Amber Shana Williams has spent years bringing Tamar to life in The Chosen, the global phenomenon that has captivated audiences with its portrayal of the people whose lives intersected with Jesus. As the series approaches its highly anticipated final chapter, Williams returns to a character whose courage, compassion, and resilience have continued to resonate with viewers around the world.
Season 6 of The Chosen debuts exclusively on Prime Video November 15, with the season finale arriving December 6. The story will then move toward a standalone theatrical finale scheduled for spring 2027, marking another milestone in the series’ journey.
For Williams, reprising Tamar is about more than returning to a familiar role. It is an opportunity to revisit a woman whose complexity has become increasingly clear over the years. Through Tamar, Williams has explored what it means to take up space, remain compassionate in uncertain circumstances, and find strength when life takes an unexpected turn.
As her time with the beloved character approaches its next chapter, Williams is also making room for new creative possibilities. From writing and personal exploration to fashion, travel, and a renewed appreciation for rest, the actress is embracing a season of life that allows her to discover who she is beyond the character audiences have come to love.
In this conversation with FEMI Magazine, Williams reflects on Tamar’s lasting impact, the responsibility of representation, her evolving personal style, and the stories she hopes to tell next.
Photo Credit:
Photographer: Jonny Marlow
Stylist: Anna Schilling
Hair Stylist: LaRae Burress
Makeup Artist: Dion Xu
FEMI Magazine: You’re reprising your role as Tamar in Season 6 of The Chosen, as the series moves toward its final chapter. What has it meant to you to grow alongside this character, and how has your understanding of Tamar evolved throughout the years?
Amber Shana Williams: I believe that the longer I play Tamar, the more I truly understand her. In the beginning, I thought of her as bold and compassionate, but she is so much more complex than that. Women have never been monoliths. I see now the risks she must have taken. She was an Egyptian-Ethiopian woman moving alone through a world that wasn’t built for her, among people who didn’t look like her, and she still chose to show up and loudly take up space. That kind of courage transcends time. Tamar and I have been growing up together for years now, and I’ve had to learn some of her lessons the long way around. To me, she represents acceptance, empathy, and resilience.
FEMI Magazine: Tamar stands out as the series’ only prominent Egyptian-Ethiopian character, and her story resonates with people who have had to fight for their place in the world. How do you approach the responsibility of portraying a character whose identity and journey hold such significance for viewers?
Amber Shana Williams: So many women who look like me have had to fight for a place in rooms that weren’t designed with them in mind, and they rarely get to see that experience reflected back to them with any real care. For me, honoring that means letting Tamar be a whole person, flawed and authentic. She gets to be outspoken, tender, stubborn, and full of the complexity of doubt. That’s what being human looks like. So I make a point of approaching her story with respect and intention.
FEMI Magazine: With Season 6 bringing audiences closer to the conclusion of The Chosen, what can you share about Tamar’s journey this season, and what do you hope viewers take away from her character’s evolution?
Amber Shana Williams: I can’t give much away yet, but I can say that Season 6 asks a lot of everyone. These were real people living through a time of enormous political and social upheaval, and none of them had the luxury of knowing how things would end. That’s not so different from the way we live today. Tamar is tested in ways that will feel very human to anyone who has ever had their world turned upside down. What I hope viewers take away is that we aren’t defined by how we handle the easy days. We’re defined by who we choose to be when everything falls apart.
FEMI Magazine: After spending years portraying Tamar, you’ve described this season of your life as one of openness and exploration beyond The Chosen. How has playing Tamar shaped you personally, and what parts of yourself are you excited to discover or express in this next chapter?
Amber Shana Williams: Playing Tamar has taught me to take up space without apologizing for it, and I’m learning to bring that into my personal life too, which has honestly been the most challenging part. When people love a character this much, they sometimes expect you to be her. I’m not always graceful, I’m not always “right,” and I’m certainly not always fine. I think there’s a real freedom in admitting that. Right now I’m writing more and finding new ways to express my creativity. I’m letting myself be curious again, and I’m excited to meet the parts of me that haven’t had the chance to speak yet. I’ve also gained a more profound respect for rest, which was never something we were supposed to “earn.”
FEMI Magazine: Having lived in Spain for more than a decade and drawn inspiration from Parisian fashion and American creativity, your personal style reflects a blend of cultural influences. How have these experiences shaped your fashion identity, and what does your ideal balance of European polish and American fearlessness look like?
Amber Shana Williams: I think my ideal balance is something beautifully tailored with one detail that makes people do a double take. Europe taught me that quality doesn’t need to shout its arrival, and America taught me that sometimes it’s fun when it does. I was often the most dressed-up person in the room in Spain, and I’ve made my peace with that. These days I like to wear something that feels effortless and then add just enough “extra” to remind everyone that I came to have a good time.
FEMI Magazine: You’ve described your off-duty style as playful with color and structure, while your recent red-carpet looks lean toward sensual, vintage-inspired fashion. How do you use clothing to express different sides of your personality, and what makes an outfit feel authentically you?
Amber Shana Williams: I think every woman is more than one thing, and my closet just happens to reflect every bit of that. My off-duty style is where I get to play and experiment without any pressure. The red carpet is where I channel that old Hollywood vintage charm. An outfit feels authentically me when I can forget I’m wearing it and just be present.
FEMI Magazine: Living in Spain for over a decade influenced your approach to slowing down and making room for rest. While balancing your career and managing an autoimmune disorder, how have you redefined self-care for yourself, and what unconventional practices have helped you stay grounded?
Amber Shana Williams: Spain gave me a real appreciation for sobremesa. It’s the habit of sitting around the table long after the meal is over, just talking and enjoying each other. Nobody is rushing off to the next thing. Here, we tend to treat rest like something we have to earn. Living with an autoimmune disorder taught me that my body doesn’t care much about what I think I’ve earned. So I’ve learned to listen sooner. Some days that means saying no to things I’d love to do, and I’m finally learning to do that without guilt.
FEMI Magazine: Travel has become an important part of your personal reset, and you’re ready to explore grittier roles beyond the grace often associated with Tamar. How have your experiences outside the United States influenced the stories you want to tell, and what kinds of characters are you most eager to bring to life next?
Amber Shana Williams: Travel has a way of humbling you. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve met women living full, complicated lives that rarely make it to the screen, and those are the women I want to play. After years in a role defined by grace, I’d love to play someone who makes questionable decisions and lives life as a walking contradiction. Give me someone with a past, with flaws, and with a few secrets. I think that’s where the most honest work lives.
As Amber Shana Williams prepares to return as Tamar, her journey reflects the power of allowing a character to evolve while remaining open to personal transformation. Her perspective on representation, cultural identity, creativity, and rest reveals an artist who understands that growth often begins when we give ourselves permission to be more than what others expect. With Season 6 of The Chosen bringing audiences closer to the story’s conclusion, Williams is also looking toward new creative territory, eager to explore characters whose imperfections are as compelling as their strengths. Whether on screen, through her writing, or in the choices she makes beyond her career, Williams continues to embrace the courage to take up space, tell meaningful stories, and discover what comes next.
Photo Credit:
Photographer: Jonny Marlow
Stylist: Anna Schilling
Hair Stylist: LaRae Burress
Makeup Artist: Dion Xu
