Amirah Vann

Amirah Vann, born on June 24, 1980, in Queens, New York, is an Afro-Latina actress with a rich educational background in the arts. Her heritage is a blend of Puerto Rican on her mother’s side and African-American on her father’s side, and she quickly developed a passion for performance. She pursued her academic endeavors in acting, first earning a BFA from Fordham University and subsequently an MFA from the prestigious NYU Tisch graduate acting program. This rigorous training laid the groundwork for her eventual transition from the Off-Broadway stage to prominent roles in film and television.

Vann’s career began to gain significant traction with her breakthrough performance as Ernestine in the WGN America period drama series “Underground” (2016–2017). Her portrayal garnered critical acclaim, including an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Following “Underground,” Vann further solidified her presence in television with a recurring role as attorney Tegan Price in ABC’s legal thriller series “How to Get Away with Murder” (2017–2020), a role that was later elevated to main cast status for seasons five and six. She also took on a recurring part as Special Agent Jazzma Fey in the final season of “Major Crimes.” Her versatility was also showcased as she voiced Sevika in Netflix’s Emmy-winning animated series “Arcane” (2021–2024).

In recent years, Amirah Vann continued to expand her filmography with notable projects. In 2022, she starred as Hattie Mae in Tyler Perry’s period romantic drama film “A Jazzman’s Blues,” a role that showcased her singing abilities and earned her critical praise from publications like The New York Times and TIME. She also played Diahann Carroll in the 2024 biographical drama film “Shirley.” Her upcoming projects include a main role as neuropsychiatrist Dr. Gina Walker in the new medical drama “Doc,” set to premiere from 2025–2026, further demonstrating her continued engagement in significant television productions.