We at myShakespeare were thrilled to hear the exciting news that Rosanny Zayas, our very own Lady Macbeth, has been cast in a recurring role on season 3 of The Pitt. Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the fast-paced HBO medical drama follows a team of emergency room workers and their patients as they navigate the chaos, emotions, and unpredictability of the ED. Each episode unfolds in real time, depicting the events of one hour to cover only one full shift over the course of a season.
Starring Noah Wyle, cast in a familiar role following his 90s-era ER fame, The Pitt has already earned several television accolades including Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Critic's Choice Awards, and SAG Awards.
We caught up with Rosanny in the wake of this big announcement to ask how Shakespeare has influenced the way she thinks about acting, and what advice she might have for students reading Shakespeare for the first time. Keep reading to hear what she had to say — her answers do not disappoint!
myShakes: When did you first encounter Shakespeare, and how has your relationship with Shakespeare evolved?
RZ: When I first encountered Shakespeare, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. It felt like I was reading a foreign language. In high school, one of my teachers saw something in me and thought I had potential as a performer. They gave me a monologue from Macbeth to read, and I honestly felt like I had landed on another planet—I couldn't make sense of any of it.
It wasn't until years later, after graduating and continuing my training at Juilliard, that Shakespeare truly opened up for me. I realized that every word is packed with possibility. Once I learned how to approach the language, my imagination took off. Instead of feeling restricted by the text, I felt incredibly free. Shakespeare gave me all the words I needed to express what the character was feeling, and it taught me to trust both the language and my imagination.
myShakes: How would you describe the role of Shakespeare in your development as an actor — are there things you've learned from working with Shakespeare that prepared you for something like The Pitt?
RZ: Shakespeare has been foundational to my development as an actor. Working on his plays taught me that language isn't just something to memorize—it's action, intention, and response or reaction. Every word has a purpose, and learning to uncover that purpose made me a much more specific and honest performer.
That training continues to influence every role I take on, even when I'm not performing Shakespeare. It taught me how to analyze text deeply, make bold choices, trust my imagination, and fully commit to the circumstances of a scene. Shakespeare gave me a strong technical foundation, but more importantly, it expanded my creativity and confidence as an actor. Those lessons stay with me every time I step onto a stage or in front of a camera.
myShakes: What would you say to students about the value of spending some time with Shakespeare even if they're not interested in acting?
RZ: I think one of the greatest values of working on Shakespeare is that it teaches you to slow down and be patient. Shakespeare isn't something you can rush through. The more time you spend with the language, the more you discover. There are so many layers, so many possibilities, and so many opportunities for growth. If you don't take the time to really look at what's in front of you, you'll miss so much of what the text has to offer.
Even if someone isn't interested in acting, Shakespeare teaches you how to think critically, pay attention to detail, and appreciate the power of language. It encourages you to ask why every word is there and what purpose it serves.
That's something I've carried with me throughout my career, especially in television and film. The scripts may not have the same volume of language as Shakespeare, but the principle is exactly the same: every word on the page matters. Every line is intentional. As an actor, you learn to ask why a character chooses one word instead of another, or why they express something in a particular way. Shakespeare taught me to approach every script with that same level of curiosity and care, and it's a lesson that continues to shape the way I work today.
We are so grateful to Rosanny for taking the time to chat with us about the value of Shakespeare — not just for actors, but for anyone who wants to develop their critical thinking and deepen their curiosity about the world. We wish her the best of luck in her career and can't wait to watch her on screen when season 3 of The Pitt debuts early next year!
You can get a glimpse of Rosanny Zayas' brilliant performance as Lady Macbeth in this clip, or by diving into the full edition of our free digital textbook or our curated course.
