TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Actress Melissa George knew she wanted to play the role of a heart surgeon when she sat in on an intricate, life-saving procedure in France. Her experience that day was far from just observation at a distance. She actually scrubbed in for the open heart surgery and stood side by side with the surgeon for eight hours. She admits she was hooked instantly.
Turns out, George fell in love with the idea when she first saw the leather jacket-wearing doctor arrive at the hospital on a motorcycle in the predawn hours.
“I was sitting in the lobby so nervous. He came through the door and said, ‘Let’s go,’ and we started running to the operating room where everyone was waiting,” George told News Channel 8. “The entire room stood at the ready for him. It was like the heavens opened up as he walked in. Then, he put on his iPod with some rock and roll music and went to work.”
After the surgery was over, in true Hollywood fashion, George left the hospital and rushed to a Dior fashion show. “It was surreal,” she said with a laugh. “It actually happened.”
It was all in the name of research and prep work to play Dr. Alex Pantierre on NBC’s newest medical drama, “Heartbeat.” George takes on the role of a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon who is equal parts sassy rebel and tender hero.
If you ask her, she’ll tell you her which one is her favorite. Yep, you guessed it – the irreverent one. George says it’s a delight.
“She doesn’t care. She’s the best. She’s like, ‘Fire me,'” she says. “Such a great feeling. I have a little bit of that. I was raised like that.”
As if playing a surgeon wasn’t enough pressure, the role isn’t fictional. George is portraying a real-life female powerhouse in the medical world, California surgeon Dr. Kathy Magliato. Magliato is the author of “Heart Matters” and consultant on the NBC show.
“This will be a character that young girls can aspire to,” said Dr. Magliato, who was instrumental in helping choose the lead actress for the show.
George nailed the part when she walked into the audition wearing scrubs, a leather jacket and high heels. “We’re done. She’s the one,” the real-life surgeon said.
George is having a blast, she says, on the Hollywood set of St. Matthews Hospital where her character saves hearts in the operating room and breaks them in her drama-filled personal life.
“We have so much fun! The role just feels right. It feels like it fits,” she tells News Channel 8.
And, while it sounds like a dream job, there are small challenges, such as learning all the complicated medical jargon.
“I have a dialect coach,” George says. “So, the words have to sound like you’ve been saying them all of your life, and that’s very challenging, especially since my character talks a lot.”
Playing a role model, George tells us, isn’t easy. But, it sure is fun.
“So, there’s so many moments based in humor that keep the show light,” she says.
