitt" character. A 2023 boating snapshot saw the actor tapping into the coastal vibes of the laidback fisherman aesthetic, sporting a pair of white, patterned pants and a blue, cozy sweater. She accessorized with a pair of sunglasses and classic white tennis shoes, while her wind-swept hair was tousled into a deep side-part. 

With this 'fit, Dearden looks like she would be right at home at a yacht club, but she doesn't always opt for a preppy look when going casual. The Hollywood figure channeled retro vibes in a post shared in 2018. Sitting on top of a car, posing alongside a friend, the LA native was casually cool in a loose button-up that looked straight out of the '80s, paired with cuffed skinny jeans and classic hi-top Converse in white. Dearden demonstrated that her off-screen aesthetic is distinct from Dr. Melissa King, leaving us excited to see where "The Pitt" actor takes her fashion in the future.