Tal Anderson is a filmmaker and children’s book author, but she is best known for her acting roles in Netflix’s “Atypical” and HBO’s “The Pitt.”
In the latter, she currently has a recurring role as Becca King, the sister of second-year resident Mel King, played by Taylor Dearden.
“At her core, Becca is fiercely loyal, and she’s a protector,” Anderson said on Fox LA’s The Sit. “She has limited resources, but she has a huge heart, and she wants her sister to be happy.”
Like her character, Anderson herself has autism. In the interview, she praised the medical drama’s representation.
“They show the diversity of autism in an authentic way by introducing characters in their everyday life,” she said. “They don’t focus on the stereotypes … [And] autistic representation, especially for girls, is rare. So I’m grateful to be part of providing that to my community.”
Ahead of World Autism Day (April 2) and Autism Awareness Month — which was recently re-branded as Autism Acceptance Month — Anderson was asked what conversations the month should spark.
“First of all, there are so many better words to use, and I think the best one is ‘action,’” Anderson emphasized. “April can be the month where we take concrete steps to empower and include autistic people in all areas of life. Awareness is not enough. [I’m motivated by] empathy, decency, and the truth.”
When it comes to collective action, she urged people to debunk myths, like the idea that “autism can be cured.”
“Autism is not a disease. It’s a neodivergence,” she said. “And vaccines do not cause them, and neither does Tylenol.”
Image via Warrick Page/HBO Max
Anderson is not alone. In the last year, other prominent celebrities with autism have used their platforms to speak out against the proliferation of misinformation that has been spreading online.
In April 2025, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, made unsubstantiated claims about the “tragedy” of autism, former “Survivor” contestant Eva Erickson took to Instagram to denounce his speech.
“Autism destroys families,” he had said. “More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource with our children. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date.”
“Let me show you how wrong RFK Jr. is about what someone with autism can achieve in their life,” Erickson said in response, before sharing a montage of photos of her growing up, playing sports, going on dates with her boyfriend, and graduating from college.
“RFK Jr. can kick rocks,” she added. “I know what I’m capable of. People with autism are stronger than he believes, and I’m proud to represent this community.”
At the end of her interview with FOX LA, Anderson echoed the same sentiment.
“Never let anyone tell you you can’t make your dreams come true,” she said. “If you stay true to yourself and work toward a goal, you may surprise yourself.”
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Header image via Warrick Page/HBO Max
