AXN Asia’s latest medical drama, “Doc,” features acclaimed Canadian actress Molly Parker in the lead role. The series offers an authentic portrayal of the medical world, delving into deeply personal and emotionally charged narratives.
Inspired by the successful Italian series “Doc – Nelle tue mani,” the show is rooted in real-life medical cases. Molly Parker portrays Dr. Amy Larsen, the Chief of Internal Medicine at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis. After a traumatic brain injury erases the last eight years of her memory, Dr. Larsen must navigate a world where she no longer recognizes her patients, colleagues, or even her own family. This compelling storyline explores themes of resilience, healing, and the complexities faced by healthcare professionals.
In this interview, Molly Parker talks about why she resonates strongly with “Doc”, working alongside co-star Omar Metwally and the challenges faced when filming this 10-episode series.
Tell us about “Doc” and what drew you to this project?
I’m drawn to characters we meet at the moment they lose everything because that’s when they truly have a choice—you either give up, lie down, and let it defeat you, or you find a way to change. The character of Amy in “Doc” is shaped by two such pivotal moments in her life, where she loses everything and makes both of those choices. In the show, we see her embody both sides of this struggle, revealing different aspects of her personality.
All of this unfolds within the framework of a medical drama, complete with the genre’s most beloved elements—the high stakes, an intriguing love triangle, and a mystery illness of the week. It all works seamlessly, but at the heart of it is this deeply complex woman. That’s what drew me to it.
What do you hope audiences will take away when they watch “Doc”?
I think some of the feedback I’ve been receiving is that the show has a tremendous amount of heart—it’s big-hearted—and that’s exactly the kind of thing I want to watch right now. It’s also dynamic and compelling; I want people to be entertained by it and to have the chance to go on this journey with these complex, flawed, but ultimately good women.
Were there any particularly challenging or rewarding scenes that stuck in your mind?
Amy relentlessly pressures her ex-husband, Michael, to explain what happened to their son because she simply doesn’t understand. Eventually, he lets her in on the secret he’s been holding onto. We shot the scene in a large museum in Toronto—a natural history museum with enormous dinosaur exhibits. It’s an incredibly intimate moment between two people in immense pain, set against a backdrop that showcases the vastness of history. There was something profoundly moving about that contrast. It was a challenging scene to film, but it turned out beautifully—it’s a standout moment at the end of episode four.
How was your experience working with Omar Metwally?
He’s a beautiful actor. He plays my husband (Dr. Michael Hamda) in “Doc” and he’s just really wonderful in the show. He plays a character who is quite officious, he runs the hospital the administrative side of the hospital and yet he’s such a tender man, Omar is such a tender character. The thing about the show is that even though Amy is at the center of it, her amnesia affects all of the people around her. It affects every one of her relationships and Omar is wonderful.
How does this project differ from some of the other projects you’ve worked on?
Every show comes with its own challenges, and for me, the biggest challenge with “Doc” is simply the sheer volume of work. Almost every scene revolves around Amy or has her at its centre, so filming feels like a marathon. On any given day, I’m playing different aspects of her character across multiple scenes—some set in different timelines, some before she loses her memory, others after her son dies. There’s a lot to juggle.
Once I found my footing and felt like I had the emotional stamina to take on the work each day—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—I really embraced it. I love working hard, and that’s probably something Amy and I have in common. It’s not a chore; it’s a joy—but it is demanding.
Was it emotionally taxing playing in this role?
The first couple of episodes are quite emotional—we learn all about Amy, setting up the entire show, but we also uncover the tragedies she has endured. I enjoyed exploring that side of the character, but it’s emotionally exhausting, and that level of intensity isn’t sustainable long-term. Besides, no one would want to watch a show that’s that heavy all the time.
By the third episode, the show really finds its rhythm—it becomes what it’s meant to be. There’s a bit more fun, a lighter touch. In a way, Amy takes on the role of a detective in her own life. She’s not just suffering memory loss; she’s lost her entire sense of identity. She wakes up believing it’s eight years earlier—she thinks she’s still married to the love of her life, still has her beautiful family, and still loves her job, though it’s not everything to her. But all of that is gone.
What’s even more unsettling is that the woman she remembers being is very different from the one everyone else around her has known. As a diagnostician, she has an innate ability to uncover the truth, and after losing herself so completely, she turns that skill inward. Amy essentially becomes a detective in her own life, trying to piece together who she really is.
Catch Molly Parker in “Doc” on AXN Asia, AXN HD available at Astro on Ch 701 and at Unifi TV on Ch 453.
