Juani Feliz did not follow a typical path to Hollywood. Long before stepping onto major television sets and film productions, the Dominican-American actress was immersed in science, studying biomedical engineering at Harvard University and working on groundbreaking medical research. Today, she is one of the most compelling Latina talents on screen, with roles in “Harlem,” “DMZ,” and “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, Feliz discovered acting as a teenager when she joined a school play at 14. Her first television appearance was quickly followed by a role on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Still, acting took a backseat when she entered Harvard, where she pursued a demanding academic path.
After graduating, Feliz worked at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering in Boston. There, she contributed to a clinical trial for a melanoma cancer vaccine and helped develop biomaterials and drug delivery systems. She even completed a master’s degree while building her scientific career.
Yet something inside her kept pulling her back to storytelling.
In 2016, she made the bold decision to return to acting. Since then, her career has steadily expanded with roles across television, film, and streaming platforms. Today, she stands at an exciting new chapter with the ABC series “911: Nashville,” where she plays Roxie Alba, a lead paramedic and physician within a team of high-stakes first responders.
Finding Herself in Roxie Alba
For Feliz, the connection to Roxie Alba was immediate. The character felt deeply personal. “Well, it was funny, because I had just done a pilot for a different potential spinoff that didn’t get picked up,” Feliz shared during our conversation. “I was heartbroken. Then the audition for this came through.”
© DisneyWhat happened next surprised even her. “When I read Roxie, I was like, ‘Oh no. I’m Roxie.’ I drew so many parallels between us right away,” she explained. “She was written as a queer Latina with a medical background, and I’m queer in real life and I actually studied biomedical engineering at Harvard. She pivoted careers, and I pivoted careers too.”
The similarities did not stop there. The character was originally written as a mother, another point of connection with Feliz’s own life. “It just felt like me,” she said. “I love the firefighter element too. It’s so badass.”
© DisneyOnce she began watching the “911” franchise to prepare, she was hooked. “It just seems like there’s never a dull moment. The emergencies are big and explosive, and then you dive into the characters’ personal lives and the family aspect of the firefighters.”
The Physical Reality Behind the Action
While the show delivers thrilling action on screen, filming it requires serious physical stamina. Feliz quickly learned that working in full firefighter gear under Tennessee heat is no easy task. “I didn’t realize how hot it got in Tennessee,” she said with a laugh. “Oh, my God. I’m from the Dominican Republic, so I know humidity. But Nashville is as hot and humid as the Caribbean.”
© DisneyEven with television adjustments to make the gear slightly lighter, the experience was intense. “We were wearing these turnouts in 97-degree weather. We were sweating a lot and running around carrying equipment,” she recalled. “I have the utmost respect for firefighters because it is not easy.”
The production also relies on real experts to maintain authenticity. “We have great advisors. We have firefighters, medics, doctors, nurses. A lot of our background actors are actual firefighters from Nashville, and they tell us exactly how they would approach situations.”
Why Representation Matters
One of the most meaningful aspects of the role is what it represents. Roxie Alba is a Latina leader in a demanding emergency environment, a space rarely centered around women of color. “It’s an awesome responsibility,” Feliz said. “As Latinos, we really want to see ourselves represented on screen, and we know the representation is not where it should be.”
For her, representation is about normalization rather than stereotypes. “The way we do that is by showing the world that we are in different spaces,” she explained. “We are first responders. We are part of the fabric of society.”
© DisneyShe also appreciates how the show allows Roxie to exist as a full character first. “We don’t lead with her sexuality or her ethnicity,” Feliz noted. “We just get to learn her as a person. Her strengths, her weaknesses, how she moves in the field.”
A Career Inspired by Big Dreams
Recognition has followed her work. She has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious Premios Soberano in the Dominican Republic, placing her in the same category as one of her idols, Zoe Saldaña. “She’s definitely a North Star in terms of my career,” Feliz said.
Her focus now is growth and versatility. “For me, it’s about getting better,” she explained. “I don’t want every role I play to feel the same. Every new project should show a different side of me as an actor.”
A Dream Shared with Her Family
Feliz’s parents initially hoped she would stay in a stable scientific career after Harvard. Leaving bioengineering for acting felt risky. “When I told my parents I was going back to acting, they were freaking out,” she said. “They were like, why would you leave a sure career for something that might not happen?”
Today, they proudly watch every episode. “My parents sit every Thursday to watch the show live,” Feliz shared. “They tell all their friends. They’re living the dream with me.”
© DisneyTheir belief remains the foundation of her journey. “They always told me, don’t say no to yourself. Believe in yourself. Anything is possible.”
With “911: Nashville” placing her at the center of a powerful new story, Juani Feliz is proving exactly that.
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