Ariana Madix‘s recurring role on St. Denis Medical has been a career highlight, but there are some big challenges that come with playing a heart surgeon.
“The medical terms are a challenge because it is so foreign to most people who haven’t worked in that field at all,” Madix, 40, exclusively told Us Weekly about returning as Dr. Brooke Emerson for the season 2 finale.
Madix praised the NBC sitcom for having real medical professionals on set for surgery scenes.
“They work on the show every day and they know how this works. I learned how to do a very bad suture, but on screen, I think I looked like I knew what I was doing,” she quipped. “But … with the medical terminology, you want to make sure you’re saying it properly because you don’t want someone watching the show to be taken out of the moment because you mispronounced the name of a body part or a drug.”
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Madix continued: “That was all very new and interesting — and definitely a challenge. That’s probably the biggest challenge.”
St. Denis Medical, which premiered in 2024, follows overworked doctors and nurses trying their best to care for patients at an underfunded Oregon hospital. Madix joined the show in season 2 as Bruce’s (Josh Lawson) ex Brooke, who works at the same place as him.
“I’ve done guest spots before, but this is my first recurring role and it’s been really exciting because I feel like that trajectory of scripted is something that I started a very, very long time ago,” Madix explained. “Maybe before Vanderpump Rules. So I feel as though it feels like coming home — in a sense — of being able to pick that back up and also be able to be a part of such an amazing show.”
Madix’s opportunity on the sitcom felt extra special since she was already a fan. “St Denis is one of the best shows that we have going on — especially for comedies — on TV right now,” she added. “It’s the type of show that I’ve always wanted to be a part of. For them to have me around for a few episodes and be able to play this recurring character? Honestly, it’s been really, really awesome.”
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The actress, who also hosts Peacock’s Love Island, shared how her role on St. Denis Medical has “inspired” her in “so many ways.”
“Especially with a show like this, it’s shot in such a unique way to anything I’ve ever done before. Getting to see that and how they film these scenes — and how they put everything together with the mockumentary style —was super, super interesting for me,” Madix added. “Being able to see how they approach things for me is just very, very inspiring.”
While season 2 is coming to an end, Madix isn’t ruling out another return in the future.
“I would love to come back. I had such an amazing time. I’ve always dreamed of the day I get to do what I love and make a living doing it,” she said. “I would love to see what Brooke is like outside of that hospital.”
In response to Us‘ pitch for a Brooke spinoff, Madix replied: “Maybe one day.”
St. Denis Medical airs on NBC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. It has been renewed for season 3 and is streaming on Peacock and Netflix.
