Amirah Vann is crafting a new era of Afro-Latina storytelling in Hollywood

Well, the love for acting started in high school. I went to Midwood High School, and my first role I ever played was Tina Turner. So it blended my two loves, which were music and becoming someone else. And I just realized that I was like, ‘Oh, I'm really, really enjoying this.’ And that was really by accident, and it was just a wonderful experience.

Soon after, I was cast in the school play as a maid. As a woman of color, it wasn’t lost on me that of course my first stage role would be that of a maid.

But what stayed with me was the connection to an audience, which I loved. The caretaking element felt very natural to me, and it has carried through in my work, but I also knew even then that we, as Afro Latinas, have a far wider range than what people often expect to see.

There’s honor in being a maid, but we do so much more. That awareness has fueled my desire to be part of a larger landscape of representation and what it is to be Afro-Latina in this industry.

There were many. At the time, A Different World was on, and I remember watching the movie Slam with Sonja Sohn. Finally seeing faces on screen that looked like mine was exciting. And I feel like that’s what we’re beginning to see now in the Latino community, more brown faces, more varied textures of hair. I’m proud to be part of shifting the narrative away from one singular image of what a Latina is.

Being raised by my Puerto Rican mom, it’s in me; it shows up as soon as I arrive on set. Whether they want it or not, they’re going to get it. I’ll never forget that on my first big TV role, Underground, one of the costume crew members noticed the way I was caring for them and said, “Oh my God, you are so Latina.” She picked up on it immediately because the only mothering I’ve known is the one I grew up with. It’s cultural, and it comes out naturally.

Sometimes it’s intentional, too. I’ll add Spanish whenever possible, letting directors know that I speak it so it can be part of the character’s world. That’s especially important when representing people who may feel marginalized or unable to express themselves in English. 

In roles like lawyers and doctors, having that second language is crucial. Even on Doc, I slipped in Spanish to comfort a woman, and that mattered deeply to me.

Representation has to be there not only on screen but also behind the scenes, board members and decision-makers, because hospitals and audiences are diverse. And when someone is sick and can only explain their pain in their native tongue, it makes all the difference to be understood.

Producing is part of it, but more than anything, my very presence is a statement. When I was younger, though, I didn’t realize that. 

I thought I had to change something to prove I was Latina. If the audition said “Latina,” I would run to my Dominican friend to blow my hair out straight overnight. I was so afraid that showing up with my thick, wavy Afro Latina hair would make people look at me and say, “But you’re not Latina.”

I regret not walking into those rooms with peace in my heart, letting my work and my culture prove otherwise. 

Even without speaking Spanish, and I'm fortunate that I do speak Spanish, you are still Latina. You are still welcome. And for me, Latino identity is rooted in joy and resilience. 

In my Boricua household, no matter the struggles, there was always laughter, music, and joy. We would play on pots and pans in the kitchen, and that joy is what I carry into my roles. People often tell me they see hope in my characters, and that is no accident.

From the moment I read about Gina as a neuropsychiatrist, I sensed compassion, hope, and possibility. Those qualities drew me to her, because they reflect what is possible in the human experience. Gina is an advocate for potential, her own, her patients’, and the people around her. And doing a series like this, rather than just a film, is a gift. It allows me to explore those deeper questions of what it means to truly care for others.

As a Latina, I also understand the weight of caregiving and the importance of representing my community with dignity. Latino neuropsychiatrists may be few in number, but they are out there, supporting one another. I want to amplify that reality and challenge stereotypes by showing the true range of our skills and capabilities.

We often face doubt, but we rise above it. To me, success, happiness, and peace are the strongest answers to any obstacle. As an actress, I focus on choosing roles that will make my family proud, because my daughters see my reflection in the work I do. That carries a great responsibility. But when we tell stories truthfully, the connection is real and authentic. People see themselves in it and say, ‘I’ve been there too.’ That, to me, is the greatest compliment.

I auditioned for the part, and I was happy to do it. At this stage in my career, I have no ego about that. My focus is on growth and new challenges.

We have to remember that when you go to any audition, it should be a two-way process, with both sides evaluating each other. This is where I might be spending the next year of my life, working closely with these people, so I need to make sure it is the right place for me as well.

Collaborating with Hank Steinberg, one of our executive producers and the creator of the show, along with Barbie Kligman, was a big factor in my decision. I first met Hank in the audition room, and that experience really stood out.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do the project was the chance to work with him. He clearly writes so well, and the script had already pulled me in, but what struck me was the way we were able to explore the scene together. We played, tried different things, and it felt more like a rehearsal than an audition.

For me, portraying truth and honesty matter more than anything, and the excitement from going on that journey with someone who genuinely loves the craft of acting, the craft of writing, and all the behind-the-scenes, “geeky” aspects of the work that I love too.

That was what made me say, “This is going to be fun.” He is as much of an artist as I consider myself to be, and that made me want to collaborate with him even more.

Before I became a mom, I was a titi (an aunt), and my nieces and nephews called me Tata. That’s when I first learned the lesson that little eyes are always watching, and that everything you do becomes an example. As I grew into that role with my nieces and later with my daughters, I realized how deeply my actions matter when they are rooted in truth and passion.

I have always tried to be intentional in the roles I choose, first for myself. I want to play characters who speak to the human condition and who carry dignity no matter their circumstances. Because those choices mean something to me personally, they also mean something to my children.

Whether I am portraying a woman from the streets or a professional like a lawyer or doctor, I believe every role can hold value and spark transformation. That commitment to authenticity guides me, both as an actress and as a mother.

I’m still learning how to balance it all. Some days I feel like I succeed, other days I feel like I fail. Episode Seven of DOC was especially tough; it was emotionally demanding and meant long hours, sometimes leaving before my kids woke up and coming home after they were asleep.

Because of that, I try to make the time we do have together meaningful. Even five minutes, if it is fully present, means the world. Instead of being distracted by my phone or work, I focus on connecting, asking my daughter about her drawing, or walking her to the mailbox to mail her tia a letter. Those small moments mean everything to her, and they mean everything to me, too.

At the end of the day, both children and adults crave connection. I have learned it is not about grand gestures but about honoring the small, everyday moments that build lasting connections.

She’s 4 years old and she’s starting to understand. Her favorite character is Sevika, my animation role for Arcane, which just won another Emmy. 

She’ll say, ‘Mommy, do the Sevika voice!’ and when I drop into it, she loses her mind. 

Sometimes she’ll see me on Doc and say, ‘Mommy, doctor, that’s you.’ But Sevika is her favorite.

I can’t give too much away, but in Season 2 we’ll see Gina in new ways. One storyline explores her evolving friendship with Dr. Amy Larsen, while another shows how Gina navigates the weight of past trauma, including the loss of a patient to suicide.

When I met with the writers, I expressed how important it was to show Gina’s coping mechanisms and her support system, especially her family. 

This season, we’ll see her imperfections, which makes her more relatable and human. I’m grateful that our creative team is expanding Gina beyond the role of ‘best friend’ and giving her a richer, more authentic portrayal.

It’s hard until you figure out what the terms actually mean. If you don’t grasp the meaning, memorization is so much harder. I always say you become a temporary ‘mini-doctor.’

Table reads are especially funny because the scripts are fresh and we’re all stumbling over the words. You’ll hear us butcher words like ‘pleurodesis.’ 

That's where we're still learning, but the great thing is that you get to find out what these things are. And it's like anything else, you take it one ingredient at a time and you say, "What does this mean? What am I talking about?"

And then once you know what you're talking about, it's shockingly much easier to memorize because you just go, "Oh, now I know what I'm saying and why I am saying it."

I would love to work on a romantic comedy. I feel like we need more of those from our community, particularly from an Afro-Latina perspective. It’s not just about the Afro-Latina characters; it’s about showcasing the culture and joy we experience. The more we have these representations, the more we can see each other’s humanity.

We live in a world where it's easy for some to dehumanize others to justify their actions. I believe that it's important to highlight our humanity. We need to amplify our voices as whole individuals, sisters, brothers, fathers, community members, and hard workers who are resilient. 

So, I'm envisioning a romcom. On the other hand, I would also love to explore an action-adventure project, something akin to ‘Game of Thrones.’ I want to blend my background in theater with my experience in television and film. Having been in the industry for so long, I've seen a beautiful progression and have gathered many tools along the way. 

Creating an action-adventure story would feel like a full-circle moment for me, combining everything in my toolkit to produce something elevated and almost theatrical. It would be incredibly exciting to bring that vision to life.

Truth matters more than results. When I was younger, I obsessed over outcomes, cry here, hit this beat there. I didn’t trust my preparation. 

Now I know: if you live long enough, you experience pain and joy, and those truths rise naturally.