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Mckenna Grace (born June 25, 2006) is an American actress and singer. Born in
Grapevine, Texas Grapevine is a city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States, with minor portions extending into Dallas County, Texas, Dallas and Denton County, Texas, Denton counties. Its population was 50,631 in the 2020 United States Census, ...
, she began acting professionally at age five and relocated to Los Angeles, California, as a child. Her earliest roles included Jasmine Bernstein in the
Disney XD Disney XD is an American pay television television channel, channel owned by the Disney Branded Television and Disney Entertainment units of The Walt Disney Company. The channel is aimed primarily at older children ages six to eleven years old ...
sitcom '' Crash & Bernstein'' (2012–2014) and Faith Newman in the soap opera ''
The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...
'' (2013–2015). After several small roles, she starred as a child prodigy in '' Gifted'' (2017), a breakthrough for which she received a nomination for the
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer The Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (Actor/Actress) is one of the awards given to people working in the film industry by the Critics Choice Association (CCA), formerly Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA). It has been aw ...
. Grace subsequently appeared in the films '' I, Tonya'' (2017), '' Troop Zero'' (2019), and '' Captain Marvel'' (2019). During this time, she appeared in several horror projects, including '' The Bad Seed'' (2018), '' The Haunting of Hill House'' (2018), and ''
Annabelle Comes Home ''Annabelle Comes Home'' is a 2019 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Gary Dauberman, in his directorial debut, from a story by Dauberman and James Wan, who also served as producer with Peter Safran. It serves as a sequ ...
'' (2019). For playing the abused teenager Esther Keyes in ''
The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which has ...
'' (2021–2022), Grace was nominated for the
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series is an award that is presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance i ...
, making her the first child recognized for a guest acting Emmy. She appeared in the supernatural comedy films '' Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' (2021) and '' Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'' (2024) as Phoebe Spengler, receiving critical praise and a Critics' Choice Super Award nomination. In 2022, Grace wrote, executive produced, and starred in '' The Bad Seed Returns'', and portrayed Jan Broberg in '' A Friend of the Family''. After signing with Photo Finish Records in 2020, Grace released her debut single, "Haunted House", in 2021, as part of the ''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' soundtrack. She released two extended plays in 2023: ''Bittersweet 16'' and ''Autumn Leaves'', which explored
pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...
and
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...
sounds, respectively.


Early life

Grace was born on June 25, 2006, in
Grapevine, Texas Grapevine is a city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States, with minor portions extending into Dallas County, Texas, Dallas and Denton County, Texas, Denton counties. Its population was 50,631 in the 2020 United States Census, ...
. She is the only child of Ross Burge, an
orthopedic surgeon Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics (American and British English spelling differences, alternative spelling orthopaedics) is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgic ...
, and Crystal Grace, a medical sales representative. As a young child, she lived in Dallas-Fort Worth. She trained in cheerleading, gymnastics, tap, and ballet. She participated in
beauty pageants A beauty pageant is a competition in which the contestants are judged and ranked based on various physical and mental attributes. Per its name, beauty pageants traditionally focus on judging the contestants' physical attractiveness, sometimes sol ...
, where she was crowned "Tiny Miss Texas". Grace has never attended a regular school; she has been homeschooled and had on-set tutors. In 2017, Grace stated she was attending a creative writing workshop with other homeschooled students once a week. She took a college course on media aesthetics in 2021, in which she had to repeatedly write about ''
The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which has ...
'' without mentioning her own work on the show. Grace first expressed interest in acting at age four, after she received a collection of DVD films starring
Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple; April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat, who was Hollywood's number-one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. Later, she was na ...
from her great-grandmother. Grace's acting teacher, who was Morgan Fairchild's sister, advised that she should sign with an agent. Grace secured her first part in a commercial at the age of five. Her agent later recommended traveling to Los Angeles to see if she might land roles in films and television shows. After Grace secured parts in '' Crash & Bernstein'' (2012–2014) and '' Goodbye World'' (2013), her family moved to the city, with her father having a residency in Ventura.


Acting career


2012–2017: Early roles and breakthrough

Grace made her acting debut in
Disney XD Disney XD is an American pay television television channel, channel owned by the Disney Branded Television and Disney Entertainment units of The Walt Disney Company. The channel is aimed primarily at older children ages six to eleven years old ...
's ''Crash & Bernstein'', recurring as Jasmine Bernstein. She reprised her role in the show's second season, playing the role until 2014. During this time, she made a guest appearance on the Fox sitcom '' The Goodwin Games''. In 2013, she made her film debut in ''Goodbye World'', a comedy-drama that disappointed critics. Between 2013 and 2015, she had a recurring role as Faith Newman on the soap opera ''
The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...
''. In 2015, Grace portrayed young Caroline Forbes in ''
The Vampire Diaries ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural teen drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson (screenwriter), Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the The Vampire Diaries (novel series), book series ...
''. ''
TVLine ''TVLine'' is a website devoted to information, news, and spoilers of television programs. It covers various topics including the latest news on television, reviews, latest releases, and more. History In late 2010, ''Entertainment Weekly''s ...
'' included her appearance in a list of the best flashback castings on television: "It's one thing to look like the younger version of a character, but Grace even cried like Caroline". Grace appeared in three films released in 2016—'' Mr. Church'', ''
The Angry Birds Movie ''The Angry Birds Movie'' is a 2016 animated comedy film based on Rovio Entertainment's ''Angry Birds'' franchise, produced by Columbia Pictures and Rovio Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film was directed by Clay Kay ...
'', and '' Independence Day: Resurgence''—all of which received negative reviews. In September 2015, Grace joined the cast of the drama film '' Gifted'' (2017), which tells the story of Mary Adler (Grace), an intellectually gifted seven-year-old. She was selected for her "childlike charm yet old-soul maturity" and chemistry with co-star Chris Evans. She prepared for her role by watching several films about child prodigies, including '' I Am Sam'' (2001) and '' In America'' (2002). Grace used songwriting to help remember the complex mathematical problems that Mary solves in the film. It became her breakthrough role.
Richard Roeper Richard E. Roeper (born October 17, 1959) is an American writer. He is a former columnist and film critic for the '' Chicago Sun-Times'', where he wrote for 39 years dating back to 1986 until his departure in 2025. He co-hosted the television s ...
of the ''
Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'' found her to be "an irresistible force", praising her scenes with Evans as "sensational". For her performance, Grace received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. Grace portrayed the younger version of Tonya Harding in the biopic '' I, Tonya'' (2017). She said it was the most difficult role she had ever undertaken physically due to having to learn to ice skate. As Harding was a skilled jumper from a young age, Grace had a
double Double, The Double or Dubble may refer to: Mathematics and computing * Multiplication by 2 * Double precision, a floating-point representation of numbers that is typically 64 bits in length * A double number of the form x+yj, where j^2=+1 * A ...
who performed the spins, jump combinations, and double lutz in the film. ''I, Tonya'' was well received by reviewers, with particular praise for its cast's performances. Writing for '' RogerEbert.com'', the film critic
Christy Lemire Christy A. Lemire (née Nemetz; born August 30, 1972) is an American film critic and host of the movie review podcast ''Breakfast All Day''. She previously wrote for the Associated Press from 1999 to 2013, was a co-host of '' Ebert Presents at ...
complimented Grace's portrayal of Harding's angst and heartache.


2018–2020: Horror roles and further recognition

Grace appeared in the 2018 horror drama '' The Bad Seed'', a remake of the 1956 film of the same name, itself an adaptation of William March's 1954 novel. She portrays Emma Grossman, a girl who murders anyone who crosses her. Grace, who had longed to play a horror villain, was excited by the opportunity. In preparation for the role, she watched the 1956 film and focused on emulating the mannerisms of Rhoda Penmark (that film's version of Emma), including her gait and facials; Grace also consulted Patty McCormack, who played Rhoda in the 1956 film. Upon ''The Bad Seed'' September 2018 premiere on Lifetime, critics commended her performance. According to ''
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'', Grace's ability to be "unnerving, sweet and occasionally funny" is key to the success or failure of ''The Bad Seed'', and "she nails every beat"; similarly, ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' lauded her portrayal of "the calculatedness of Emma's demeanor while giving a giggly edge to lines". In 2018, Grace starred in
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
's horror series '' The Haunting of Hill House''. To prepare for the role of young Theodora "Theo" Crain, she dyed her hair dark brown. ''The Haunting of Hill House'', and its performances, received praise from critics. '' Now'' opined that she played the role with "wisdom way beyond her years". In the same year, she made a guest appearance on the supernatural horror show '' Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' holiday special entitled "A Midwinter's Tale". Grace played a younger version of the titular character, who is portrayed by
Kiernan Shipka Kiernan Brennan Shipka (born November 10, 1999) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as List of Mad Men characters#Sally Draper, Sally Draper in the AMC (TV channel), AMC drama series ''Mad Men'' (2007–2015), and Sabrina Spe ...
as a teenager. According to the series creator, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Shipka immediately suggested Grace for the role after hearing a pre-teen Sabrina would appear on the show. During this time, she began recurring on the CBS sitcom ''
Young Sheldon ''Young Sheldon'' is an American sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro which aired on CBS from September 25, 2017, to May 16, 2024. The series is a Spin-off (media), spin-off prequel to ''The Big Bang Theory'' that ...
'' as Paige Swanson, a child prodigy and rival to the titular character. Grace appeared in three films released in 2019. The first of these was a comedy-drama titled '' Troop Zero'', which features Grace as a misfit girl who wants to send messages to space and enters a nationwide competition alongside a group of Birdie Scouts. For ''Troop Zero'', she cut her hair asymmetrically, with one side near her shoulder and the other by her chin. Grace also tried not to wash her hair or maintain herself too well since she wanted to appear crazy like her character. Critics were generally favorable in their reviews of the film and lauded the cast. '' Variety'' described her as a "magnetic young performer", while ''The A.V. Club'' found her approach to her character "refreshingly non-intuitive", noting her portrayal of the feelings of loss through excitement rather than misery. Grace next portrayed a 13-year-old version of the eponymous character in the superhero film '' Captain Marvel''. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.1 billion and ranking among the highest-grossing films of all time. Grace's final release of 2019 was the supernatural horror film ''
Annabelle Comes Home ''Annabelle Comes Home'' is a 2019 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Gary Dauberman, in his directorial debut, from a story by Dauberman and James Wan, who also served as producer with Peter Safran. It serves as a sequ ...
'', which became the seventh installment in ''The Conjuring'' Universe. She starred as Judy Warren, daughter of the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The director
Gary Dauberman Gary Dauberman is an American screenwriter and director. He is best known for writing The Conjuring Universe horror films ''Annabelle (film), Annabelle'' (2014), ''Annabelle: Creation'' (2017), ''The Nun (2018 film), The Nun'' (2018), and ''Annab ...
stated he was "very, very fortunate and very, very happy" to cast Grace, citing her professionalism and talent. Upon release, ''Annabelle Comes Home'' grossed over $231 million and received mixed reviews; Grace's performance was praised, however. According to ''
The New York Observer ''The New York Observer'' was a weekly newspaper established in 1987. In 2016, it ceased print publication and became the online-only newspaper ''Observer''. The media site focuses on culture, real estate, media, politics and the entertainment ...
'', the "terrific" Grace had her own unique interpretation of the "horror movie kid" cliché that suits the "twisted age in which we find ourselves". She also voiced the younger
Daphne Blake Daphne Blake is a fictional character in the ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise. She is a core member of Mystery Incorporated and is depicted as coming from a wealthy family. She is noted for her beauty, fashion sense, and her knack for getting into dan ...
in 2020's '' Scoob!''. She was set to reprise the role in the follow-up '' Scoob! Holiday Haunt'', which was canceled in August 2022.


2021–present: Mainstream success

In 2021, Grace began recurring on the
Hulu Hulu (, ) is an American Subscription business model, subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on October 29, 2007, initially as ...
dystopian series ''The Handmaid's Tale'', an adaptation of the 1985 novel of the same name, as Esther Keyes, an intelligent and rebellious 14-year-old who has been abused,
rape Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...
d, and married off to an older Commander. She was selected for her ability to portray scariness and awfulness. Grace said that it was vital for someone the same age as the character play the part since all the abuse Esther endured was experienced by many 14-year-olds on a daily basis: "If it makes people upset or uncomfortable that an actual 14-year-old is having to talk about how she was raped and it's ''acting'', then maybe that will make you want to do something for actual girls who are going through this." The show's fourth season premiered on April 27, 2021, to positive reviews. ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' commented that Grace had "a memorable turn as a tyrannical child bride", and ''
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
'' commended her "remarkable self-possession". At the
73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards The 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards honored the best in artistic and technical achievement in United States, American prime time television programming from June 1, 2020, until May 31, 2021, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts ...
, Grace received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, making her the tenth youngest actor nominated at the Emmys and the first child recognized for a guest acting award. In 2021, Grace voiced a silly and energetic horserider in the DreamWorks animated film '' Spirit Untamed'' and played the young version of
Annabelle Wallis Annabelle Frances Wallis (born 5 September 1984) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jane Seymour in Showtime (TV network), Showtime's period drama ''The Tudors'' (2009–2010), Grace Burgess in the BBC drama ''Peaky Blinders (T ...
's character in the horror film ''
Malignant Malignancy () is the tendency of a medical condition to become progressively worse; the term is most familiar as a characterization of cancer. A ''malignant'' tumor contrasts with a non-cancerous benign tumor, ''benign'' tumor in that a malig ...
''. Grace had a leading role as Phoebe Spengler in the supernatural comedy '' Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' (2021), the sequel to ''
Ghostbusters ''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, three eccentric ...
'' (1984) and ''
Ghostbusters II ''GhostbustersII'' is a 1989 American Supernatural fiction, supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson ...
'' (1989). For the role, she cut and dyed her hair. The film was released theatrically on November 19, 2021, and became a moderate commercial success, grossing over $204 million on a budget of $75 million. Critics were generally ambivalent towards the film, though they commended Grace's performance.
Mark Feeney Mark Feeney (born July 28, 1957) is an author and arts writer for ''The Boston Globe'' for over four decades. He is the author of two books, ''Nixon at the Movies'' (2004) and ''Nixon and the Silver Screen'' (2012). Feeney is a native of Cambridg ...
of ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
'' asserted that " 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife''has its moments, most of them owing to a quite-phenomenal Mckenna Grace", and ''
Gizmodo ''Gizmodo'' () is a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton. ''Gizmodo'' also includes the sub-blogs ''io9'' and ''Earther'', which focus on pop ...
'' considered her performance "instantly unforgettable nbsp;... truly revelatory, ndstar-making". Grace was nominated for the Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie. At the start of the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
in 2020, filming for ''The Handmaid's Tale'' halted. Grace and her father decided to write a follow-up to ''The Bad Seed'', knowing that Lifetime wanted to air a sequel. He wrote the general structure of the film while she gave feedback, primarily on the dialogue. According to Lifetime's executive vice president Tanya Lopez, the network was "blown away" by Grace's concept for the sequel. Grace, who reprised her role as Emma, found acting her own script to be a unique experience: "It wasn't my interpretation of someone else's writing or character ... It was me being able to act out the scenes as I had envisioned them." The film, titled '' The Bad Seed Returns'', premiered on Lifetime on September 5, 2022. It was the first project produced by Grace's company, Beautiful Ghosts Productions, with her also serving as executive producer. In the same month, Grace reprised her role as Esther in the fifth season of ''The Handmaid's Tale''. ''Den of Geek'' favorably compared her screams in the season's sixth episode to those of Linda Blair in ''
The Exorcist ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin from a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on The Exorcist (novel), his 1971 novel. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller (play ...
'' (1973), stating they "distilled seasons of ''The Handmaid’s Tale'' protest gainst misogynyinto one primal outburst". In March 2022, Grace joined the cast of
Peacock Peafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus '' Pavo'' and one species of the closely related genus '' Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred t ...
's
true crime True crime is a genre of non-fiction work in which an author examines a crime, including detailing the actions of people associated with and affected by the crime, and investigating the perpetrator's Motive (law), motives. True crime works often ...
miniseries '' A Friend of the Family'' as Jan Broberg—who was kidnapped twice and sexually abused by a family friend as a child—sharing the role with Hendrix Yancey. While filming, Grace tried to spend as much time with Yancey as she could and copied her mannerisms and smile. Grace also worked alongside Broberg, who produced the show; the two discussed subtle gestures to show stress, such as nail biting. Grace described the role as "really emotionally and sometimes physically exhausting"; she had to push herself to new limits, and blend three versions of Broberg (her own, Yancey's, and the real-life Broberg). ''A Friend of the Family'' premiered on October 6, 2022, to positive critical reviews;
Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an American nonprofit organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.
argued that "Grace does a terrific job conveying the mixture of vulnerability and growing dread her character is experiencing". The following year, Grace starred in the
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
adventure film ''
Crater A crater is a landform consisting of a hole or depression (geology), depression on a planetary surface, usually caused either by an object hitting the surface, or by geological activity on the planet. A crater has classically been described ...
'', playing Addison, the daughter of a respected scientist from Earth. Grace decided to sign onto the film after the screenplay made her cry. She described it as "really special", admiring its ending, heart, dialogue, and the relationships between the characters. ''Crater'' was released on
Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
on May 12, 2023, to generally positive reviews. Articles in '' Entertainment.ie'' and ''Variety'' considered Grace to be the film's finest performer. Later that year, she led '' PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie'', which is based on the titular television series, as the voice of Skye. Grace reprised her role as Phoebe in '' Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'', which was released in March 2024. In preparation, Grace analyzed
Harold Ramis Harold Allen Ramis ( ; November 21, 1944 – February 24, 2014) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. His film acting roles include Egon Spengler in ''Ghostbusters'' (1984) and ''Ghostbusters II'' (1989), and as Russell Ziskey in '' St ...
's performance as Egon Spengler, which she described as her "biggest inspiration". ''The New York Observer'' critic Emily Zemler wrote that she "is very compelling and should have been allowed to properly lead the film".
Frank Scheck Frank Scheck is an American film critic. He is best known for his reviews in the ''New York Post'' and ''The Hollywood Reporter''. He formerly edited ''STAGES Magazine'' and worked as a theater critic for the ''Christian Science Monitor ''Th ...
of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' said ''Frozen Empire'' indicates that she could become "the 'Ghostbusters''franchise's MVP". Grace later starred as Spider in the drama film '' Spider & Jessie'' (2025), in which two sisters hide their mother's body after a fatal overdose. She also appeared in Amy Wang's '' Slanted'' (2025), a
satirical Satire is a genre of the visual arts, visual, literature, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently Nonfiction, non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ...
drama.


Upcoming projects

, Grace is set to appear in Jan Komasa's ''
Anniversary An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded. Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days. These could be the List of national independence days, date of independen ...
'', a thriller about a very close family split apart by a new movement; '' Nobody 2'' (2025); and '' Scream 7'' (2026). In April 2025, she was revealed to be cast in '' Sunrise on the Reaping'' as Maysilee Donner.


Reception and artistry

Grace is known for portraying younger versions of lead characters. In 2018, '' IndieWire'' cited Grace as one of the best child television actors at the time. ''The Hollywood Reporter'' named her one of the top 30 stars under age 18 in 2018 and 2019. The following year, the Hollywood Critics Association included Grace in a list of the "Next Generation of Hollywood". In 2022, Yahoo! Entertainment called her "one of the most successful and prolific child actors of her generation". Following several roles in horror projects, including ''The Bad Seed'' and ''Annabelle Comes Home'', ''
TheWrap ''TheWrap'' is an American online news organization that covers the business of entertainment and media. It was founded by journalist Sharon Waxman in 2009 and is based in Los Angeles. The site features original reporting, analysis, and editor ...
'' dubbed her a
scream queen A scream queen (a wordplay on ''screen queen'') is an actress who is prominent and influential in horror films, either through a notable appearance or recurring roles. Scream king is the equivalent for men. Notable scream queen examples include ...
. According to ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'', Grace has "become a staple of the modern horror genre". Commenting on Grace's performance in ''Gifted'', Bill Goodykoontz of ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' described her as "the rare child actor who doesn't seem like she's trying to hit emotional marks".
Marc Webb Marc Preston Webb (born August 31, 1974) is an American filmmaker and music video director. He made his feature film directorial debut in 2009 with the romantic comedy '' (500) Days of Summer.'' He then directed ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (2012 ...
, who directed Grace in ''Gifted'', praised her comedic timing, which he described as "a different kind of sophistication that is very deep and very pure and really sincere". Grace stated that when acting in more dramatic and intense scenes, she "tricks" herself into feeling emotions, and "then you have to figure out how to disassociate it from your real emotions". She described acting intense feelings, such as fury and hatred, as "just something that happens" and a mix of research and intuition. To connect to characters and give them more depth, Grace composes music and creates playlists that she listens to while on set. Of her role choices, Grace commented that she aims to act in projects in which she can tell "important stories" that have genuine meaning to her.


Music career

Grace signed with Photo Finish Records in 2020 and released her debut single, "Haunted House", alongside a music video in November 2021. She co-wrote the song alongside Lily Kincade, with
Nathaniel Motte Nathaniel Warren Seth Motte (born January 13, 1984) is an American recording artist, record producer, songwriter, and film composer from Boulder, Colorado. He is a member of the electropop duo 3OH!3 with Sean Foreman. He has also written and p ...
as producer. Grace explained that the song was written during a rough period of her life in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that one "could take it as a breakup song, but it could also be about a friend or a family member or any kind of relationship that's ended".
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
wrote that the song "has some surprising twists and turns and spells out the beginnings of an exciting new career for Mckenna Grace". While not originally written for ''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'', the song was eventually added to the film's soundtrack and used for the closing credits. Grace released her second and third singles, "Do All My Friends Hate Me?" and "You Ruined Nirvana", in 2022. On November 18, 2022, she released "Self Dysmorphia", which was inspired by her struggles with
scoliosis Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
. On putting out the single, Grace said: "it's a little bit weird to put these deeply personal thoughts and struggles out into the world. But, hopefully, ... people who are going through the same thing will feel less alone." She also performed the song on ''
The Today Show ''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'') is an American morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was the first of its genre on American television ...
'' in December 2022. Preceded by the songs "Post Party Trauma", "Ugly Crier", and "Checkered Vans", Grace's debut
extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
(EP), titled ''Bittersweet 16'', was released on March 3, 2023. She wanted to write a full-length album, but Photo Finish suggested she begin with an EP. Later that year, she recorded the single "Bark to the Beat" for the ''PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie'' soundtrack. Grace's second EP, ''Autumn Leaves'', was released on October 13, 2023. According to ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'', its single "Catch Me" showcases her skills in storytelling and "woozy, richly textured pop" music. Grace has since released the songs "Natalie", "Gentleman", and "Swim Team", and performed at the music festival
Lollapalooza Lollapalooza () is an annual American four-day music festival held in Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park in Chicago. It originally started as a touring event in 1991, with Chicago becoming its permanent location beginning in 2005. Music genres i ...
.


Musical style and influences

Growing up, Grace listened to a variety of genres, including heavy metal and rap, and artists, including
Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...
and
Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James Shaffer, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band ...
. She identified Swift and
Lana Del Rey Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born June 21, 1985), known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Lana Del Rey discography, Her music is noted for its melancholic exploration of Glamour (presentation), glamor and Romanc ...
as her key music influences because of their storytelling and the relatable, vivid imagery in their lyrics. She was inspired to begin playing the ukulele after watching the singer and ukulele player Grace Vanderwaal win ''
America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is an American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distributed by) and ...
'' in 2016. Grace decided to start writing her own music after listening and emotionally connecting to Conan Gray's album '' Kid Krow'' (2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic. ''Bittersweet 16'' sound was primarily influenced by
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
,
Hole A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid Body (physics), body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in m ...
, and
Roar A roar is a type of animal vocalization that is loud, deep and resonating. Many mammals have evolved to produce roars and other roar-like vocals for purposes such as long-distance communication and intimidation. These include various species of ...
; its emotional rawness took inspiration from
Mitski Mitsuki Laycock (born September 27, 1990), also known as Mitski Miyawaki, and known professionally as Mitski, is an American singer-songwriter. She Self-publishing, self-released her first two albums, ''Lush (Mitski album), Lush'' (2012), and '' ...
. ''Bittersweet 16'' has a
pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...
and
pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
sound, with its songs discussing themes of heartache,
body image Body image is a person's thoughts, feelings and perception of the aesthetics or sexual attractiveness of their own body. The concept of body image is used in several disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, psycho ...
, and
social anxiety Social anxiety is the anxiety and fear specifically linked to being in social settings (i.e., interacting with others). Some categories of disorders associated with social anxiety include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, autism spectrum dis ...
. ''Autumn Leaves'', on the other hand, explores the
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...
genre and focuses on the subject of young heartbreak. Grace has called her own sound "kind of pop-ish" but does not want to "say he isa certain music genre and sound cringy". According to
MTV News MTV News was the news production division of MTV. The service was available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network and an online news team. In 2016, MTV refreshed the MTV News brand to compete with the likes of BuzzFeed and ...
, her songs prefer "theatricality without bombast to tell her story". She considers songwriting her "therapy" and uses it as a way to express all of her emotions, both positive and negative.


Personal life

Grace stated in 2022 that she prefers to maintain a more private personal life to ensure she "can have a childhood and figure erselfout as a teenager"; her mother described their home life as "extremely normal". Grace said she separates herself from her characters by spending time with her family and dog. She is active on the social networking services
Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
, Twitter, and
TikTok TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
. As of 2021, Grace's mother managed accounts on the former two and approved Grace's posts on TikTok. According to ''Variety'', Grace's carefully monitored social media had an additional layer of self-protection since it lacked the "everyday, confessional transparency" that was the standard for her generation. Grace has stated that, as a young female in the film industry, there will inevitably be "very disturbing and gross" remarks directed towards her. She is a
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
. Grace was diagnosed with
scoliosis Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
at age 12. While filming ''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'', she wore a back brace to correct her spine, but found it uncomfortable and "ended up not wearing it as much as heshould have" due to her shooting schedule, she was only able to wear it for the night instead of the intended 22 hours a day. After her spinal curvature surpassed 45 degrees, she was required to have surgery to prevent it from impacting her lungs. In October 2022, she underwent spinal surgery, which reduced the curvature to six degrees.


Credits

According to the review aggregator site
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, Grace's most critically acclaimed films include ''
Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 Gothic novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a Sapience, sapient Frankenstein's monster, crea ...
'' (2015), ''Gifted'' (2017), ''I, Tonya'' (2017), ''Captain Marvel'' (2019), ''Troop Zero'' (2019), ''Annabelle Comes Home'' (2019), ''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' (2021), ''Crater'' (2023), ''Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie'' (2023), and ''Slanted'' (2025).


Awards and nominations


Notes


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grace, Mckenna 2006 births Living people 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American women singers Actresses from Texas American child actresses American child pop musicians American child singers American folk singers American film actresses American pop rock singers American rock songwriters American television actresses American ukulele players American voice actresses American women pop singers American women singer-songwriters People from Grapevine, Texas Pop punk singers Singer-songwriters from Texas American women folk singers