The highly anticipated second season of 1923 is set to premiere on Paramount Plus and The Paramount Network starting February 23, bringing back the show's breakout star Aminah Nieves. Her character, Teonna Rainwater, faced harrowing times at a Catholic boarding school before her daring escape.

Hailing from Indiana, Nieves opened up about the difficulty in deciding to take on such a transformative role. In an intimate conversation with Deadline, she reflected on her journey, revealing that 1923 marked her first foray into Hollywood.

"I background acted for four or five years. I was working four jobs at once in New York, trying to make rent," she shared. Beyond acting, Nieves has a diverse set of skills and interests.

"I'm also a herbalist, so I was working at my herbal shop and doing my own practice outside of that. "I was also a doula and worked in a clothing store. But I quit all of those at once because I realized I wasn't fulfilled.

"The reason why I started background acting was not just because of the money, but because I wanted to know how it all worked."

Nieves' determination led her to make bold life choices. "After I saved up money, I quit and moved to my parents' house. I had $21 to my name when I booked 1923."

From a young age, she knew the stage was her calling.

She reminisced: "I did music. I thought I was going to be this traveling symphonic musician. And then I was like, psych! I'm going to actually go to New York and go to school for acting."

Away from the limelight, Nieves offers glimpses into her personal life on Instagram, sharing moments with her family and pursuing other passions.

The actress has made it no secret that family means the world to her, with both her mother and brother featuring on her Instagram account, demonstrating the tight bond she shares with them. Outside of family time, her passions are eclectic, ranging from travelling and embracing nature to a strong focus on health and wellbeing.

During an interview with The Vulture about the intense reaction her character's plight elicited, the star confessed: "For my dad, it was really, really hard for him to sit in the premiere. I actually had to walk him out during Teonna's scenes."

"We talked about it because he was crying really loud. He was very triggered."

Aside from her compelling role in the Yellowstone prequel, Aminah has secured a part in a buzz-worthy Netflix thriller. She'll act alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson.

The cast is further adorned with talents like Jared Harris, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso, Tracy Letts, and Moses Ingram, though details on this eagerly awaited film remain shrouded in mystery, with hints at a storyline anchored in the White House amid a gripping national crisis.

1923 season 2 airs on Paramount Plus and The Paramount Network from February 23