Everything you need to know about US medical drama Heartbeat
Start talking about the TV show Heartbeat and people will likely think you're referring to the iconic small-town drama set in 1960s England. But there is another series called Heartbeat you might not have heard of.
What is Heartbeat about?
Heartbeat, which was originally titled Heartbreaker, is based on renowned heart surgeon Kathy Magliato's book Heart Matters: A Memoir of a Female Heart Surgeon.
Dr Magliato, one of only 200 female cardiothoracic surgeons in the world, is also the executive producer of the show. Judging Amy star Amy Brenneman and her director/producer husband Brad Siberling, along with The Wonder Years producer Jill Gordon, are also executive producers on Heartbeat.
Dr Alex Panttiere is the character based on Magliato. Alex is known for her rebelliousness and stubborn attitude, which leads her to take risks on the job and make certain decisions in her racy personal life.
Heartbeat premiered in the US in 2016. Nine
Who stars in Heartbeat?
Australian actress Melissa George, who launched her career on Home & Away before finding success in Australia and overseas in shows like The Good Wife, The Slap and Grey's Anatomy, plays Alex.
George isn't the only Aussie in the cast, with Offspring star Don Hany playing Dr Jesse Shane. Jesse is the chief of surgery at the hospital and Alex's former mentor. Following Heartbeat, George and Hany ended up working together again, playing husband and wife in local series Bad Mothers.
Dave Annable from Brothers and Sisters is Alex's boyfriend Dr Pierce Harrison, Jamie Kennedy from the Scream franchise is Dr Casey Callahan, another surgeon at the hospital, and PEN15 star Maya Erskine is nurse Ji-Sung.
Aussies Melissa George and Don Hany both play doctors in Heartbeat. Nine
What sort of drama can I expect from Heartbeat?
Heartbeat is a 10-episode series full of romance, drama and a little bit of comedy. Medical storylines range from standard operations, to chimpanzee to human transplants and a disease outbreak that puts the hospital in lockdown.
And if you're wondering how close the show is to Magliato's real life, both George and Magliato have revealed Alex's personal life is much more wild. "Kathy doesn't have as many lovers as I do on the show," George said.
Magliato added, "In regards to the people in my life and past, I never got that much action..."
Heartbeat is based on the life of a renowned female heart surgeon. Nine
