Sepideh Moafi had undergone a number of challenges before she joined The Pitt Season 2. Today, we know her for playing some of the most powerful roles in shows like The Deuce and Black Bird. However, in a recent conversation with People, Sepideh Moafi shared that her Hollywood career did not kickstart so smoothly in the beginning.In the early days of her career, Moafi experienced pressure to alter certain aspects of herself, to conform to industry standards. Shortly after completing graduate school, she was even told to change her name to make it sound more marketable. The suggestion shocked her.Sepideh Moafi refused immediately. She was not ready to conceal her identity and background in a bid to become successful in Hollywood. That was a turning point in her life, and it influenced the manner in which she approached her profession.Today, as she confidently handles her big role in The Pitt Season 2, Moafi recalls those early sufferings. Her tale demonstrates that being authentic to yourself can be one of the best decisions in this cut-throat industrial climate.What Sepideh Moafi had to face long before joining The Pitt Season 2 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostSepideh Moafi was ready to make her name in Hollywood after graduating in 2013 from the MFA acting program at the University of California, Irvine. Her initial encounter with an agent, however, soon made her realize how rough the industry could be.The agent recommended that Moafi change her name to a more American-like one. It was proposed that the simpler the name, the easier it would be for casting directors to remember her, which would eventually enable her to get more roles. This type of guidance has been a staple in Hollywood for many actors of color for years. But Moafi dismissed the offer at once. She sternly informed the agent that she was not going to alter something so personal as her name simply because the industry demands so.Moafi told People,“When I graduated from grad school, my first agent wanted me to change my name and I immediately said, ‘F*** no.’ I know actors who have changed their names and there's no judgment there. And I know a lot of actors, specifically people of color, who have been expected to change their name and haven't….I don't think there's anything wrong with people who decide to do it.”She added,“It felt like they needed me to be someone different in order to work or to sell something. I refused. I continued, and I ended up booking my first job and then my second and third, and having a beautiful varied career as a result.”The moment became an early lesson on how much pressure actors might have to deal with only to fit in. Moafi took it as an opportunity to draw a line and set boundaries instead of feeling discouraged. She chose to make her career by staying true to herself and her identity.How the struggle shaped her career View this post on Instagram Instagram PostCurrently, Sepideh Moafi’s life is very different from those early years. She currently appears as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in The Pitt Season 2, a confident doctor whose quick-paced job in the emergency department is nothing new to her. The role puts her into numerous situations that call for her character to juggle the pressure, office politics, and difficult decisions.In many ways, the character mirrors some of Moafi’s real-life experiences. Being a female doctor of half-Iranian and half-Iraqi origin, Dr. Al-Hashimi is frequently subjected to bias and doubt by others. The narrative forms a substrate to Moafi’s own Hollywood story, where she too had to confront and challenge notions of identity and belonging.According to Sepideh Moafi, playing through those moments can be cathartic. Through her performance, she can turn her real frustrations into meaningful stories, especially ones that highlight the problems faced by women and people from the marginalized sections of society.At the beginning of her journey, she made a firm decision not to change her name. That decision defines what she is today. She did not change herself for Hollywood, but built the road to success in the industry all by herself. Sometimes, the most powerful career move is the simplest one: know who you are and don’t let anyone change that.For more such insights on The Pitt, keep following SoapCentral.