Priah Ferguson
{{short description|American actress (born 2006)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Priah Ferguson
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = Ferguson in 2019
| birth_name = Priah Nicole Ferguson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2006|10|1}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 2015–present
| known_for = Stranger Things
}}
Priah Nicole Ferguson (born October 1, 2006){{Cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/stranger-things-priah-ferguson-erica-sinclair-inspired-viral-meme|title=Erica Sinclair From "Stranger Things" Inspired Your New Favorite Meme|website=Teen Vogue|date=11 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-20}} is an American actress from Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known for her role as Erica Sinclair on the Netflix's series Stranger Things.{{Cite web|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/priah-ferguson/|title=Priah Ferguson: 9 facts you need to know about Stranger Things' Erica|website=PopBuzz|language=en|access-date=2019-08-20}} Ferguson began acting at a young age and her career spans TV and film.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=17 Questions: Priah Ferguson Talks Stranger Things and Reveals Her Favorite Character |url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a40117950/priah-ferguson-interview-seventeen-questions/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Seventeen |language=en-US}}
Early life
Ferguson was born on October 1, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia.{{Cite web |last=DeCamp |first=Mandie |date=25 July 2019 |title=Stranger Things' Priah Ferguson Doesn't Know What a VHS Tape is and Its Hilarious - Watch |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/stranger-things-priah-ferguson-doesnt-know-what-a-vhs-tape-is-watch/ |access-date=2019-12-03 |website=Us Weekly |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/priah-ferguson-stranger-things-super-fun-being-that-annoying/bNiLroZggytvFVn4CoCdeM/|title=Priah Ferguson on 'Stranger Things 2': 'Super fun being that annoying'|last=Ho|first=Rodney|website=AJC|language=en|access-date=2019-12-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inspiredbysavannah.com/2012/06/spotlight-on-mom-adjua-ferguson-of-pj.html|title=Spotlight on Mom -- Adjua Ferguson|website=Inspired by Savannah|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}
Career
= Early work and motivations =
Ferguson was motivated to start acting after watching the films Crooklyn and Daddy's Little Girls.{{Cite press release|url=https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/stranger-things-announces-new-cast-members-for-season-3|title=Stranger Things Announces New Cast Members for Season 3|website=Netflix|language=en|access-date=2019-11-21}} In 2015, she began acting in locally-produced short and independent films.{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/162348/the-untold-truth-of-priah-ferguson/|title=The Untold Truth of Priah Ferguson|last=Santilli|first=Morgana|website=Looper|date=15 August 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-12-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2019/07/03/Stranger-Things-Netflix-Priah-Ferguson-Pittsburgh/stories/201906240091|title='Stranger Things' brings a new opportunity for actress Priah Ferguson|last=Sciullo|first=Maria|website=Pittsburgh Post Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}{{Cite press release |title=Fashion Designer Turned Film Producer KL Allen and 3 Way Studios Present |url=https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/416902/fashion-designer-turned-film-producer-kl-allen-and-3-way-studios-present-perfectville |access-date=2022-06-13 |via=24-7pressrelease.com |language=en}}
In 2016, she made her television debut on the FX Networks show Atlanta and the Civil War drama Mercy Street.
= Breakthrough: ''Stranger Things'' =
In 2017, Ferguson was cast in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things as Erica Sinclair, the younger sister of Lucas Sinclair, portrayed by Caleb McLaughlin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/priah-ferguson-stranger-things-3-erica-interview.html|title=Stranger Things 3's Priah Ferguson on Erica's Expanded Role and Salty Language|last=Chaney|first=Jen|website=Vulture|date=11 July 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-12-02}} She was promoted to series regular after recurring in previous seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/stranger-things-priah-ferguson-promoted-recurring-erica-maya-thurman-hawke-new-regular-season-3-netflix-series-1202308414/|title='Stranger Things': Priah Ferguson Promoted, Maya Hawke Added As New Regular In Season 3 Of Netflix Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline|date=2 March 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/07/19/stranger-things-star-priah-ferguson-talks-season-3-breakout-role/1767627001/|language=en|access-date=2019-09-09|title='Stranger Things' breakout star Priah Ferguson on Season 3 and her 'cool stunts'|last=Reed|first=Anika|website=USA Today}} Ferguson is expected to appear in the series fifth and final season.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Sophie |date=2024-01-09 |title='Stranger Things' Season 5 cast, release date, everything we know |url=https://www.newsweek.com/strange-things-season-5-cast-release-date-noah-schnapp-priah-ferguson-ross-duffer-1858975 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}
= Other notable roles =
In 2018, she appeared in the film The Oath.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/stranger-things-priah-ferguson-erica-sinclair-netflix|title='Stranger Things': Priah Ferguson Promoted, Maya Hawke Added As New Regular In Season 3 Of Netflix Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Syfy|date=7 May 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-20}} She appeared in the 2022 Halloween comedy The Curse of Bridge Hollow (formerly titled Boo!) alongside Marlon Wayans.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-31 |title=Marlon Wayans Halloween Netflix Movie 'Boo!': What We Know So Far |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/marlon-wayans-halloween-netflix-movie-boo-what-we-know-so-far/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=2022-08-02 |title=Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson to Battle Evil Halloween Decorations in The Curse of Bridge Hollow |url=https://movieweb.com/marlon-wayans-curse-of-bridge-hollow/ |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=MovieWeb |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Ferguson voiced the character Lisa in My Dad the Bounty Hunter.{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/01/my-dad-the-bounty-hunter-official-trailer-new-images-blast-off/|title='My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Official Trailer & New Images Blast Off|website=Animation Magazine|date=January 12, 2023|access-date=February 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123202630/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/01/my-dad-the-bounty-hunter-official-trailer-new-images-blast-off/|archive-date=January 23, 2023|url-status=live}}
Philanthropy
In 2015, Ferguson was selected as a spokesperson for United Way of Atlanta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2018-Stakeholder-Report_CTT.pdf|title=United Way of Greater Atlanta Stakeholder Report|website=United Way|language=en|access-date=2019-11-10|archive-date=2021-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102224033/https://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2018-Stakeholder-Report_CTT.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Fayette girl named United Way spokeskid |work=The Citizen |url=https://thecitizen.com/2015/08/26/fayette-girl-named-united-way-spokeskid/ |access-date=October 8, 2023}}
Personal life
Ferguson attends public school and is a member of the cheerleading squad.{{Cite web |last=Edel |first=Victoria |date=2022-06-29 |title="Stranger Things" Phenom Priah Ferguson Is More Than America's Little Sister |url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/48864176 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=POPSUGAR Entertainment |language=en-US}} In her free time she enjoys bowling or attending her younger sister's volleyball matches.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Priah Ferguson Brings Out the Chaotic Good in Erica for "Stranger Things 4" |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/priah-ferguson-erica-stranger-things-season-4 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}} She also has a pet poodle and bearded dragon.
In 2019, Ferguson threw the first pitch in a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-04 |title=Priah Ferguson—An inspiration to young Black girls (Merecedes' column July 3) |url=https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2019/07/04/priah-ferguson-an-inspiration-to-young-black-girls-merecedes-column-july-3/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=New Pittsburgh Courier |language=en-US}} In 2022, Ferguson partnered with ThreadUp to promote thrift shopping.{{Cite web |title=Stranger Things' Priah Ferguson on Why She's Quitting Fast Fashion — Plus, Her Top Thrifting Tips |url=https://people.com/style/stranger-things-star-priah-ferguson-talks-quitting-fast-fashion-thredup-collab-interview/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=People |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role !Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Suga Water | Young Kai
| rowspan="3" |Short film | |
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | Deus ex Machina | Little Girl | |
| Ends | Charlie | ||
| 2017 | La Vie Magnifique De Charlie | Young Brandy
| | |
| 2018 | The Oath | Hardy Fontaine
| | |
| 2022 | The Curse of Bridge Hollow | Sydney Gordon |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | Coffee X Cream | Michelle | 2 episodes |
| Atlanta | Asia | Episode: "Streets on Lock" | |
| 2017–present | Stranger Things | Erica Sinclair | Recurring role (season 2); main (seasons 3–present) Nominated for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2019) |
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | Mercy Street | Girl | Episode: "One Equal Temper" |
| Daytime Divas | Fatima | Episode: "Lunch is on Us" | |
| 2019 | Bluff City Law | Erika | Episode: "When the Levee Breaks" |
| 2022–2025 | Hamster & Gretel | Bailey Carter (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2023 | My Dad the Bounty Hunter | Lisa (voice) | Main role |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7394207}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Priah}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:African-American child actresses
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:American child actresses
Category:American film actresses