Actors Awards 2026: ‘The Pitt’ Star Taylor Dearden Reveals Why Phones Are Banned on Set

Taylor Dearden has to unplug whenever she's on the set of The Pitt.

After all, the actress—who plays Dr. Mel King on the medical drama—confirmed during the 2026 Actor Awards March 1 that phones are indeed banned on set. (Click here to see all the celebs on the red carpet.)

"It's a John Wells rule," Taylor told Keltie Knight on Live From E!: Actor Awards 2026, referencing The Pitt's executive producer who's also directed three of its episodes. "It's to keep us within the world, which I love it personally."

She continued, "It keeps us engaged and involved with our scene, but also with each other. So, when we do have a second to sit, we have to talk and be interactive. It really helps the team building.

As for how loved ones—including dad Bryan Cranston and mom Robin Dearden—could reach her in a moment's notice? "I would I leave my cell phone in my dressing room," she explained, "and I give the number of the production to friends and family for emergencies."

So, what advice has Taylor's actor parents given her on how to navigate a busy red carpet?

"Create a character that's good at it," she said. "I'm trying to learn the character as it is all new to me."

But the 33-year-old also knows she can lean on her castmates. As costar Shabana Azeez previously told E! News, they've become "a family" in real life.