PulseĀ ā a new medical drama on Netflix ā stars Willa Fitzgerald as Dr. Danny Simms. What else has Fitzgerald starred in?
A Netflix original series created by Zoe Robyn,Ā PulseĀ began streaming on Netflix on Thursday. The official summary for the 10-episode series reads, āAs a hurricane barrels towards Miamiās busiest Level 1 Trauma Center, third-year resident Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) is unexpectedly thrust into a promotion when beloved Chief Resident Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell) is suspended.
āAmid the worsening storm and an onslaught of trauma cases, the hospital goes into lockdown, and Danny and Phillips must find a way to work together ā even as the bombshell details of a complicated and illicit romance between them begin to spill out. The rest of the ER is left to process the fallout of their relationship while balancing their own challenges, both personal and professional, as they work under the pressure of life-or-death stakes. Because for this tight-knit group of doctors, saving their patientsā lives is often less complicated than living their own.ā
Fitzgeraldās screen career dates back to 2007 with a supporting role in the family movieĀ For the Love of a Dog. Fitzgeraldās career then shifted to mostly television series, including a recurring role as Emma Miller in the medical dramaĀ Royal PainsĀ and a supporting role as Lola Laffer in the political comedy-dramaĀ Alpha House.
āScream: The TV Seriesā (2015-2016)
Willa Fitzgeraldās breakthrough role came in the slasher horror dark comedyĀ Scream: The TV Series, where she plays the lead role of Emma Duval for the first two seasons from 2015-2016.
An original anotholgy series produced by MTV,Ā Scream: The TV SeriesĀ is set in the fictional town of Lakewood, where Emma finds herself in the middle of a string of murders commited by ā like theĀ ScreamĀ movie series ā a masked killer.
Willa Fitzgerald and Alan Ritchson in “Reacher” Season 1.
Prime Video
āReacherā Season 1 (2022)
Willa Fitzgerald stars as Margrave, Ga., Police Officer Roscoe Conklin oppositeĀ Alan RitchsonāsĀ Jack Reacher in the first season of the Prime Video series.
During the season, Roscoe and her boss, Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin), team with Reacher to solve the mystery behind the murder of Reacherās brother and uncover a counterfeiting syndicate involving corrupt local officials.
Since each season ofĀ ReacherĀ is based on one of author Lee ChildāsĀ Jack ReacherĀ books, Fitzgerald only appeared in the first season of the series. However, in a 2024 phone conversation the actor said sheĀ is game to returnĀ for another season ofĀ ReacherĀ if the opportunity presents itself.
āI donāt have any insider knowledge about whether there will be more Roscoe or not,ā Fitzgerald said. āIām as much in the dark as anyone else, but I love playing that character and I loved getting the chance to help initiate theĀ ReacherĀ television universe.
Willa Fitzgerald in “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
/NETFLIX/EIKE SCHROTER
āThe Fall Of The House Of Usherā (2023)
Willa Fitzerald stars as the young version of Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell) in director Mike Flanaganās original Netflix seriesĀ The Fall of the House of Usher, based on Edgar Allen Poeās classic short story and other works by the legendary author.
Fitzgeraldās turn as Madeline Usher ā the twin sister of Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood and Zach Gilford as the young version) ā earned her a Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television nomination at the Critics Choice Awards.
In the supernatural horror series, Roderick Usher is the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals while Madeline Usher is the companyās COO.
The Fall of the House of UsherĀ also stars frequent Flanagan collabororators Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel and Henry Thomas.
Willa Fitzgerald in “Strange Darling.”
Magenta Light Studios/Miramax
āStrange Darlingā (2024)
Willa Fitzgerald stars as The Lady oppositeĀ Kyle GallnerāsĀ The Demon inĀ Strange Darling, a twisty serial killer thriller from writer-directorĀ J.T. Mollner.
Told in six non-linear chapters,Ā Strange DarlingĀ kicks off with Chapter 3āwhere we see The Lady is being hunted down by The Demon with a shotgun in hand. As the film unfolds, the story reveals that not everything is as it seems.
For Fitzgerald,Ā Strange Darling ended up being a rare projects that fired on all burners.
āI am unequivocally proud of this movie and thatās a really gratifying experience to have at this point in my career,ā Fitzgerald said in a phone conversation to discuss the film. āObviously Iāve been in this industry for a while now and Iāve done a lot of things that Iām proud of ,but I think itās a moment to celebrate when something is made and you see the final product and youāre like, āOh, yeah. Thatās what I thought it would be because that is so often not necessarily the result.
āThat doesnāt mean that a movie is not good and youāre not proud of it, but withĀ Strange Darling,Ā we knew what we were making and we successfully executed that vision,ā she added. āThat is a landmark accomplishment when making a piece of art where everybody is on the same page. That is a rare experience.ā
Willa Fitzgerald in “Alarum.”
Lionsgate
āAlarumā And Work On Colleen Hooverās Next Film (2025)
Willa Fitzgerald kicked off 2025 with a starring role oppositeĀ Scott EastwoodĀ in the crime thrillerĀ Alarum.
Also starring Sylvester Stallone,Ā Alarum follows Eastwood and Fitzgeraldās Joe and Laura, a pair of married spies who are under attack from various intelligence agencies because theyāve come into possession of a stolen hard drive containing ultra-sensitive information.
Fitzgerald and Eastwood have both been cast in the upcoming movie adaptaton ofĀ It Ends with UsĀ author Colleen Hooverās hit novelĀ Regretting You.Ā The Josh Boone-directed drama starringĀ Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace is currently in production and is pegged for an Oct. 24 theatrical release.
Pulse, starring Willa Fitzgerald, is new on Netflix.