Sierra McClain
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Sierra Aylina McClain (born March 16, 1994) is an American actress and singer. As an actress, she was first recognized for her role as Sierra in ''
Daddy's Little Girls ''Daddy's Little Girls'' is a 2007 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon, and starring Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., and Tracee Ellis Ross. It tells the sto ...
'' (2007). She had her breakthrough as Nessa Parker in ''
Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
'' (2016–2018), and is also best known for starring as Tanya Clifton in the television series '' Mindhunter'' (2019), and as Grace Ryder in '' 9-1-1: Lone Star'' (2020–2023). Her film roles have included starring as Tosha in the film '' Honey: Rise Up and Dance'' (2018), and as Carina in '' Shrink'' (2009). As a singer, she is best known as a member of her family pop/ R&B group, Thriii, with her sisters.


Early life

Sierra was born in Decatur, GA, the eldest daughter of father Michael and mother Shontell McClain. Michael is a music producer who produced
Solange Knowles Solange Piaget Knowles (; born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She expressed an interest in music from an early age and had temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, which featured her older sister ...
' debut album '' Solo Star'' (2002). Shontell (née Rucker) is a songwriter and former television screenwriter. Sierra has two younger sisters, actress/singers Lauryn (born January 9, 1997) and China Anne (born August 25, 1998), and a younger brother, actor Gabriel (born April 17, 2001).


Career


Acting


2005–2010: ''Daddy's Little Girls''

After Sierra's sister China was discovered in 2004 by a music executive who heard her sing, China was cast in the film ''
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'' (2005), with Sierra cast in the children's choir. In December 2005, while on the set of ''
Tyler Perry's House of Payne ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne'', also known as simply ''House of Payne'', is an American sitcom television series created and produced by Tyler Perry that premiered in syndication on June 21, 2006. The series revolves around a multi-generation ...
'', China introduced Sierra and Lauryn to a show producer and they performed a song for him. They were then cast in the film ''
Daddy's Little Girls ''Daddy's Little Girls'' is a 2007 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon, and starring Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., and Tracee Ellis Ross. It tells the sto ...
'' (2007) as the James sisters, and Sierra guest starred in the series, ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne.'' Sierra had a small role as a neighbor in the short film ''Six Blocks Wide'' (2008). The next year, she starred as Carina in the film '' Shrink'' alongside
Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor. Known for Kevin Spacey on screen and stage, his work on stage and screen, he List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Spacey, has received numerous accolades, including two ...
and
Keke Palmer Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer ( ; born August 26, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and television personality. She has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Act ...
.


2015–present: ''Empire'' and ''9-1-1: Lone Star''

In September 2015, McClain was cast in a Showtime pilot by
Lena Waithe Lena Waithe (; born May 17, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series '' The Chi'' (2018–present) and the BET comedy series ''Boomerang'' (2019–20) and '' Twenties'' (2020–2 ...
, but it was not picked up. In 2016, McClain was cast and began starring as Nessa Parker, a recurring role, in the television series ''
Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
'' (2016–2018). For the series, she sang several songs for the series' soundtrack, and her role as Nessa is considered her
breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the theatre, film and television industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of crit ...
. Sierra went on to star as Tosha in the dance film '' Honey: Rise Up and Dance'' (2018). She gained further recognition for other lead roles, starring as Tanya Clifton in the second season of the critically-acclaimed television series ''Mindhunter'' (2019), and as Grace Ryder in '' 9-1-1: Lone Star'' (2020–2023).


Music


2005–2010: 3mcclaingirls

Around 2005, Sierra, China and Lauren formed the music group, 3mcclaingirls. In 2008, the sisters began posting videos of themselves performing
cover songs In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song released ...
on their
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channel.


2011–2014: McClain Sisters and ''A.N.T. Farm''

After China landed her own show on the
Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
called '' A.N.T. Farm'' in 2011, the sisters changed their group name to "McClain Sisters", and sang two songs on the ''A.N.T. Farm'' soundtrack: "Perfect Mistake" and "Electronic Apology". Sierra was also a theme-music composer for the series. In December, the group performed their version of the song "
Jingle Bell Rock "Jingle Bell Rock" is an American Christmas music, Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then, and is generally considered Helms' list of sign ...
" at the 2011 ''
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''. In March 2012, the group signed with
Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by the Disney Music Group which focuses on pop, rock, alternative, hip hop and country genres, also specializing in recordings for a more mature audience not suitable for the flagship Wal ...
, released their song " Rise", and was the opening act in
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at the Houston Rodeo for
Big Time Rush ''Big Time Rush'' is an American musical sitcom television series created by Scott Fellows that originally aired on Nickelodeon from November 28, 2009, to July 25, 2013, featuring the band Big Time Rush portrayed as a fictional version of th ...
on their Better with U Tour. In April, they performed at the 2012
White House Easter Egg Roll Egg rolling, or an Easter egg roll, is a traditional game played with eggs at Easter. Different nations have different versions of the game, usually played with hard-boiled, decorated eggs. History In Christianity, for the celebration of East ...
. Most notably they released " The Great Divide", which peaked at number four on '' Billboard's'' US Kid Digital Songs. In November 2012, Sierra guest-starred with sister Lauryn and performed the song " Go" during the episode " chANTs of a Lifetime" for '' A.N.T. Farm.'' In December 2013, China announced on
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that '' A.N.T. Farm'' would be ending after its third season. Shortly afterward, McClain Sisters parted ways with
Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by the Disney Music Group which focuses on pop, rock, alternative, hip hop and country genres, also specializing in recordings for a more mature audience not suitable for the flagship Wal ...
, and again changed the group's name, from "McClain Sisters" to simply "McClain".


2014-2020: McClain

The group McClain continued performing, releasing songs and making appearances. They performed at the pre-show for the
2014 Radio Disney Music Awards The 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards were held on April 26, 2014, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was edited and aired on April 27, 2014 on Radio Disney and Disney Channel. The big winner was Selena Gomez tak ...
and presented an award, had their first headlining concert at the
House of Blues House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers (film), The Blues Brothers''. The ...
in
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, and performed at the 19th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day. From the summer to the fall of 2014, the group embarked on a state fair tour around the United States. Around 2016, the group McClain went on hiatus after all three sisters booked various acting roles.


2020-present: Thriii

In June 2020, the group McClain changed their name to " Thriii" and performed at '' Radio Disney Presents ARDYs Summer Playlist''.


Personal life

When she was young, Sierra resided with her family near Atlanta, Georgia, but they later moved to Los Angeles for China's acting career. Sierra is a
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, but says she considers herself more spiritual than religious. She wants to have a lot of children, in part because she considers her siblings as her best friends, and wants her own kids to experience the same.


Filmography


Film


Television


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McClain, Sierra Living people 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century African-American women singers American child singers American child pop musicians Hollywood Records artists African-American Christians Singers from Atlanta Walt Disney Records artists American film actresses American child actresses African-American child actresses 21st-century American women singers American television actresses Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state) Actresses from Atlanta American women pop singers 21st-century American singers Year of birth missing (living people)