Shabana Azeez breaks US$75,000 rig on The Pitt ahead of Airport Chaplain debut
The Australian actor reveals the high-stakes mishap behind her medical drama role and reflects on her new series premiering next week.
Australian actor Shabana Azeez is preparing for the global launch of her new series, The Airport Chaplain, which premieres on SBS, SBS On Demand, and Netflix from 26 August. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Azeez discussed the production’s unique challenges and shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her time on the medical drama The Pitt.
Azeez revealed that she inadvertently destroyed a US$75,000 prop rig while filming a scene for The Pitt. The incident occurred during a sequence requiring her to simulate drilling through a human skull. Having consulted with doctors on the specific force required for realism, she applied that intensity to the prop, which was internally constructed from styrofoam. The result was a silent, catastrophic break that she described as looking as though she had torn a human head apart.
Beyond the expensive equipment, Azeez recounted a moment of pure fan excitement on the The Pitt set. She admitted to screaming and falling to her knees when Quinta Brunson, the creator of Abbott Elementary, walked past her. The reaction prompted her co-star Jalen Thomas Brooks to rush to her aid, assuming a serious injury had occurred. Azeez noted that Brunson represents significant cultural value to her, having worked hard during a post-strike, post-pandemic period.
Azeez’s background in medical simulation also informed her performance. She previously worked as a simulated patient for medical schools, where she would cry on cue or hold a silicone baby to test the reactions of students observing through one-way mirrors. This experience provided a practical understanding of the emotional dynamics present in healthcare settings, which she brought to her role in The Pitt.
The production of The Airport Chaplain presented its own logistical quirks. Azeez noted that she experienced three birthdays during the filming schedule, leading to a "boy who cried wolf" scenario where crew members eventually stopped celebrating her actual birthday. Despite the repetition, she described the experience as a fun and memorable week on set.
Azeez has built a career on impact-driven storytelling, with previous films addressing coercive control and queer joy. The Pitt itself has tackled themes such as gun control and violence against healthcare workers. As The Airport Chaplain arrives next week, it continues her trajectory of using television to illuminate broader cultural and political issues.
