Who is Amirah J? The actress who plays Ava, the daughter in High Potential, now in its second season. In this exclusive interview she talks about Ava finding her voice through art, her own growth as a performer, and what success means to her.
From navigating complex family dynamics to discovering her voice through art, Ava from High Potential has stepped into her own this season — and according to Amirah J, that journey is only just beginning.
As season two of High Potential has unfolded, viewers have watched Ava mature in a world that constantly evaluates young people — especially young Black girls. In a show that carefully unpacks identity, belonging, and generational differences, actress, Amirah J delivers a performance layered with vulnerability and quiet strength. When we spoke, she reflected on Ava’s growth, her own evolution as an actress, and what success truly means to her.
“I think she’s starting to express herself more through her art,” Amirah J says of Ava’s development this season. “She’s never really had something that she felt like she fit into, especially compared to her family, not having the high IQ like her brother. But now she’s realizing, ‘Oh, I’m really good at art.’ This is her place. This is what she can define herself as. And no one can take that from her.”
Art becomes Ava’s anchor, something entirely her own in a household shaped by expectations and quiet comparisons. This season also deepens Ava’s curiosity about her father and the similarities they share, adding new layers to her understanding of identity and belonging.
The series doesn’t shy away from exploring complex Black family dynamics, particularly within interracial households. Amirah hopes the story sparks meaningful conversations at home.
“Whether it’s a white mother looking at their biracial child, or a Black father looking at their biracial child — whatever the case may be — I just hope families can see each other’s perspectives more,” she explains. “You don’t have to fully relate to one another, and that’s okay. Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) can’t fix everything for Ava. She can’t fully understand what being a woman of color is — and that’s okay. But being able to see each other and understand who one another is? That’s really important.”
For Amirah J, portraying Ava marks another milestone in an already impressive career. She began acting young, appearing on Shameless alongside Jeremy Allen White, William H. Macy, and Emmy Rossum. Now, she shares the screen with Kaitlin Olson and Mekhi Phifer.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve had such incredible people around me and amazing actors to look up to,” she says. “As I grow, my work grows with me.”
Her definition of success is grounded in impact rather than industry metrics.
“If young girls can relate to Ava, that’s success to me,” she shares. “When people tell me they see themselves in her — that means I’ve done my job. Success isn’t about breaking records or money. It’s about doing quality work that resonates.”
A former dancer, cheerleader and gymnast, Amirah J sees clear parallels between those disciplines and her work on set.
“It takes a team to make a cheer routine good — the bases, the flyer, the coach. It’s the same with a show. It takes the actors, the sound team, the camera crew, the director. It takes a village.”
Looking ahead, she’s focused on range.
“I don’t want to get stuck playing one type of character,” she says. “I want to look back and say I did drama, I did comedy — I showed everything I can do.”
If Ava’s evolution is any indication, Amirah J is building a career defined not by limits, but by intention — one layered performance at a time.
