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Amirah Vann has been steadily carving a name for herself in the entertainment industry, with a career marked by roles that embody strength, resilience, and empowerment. The actress, known for her ability to bring depth to any character she portrays, continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances and fearless pursuit of roles that challenge societal norms.
© GettyImagesThe proud Afro-Latina continues to step into new and diverse characters, most recently in the fan-favorite television series 'DOC,' which draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of Dr.Pierdante Piccioni, who lost 12 years of his memory after a car accident. The series was just renewed for a second season after a positive response from the audience and the strongest premiere in five years for Fox.
Through her diverse roles, Amirah is not just playing characters; she’s shifting perspectives, championing inclusivity, and proving that stories told from different viewpoints are not just important—they’re necessary. Her new role as Dr. Gina Walker, a talented neuropsychiatrist, proves that visibility is needed in television and film.
© GettyImagesA study published in Academic Psychiatry found that 10.4% of practicing psychiatrists are Black, Latino, or Native American, despite these groups comprising 32.6% of the U.S. population, while data indicates that 10.8% of neuropsychologists are Hispanic or Latino, and 5.1% are Black or African American.
"We see one of the challenges as a neuropsychiatrist, and from what I hear, it's a very real one in the real world. That's what's beautiful about TV shows: they let so many people feel seen."
During an exclusive interview with ¡HOLA! U.S. Amirah shared her thoughts about her new role. "It's such a small percentage," she said about the number of Latinos in the medical field, highlighting the importance of amplifying "their voices for the next generation."
© GettyImagesDuring the interview, Amirah talked about her two daughters, 4-year-old Nyla, and 7-month-old Zoë. The actress explained that she was pregnant while filming the first season of the series and mentioned the importance of playing strong and multifaceted Afro-Latinas.
"I feel like it's a reflection of the world I live in," she said about the series. "I said yes to this role because at this point in my career, I'm reading things and, I need to choose things that are worth it"
"It was important to me before, but now with my daughters, I know they are watching and hearing my voice and they say 'That's mommy!'" she continued. "I know one day they are going to get older and say 'I can be strong', I can be all of these dynamic things whether it's a career or just in your emotional life that is all available to you and that we're not limited," she added, "I think that that's really important for for young women to see."
Enjoying a new chapter in her life with her husband and kids:
The success of the show comes during a special moment in Amirah's life, as she married her now-husband Patrick Oyeku during an intimate wedding ceremony in Brooklyn, New York. The pair recently welcomed their second daughter, and the actress is sharing another important message, when it comes to balancing her family life with her professional career.
Amirah explained that it's important be "kind to yourself" while finding the balance, adding that she has been in conctact with other fellow. actors that are "in the game" and want to start a family. "I have a great support system and so I think the biggest thing," she said.
© GettyImages"If you have the right team around you, you can be a professional," she said, revealing that her husband plays a big part in her success. "My husband participates a lot, and I think [that is part of] whole vision of what it is to be a professional. He's supporting me so I can film, he's with her while I'm filming," she said.
Amirah's message for her daughters is also clear, as Nyla is already proud of her mom's career. "I found something I love to do and like, and I see her get excited," she said. "I'm like, one day you're gonna find something you love to do and I can't wait to see what that is," she continued. "I think it's a beautiful thing to teach your children and also to find balance."
© GettyImages"I'm on my way and I feel very proud of that and I feel mostly proud when I can pass that baton to another woman and say it's possible," the actress said about this new stage of her life, and what she is manifesting in the future. "I think it's [about] being that woman who is at peace with balancing it all, really at peace with the fact that I have a career, and raising my children, going on that journey, to be able to feel at peace and happy with both."
"I'm on my way and I feel very proud of that and I feel mostly proud when I can pass that baton to another woman and say it's possible"
Her excitement to play Dr. Gina Walker in 'Doc':
"I said yes to this role because at this point in my career, I'm reading things and, I need to choose things that are worth it," the actress said about her new role and her experience with the director on set. "It was such a discovery of the human body and how [Dr. Gina Walker] feels. "I said oh my God, I feel like I'm in college all over in grad school, you know, studying a character."
© GettyImagesTalking about visibility and diversity in the film and television industry, Amirah said that 'Doc' amplifies the voices of real people who work in the medical field. "I feel like it's a reflection of the world I live in," she said about the series. "You see people of different cultures and I think in a hospital especially where there's so many people of a population coming in."
© GettyImages"And when you talk about medicine, there are so many cultural things that should be respected, and I think that there's a certain level of ideas that, you know, if the person's voice is missing, they don't even know what they're missing," the actress stated. "I think that that's one of the things why diversity is so important because you have an opportunity to hear another way of thinking and to see cultural nuances."
"It was important to me before, but now with my daughters, I know they are watching and hearing my voice and they say 'That's mommy!'"
"I think we just see a beautiful vulnerability in Gina," the actress said, talking about an important moment in the series with Dr. Amy Larsen. "I just think this is the moment where we see her humanity. We see one of the challenges as a neuropsychiatrist, and from what I hear, it's a very real one in the real world. That's what's beautiful about TV shows: they let so many people feel seen."
