Sierra McCormick
{{short description|American actress (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sierra McCormick
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1997|10|28}}
| birth_place = Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2007–present
}}
{{external media|image1=[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2811823/mediaviewer/rm1245268992 McCormick in 2019] (at IMDb)}}
Sierra McCormick (born October 28, 1997) is an American actress. She first became known for participating in the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (2007–2008) before making her acting debut with a recurring role as Lilith on the television series Supernatural (2008). She also starred as Scout Thomas on the comedy television series Romantically Challenged (2010), played Alice in the direct-to-DVD film Spooky Buddies (2011) for which she won a Young Artist Award, and Susan Kushner in the comedy film Ramona and Beezus (2010). She had her breakthrough starring as Olive Doyle on the Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014).
McCormick transitioned to more mature roles by starring as Moira in the horror indie film Some Kind of Hate (2015). She then earned critical acclaim for playing Fay Crocker in the science fiction film The Vast of Night (2019) and a nomination from the Critics' Choice Super Awards. She has since played Melissa in the horror film We Need to Do Something (2021), Scarlett Winslow in three episodes of the Hulu series American Horror Stories (2021), and Sybil in the thriller film The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023).
Early life
McCormick was born on October 28, 1997, in Asheville, North Carolina.{{cite web|title=SIERRA MCCORMICK "Olive Doyle"|url=http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900056&type=mccormick|website=Disney Channel Medianet|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018131846/http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900056&type=mccormick|archive-date=October 18, 2012|access-date=February 21, 2017}} She has a younger sister.{{cite web |title=Happy Pride 🏳️🌈 ❤️🔥 my lil sister Kayla and I enjoying queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader at @cinespia |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CfQgXNzriGV/?hl=en |website=instagram.com}}{{cite web |title=Happy birthday to my little sister Kayla! She's 11 today! 🎂 |url=https://twitter.com/SierraNMcCormic/status/233205781028274178 |website=twitter.com}} She moved to Los Angeles, California, in 2006, after expressing an interest in acting. McCormick, like many child performers, attended Brighton Hall School in Burbank, California.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://brightonhallschool.org/our-history/ |website=Brighton Hall School |access-date=1 June 2023 |date=5 June 2020}}
Career
= 2007–2014: Child acting and breakthrough =
McCormick first began acting in 2007 at the age of nine, making an uncredited cameo on the television series 'Til Death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nyfa.edu/summer-camps/nyfa-high-school-students-receive-guest-talk-from-disney-star-sierra-mccormick/|title=NYFA High School Students Receive Guest Talk from Disney Star Sierra McCormick|date=May 12, 2015|website=New York Film Academy Summer Camp|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2020}} In 2007, she was cast in the second season of the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? as one of the students.{{Cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/disney-star-sierra-mccormick-super-smart-ant-farm-52957/|title=Disney Star Sierra McCormick is Super Smart on 'A.N.T. Farm'|date=August 21, 2012|website=Backstage|access-date=April 6, 2020}} Following a guest appearance on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana in 2008, she co-starred with China Anne McClain in the film Jack and Janet Save the Planet, an unaired pilot. In the same year, she appeared as Lilith on two episodes of the fantasy television series Supernatural.{{Cite web|first=Tina|last=Charles|url=http://www.tvguide.com/episode-recaps/supernatural/episode-recap-of-7481.aspx|title=Episode Recap of Season 3 Finale: "No Rest for the Wicked"|website=TV Guide|date=May 16, 2008|access-date=April 6, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524011957/http://www.tvguide.com/episode-recaps/Supernatural/Episode-Recap-of-7481.aspx|archive-date=May 24, 2009}}{{Cite web|last=Seddon|first=Dan|date=2021-08-03|title=First trailer for Supernatural and Station 19 stars' new horror movie|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/trailers/a37208453/supernatural-sierra-mccormick-horror-movie-trailer/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}} In 2010, McCormick starred in the comedy film Ramona and Beezus as Susan Kushner, the rival of the title character, Ramona Quimby. The film was received positively, with the acting ensemble being praised for their performances.{{Cite web|date=July 23, 2010|title=Ramona and Beezus: A family film with a dose of reality|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/07/23/ramona_and_beezus_a_family_film_with_a_dose_of_reality.html|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=Toronto Star}} In the same year, she was cast as Scout Thomas, the daughter of Rebecca Thomas, in the comedy television series Romantically Challenged, which was cancelled after a season.{{Cite web|date=May 16, 2010|title=Romantically Challenged cancelled, no season two|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/romantically-challenged-canceled-no-season-two-15139/|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=TV Series Finale|language=en-US}}
In 2011, she appeared in the television film A Nanny for Christmas. In the same year, she voiced Alice in the Disney direct-to-video film Spooky Buddies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Disney%2FBuena_Vista/Spooky_Buddies_Blu-ray_Announced/6885|title='Spooky Buddies' Blu-ray Announced|website=High-Def Digest|access-date=April 6, 2020}} McCormick, along with the cast of the film, won a Young Artist Award for their performances. Also in 2011, McCormick had her breakthrough when she was cast in the role of Olive Doyle, a girl with an eidetic memory, in the Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/disney-orders-live-action-comedy-44600|title=Disney Orders Live Action Comedy 'Ant Farm'|date=November 11, 2010|last=Hibberd|first=James|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424233053/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/disney-orders-live-action-comedy-44600|archive-date=April 24, 2011|url-status=dead}} She was chosen after an audition where she continuously spoke about tigers. Dan Signer stated: "And as I heard her continually talking about tigers, I thought, 'That's just how Olive would sound.' Which is how Sierra got that part." According to an interview with McCormick, getting the role was easy because she and McClain were already friends from their previous work experience. The show ran for three seasons, ending in 2014.{{Cite web|title=Disney Channel Renews 'A.N.T. Farm' for Third Season|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ant-farm-renewed-by-disney-375973|access-date=2021-01-03|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 2, 2012}} From 2011 to 2014, McCormick had a recurring role on the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie as Connie, a girl obsessed with one of the main characters, Luke.{{Cite web|title=Disney's 'What the What?!?' Guest Star Weekend Sneak Peek: 'Jessie's' Luke Has a New Admirer, Lindy Gets an 'I Didn't Do It' Arch Nemesis, More|url=http://yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/tv-news/disney-channel-s--what-the-what-----guest-star-weekend-sneak-peek-020955959.html|website=Yahoo.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2020}}
= 2015–present: Transition to mainstream roles =
In 2015, McCormick starred in the horror film Some Kind of Hate as Moira.{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=April 28, 2014|title=Disney Star Sierra McCormick Set for Horror Movie 'Some Kind of Hate'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/sierra-mccormick-set-for-horror-movie-some-kind-of-hate-1201165797/|access-date=May 18, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}} She had been hired by director Adam Egypt Mortimer to appeal to her then younger fanbase, stating that the film would be "the first intense horror movie experience that some of these kids will ever have".{{Cite web|title=Horror Feature: Interview With Adam Egypt Mortimer Director Of Some Kind Of Hate|url=http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/articles.php?feature=interview+with+adam+egypt+mortimer+director+of+some+kind+of+hate|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.horrorchannel.co.uk|language=en}} Although the film received mixed reviews, McCormick's performance, along with the rest of her cast members was received positively, with Bloody Disgusting writing "The acting is largely well done, and the script by Mortimer and DeLeeuw definitely attempt to give the characters more dimension than what you'd normally expect from a film like this."{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Mike|date=2015-10-12|title=[Review] 'Some Kind Of Hate' is Conflicting With its Subject, Characters|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3365238/review-kind-hate-conflicting-subject-characters/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Bloody Disgusting!|language=en-US}} McCormick earned a Fright Meter Award nomination for the role.{{Cite web|title=2015 Fright Meter Awards Winners|url=http://www.frightmeter.com/2016/01/2015-fright-meter-awards-winners.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914211239/http://www.frightmeter.com/2016/01/2015-fright-meter-awards-winners.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 14, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2020|language=en}}
From 2016 to 2018, McCormick worked in a series of short films and television films; these include her roles as Sarah in the 2016 Lifetime television film Sorority Nightmare,{{Cite web|title=Lifetime Review: 'Sorority Nightmare'|url=https://vocal.media/geeks/lifetime-review-sorority-nightmare|access-date=May 18, 2020|website=Geeks}} and as Kara Gentry in the 2017 film Christmas in the Heartland, which was originally made for television, but was later released direct-to-video.{{Cite web|title=Film Review: 'Christmas in the Heartland'|url=https://vocal.media/geeks/film-review-christmas-in-the-heartland|access-date=May 18, 2020|website=Geeks}}
In 2019, McCormick co-starred with Jake Horowitz in the science fiction film The Vast of Night,{{Cite web|date=September 27, 2019|title=Texas Is Inextricable From Film Festival Darling 'The Vast of Night'|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/the-vast-of-night-film-andrew-patterson-fantastic-fest/|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=Texas Monthly|language=en}} based on the Kecksburg UFO incident and the Foss Lake Disappearances. She starred as Fay Crocker, a young switchboard operator in high school in the fictional town of Cayuga, New Mexico.{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Anne|date=2020-06-01|title=Amazon's 'The Vast of Night': Inside Oklahoma Indie Andrew Patterson's Dazzling Debut|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/the-vast-of-night-oklahoma-indie-andrew-patterson-dazzling-debut-amazon-1202232583/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=IndieWire|language=en}} McCormick said that she was convinced to play the role after reading the script, where she then met with the film's director Andrew Patterson and auditioned.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=The Vast Of Night: Interview with Sierra McCormick|url=https://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/the-vast-of-night-interview-with-sierra-mccormick/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=SciFiNow|language=en-GB}} To prepare for the role, she had to learn how to use a switchboard, which she practiced in her hotel room.{{Cite web|last1=McGrew|first1=Shannon|date=2020-05-28|title=[Interview] Actress Sierra McCormick for THE VAST OF NIGHT|url=https://www.nightmarishconjurings.com/2020/05/28/interview-actress-sierra-mccormick-for-the-vast-of-night/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Nightmarish Conjurings|language=en-US}} The film and McCormick's performance were acclaimed,{{Cite web|last=Hemphill|first=Jim|title=There's Something in the Air: With The Vast of Night, Director Andrew Patterson Reinvents the UFO Movie|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/109362-theres-something-in-the-air/|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=Filmmaker Magazine|date=March 17, 2020|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Wilner|first=Norman|date=September 8, 2019|title=TIFF review: The Vast Of Night|url=https://nowtoronto.com/api/content/1b6a124e-d270-11e9-8bb0-12f1225286c6/|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=NOW Magazine|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2021-03-04|title=Saturn Awards Nominations: 'Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker', 'Tenet', 'Walking Dead', 'Outlander' Lead List|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/saturn-awards-nominations-2021-nominees-list-1234706492/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}} with critics particularly praising her consistency in long single takes.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-31|title=The 10 Breakout Film Performances of the Year|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/breakout-film-performances-2020/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en}} Paste included her among the "10 Breakout Film Performances of the Year", additionally writing that "Sierra McCormick does some work in The Vast of Night that's competitive with the best acting of the year." Salon also listed her performance as one of "6 great film performances missed in 2020", comparing her to a "young Sissy Spacek."{{Cite web|date=2020-12-16|title=Here are 6 great film performances you missed in 2020 – and how to watch them|url=https://www.salon.com/2020/12/16/best-indie-film-performances-2020/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Salon|language=en}} For her role, she received a special mention from the Jury Awards at the Hamptons International Film Festival,{{Cite web|title=HIFF27 Award Winners|url=https://hamptonsfilmfest.org/hiff27-award-winners/|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=hamptonsfilmfest.org}} as well as a nomination for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie at the Critics' Choice Super Awards. She next appeared in the 2019 horror film VFW, where she portrayed Lizard.{{cite web |title=. @josh_ethier edited the first horror movie I ever did (Some Kind of Hate) back in 2014, and now you can see us both in VFW (we have a pretty kick ass scene). But you definitely have to watch his short film Gutter (which he wrote, directed, AND edited!).💀 |url=https://twitter.com/SierraNMcCormic/status/1232059830677852160?lang=en |website=twitter.com}} She commented on her experience with the role, stating "I was really excited to do something different. People got to see me being really crass and bloody and kicking some ass..." She also starred in the Lifetime television film Who Stole My Daughter? as Katie Sullivan, the eponymous daughter of Samaire Armstrong's character.{{Cite web|title=Lifetime Review: 'Who Stole My Daughter?'|url=https://vocal.media/geeks/lifetime-review-who-stole-my-daughter|access-date=May 18, 2020|website=Geeks}}
In October 2020, it was announced McCormick would star alongside Vinessa Shaw in the upcoming thriller film We Need to Do Something; she was cast as Melissa, who is part of a family trapped in their bathroom during a tornado.{{Cite web|last=Miska|first=Brad|date=2020-10-29|title='We Need to Do Something' Brings the Horror on a Family Sheltered in a Storm|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/indie/3639474/need-something-brings-horror-family-sheltered-storm/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Bloody Disgusting!|language=en-US}} She stated that "I felt really antsy being cooped up in my apartment, and I'm sure everyone can relate to that feeling ... when I read the script, I was struck by the nihilistic tone the movie takes, and I'm a big fan of that."{{Cite web|date=2021-09-03|title=We Need to Do Something: Interview with star Sierra McCormick|url=https://1428elm.com/2021/09/03/we-need-to-do-something-sierra-mccormick-interview/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=1428 Elm|language=en-US}} The film was theatrically released in September 2021,{{Cite web|title=Variety Insight: Entertainment Data • Research Tools • Industry Directory • Film in Development • TV & Streaming Pilots • Ratings & Box Office|url=https://www.varietyinsight.com/production_restart_full_view.php?track_id=190865|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.varietyinsight.com}} and earned generally positive reviews from critics.{{Cite web|last=Navarro|first=Meagan|date=2021-06-15|title=[Tribeca Review] Single-Location Horror 'We Need to Do Something' Stretches Imagination and Plausibility|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3667035/tribeca-review-single-location-horror-we-need-to-do-something-stretches-imagination-plausibility/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Bloody Disgusting!|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Tallerico|first=Brian|title=We Need to Do Something movie review (2021) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/we-need-to-do-something-movie-review-2021|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.rogerebert.com/|language=en}} McCormick's performance was lauded, with Chicago Reader describing her as "captivating".{{Cite web|last=James|first=Becca|date=2021-08-31|title=We Need to Do Something|url=http://chicagoreader.com/film/we-need-to-do-something/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Chicago Reader|language=en-US}} IGN wrote that "Sierra McCormick brings wide eyes and a sulking snarl to teen daughter Melissa, whose internal drama is signaled by a goth wardrobe topped by a bubblegum pink wig."{{Cite web|date=2021-09-01|title=We Need to Do Something Review|url=https://sea.ign.com/we-need-to-do-something/176105/review/we-need-to-do-something-review|access-date=2021-09-05|website=IGN Southeast Asia|language=en-sg}} From July to August 2021, McCormick appeared in three episodes of American Horror Stories on FX on Hulu.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/american-horror-stories-premiere-rubber-woman-sierra-mccormick/|title=Rubber Woman unmasked: American Horror Stories star Sierra McCormick breaks down spin-off's premiere|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Nick|last=Morano|date=July 16, 2021|access-date=July 16, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Evangelista|first=Chris|date=2021-06-15|title=American Horror Stories Teaser: The American Horror Story Spinoff|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/581718/american-horror-stories-teaser/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=SlashFilm.com|language=en-US}} Her role as Scarlett was praised;{{Cite web|date=2021-07-20|title=American Horror Stories: Every Way Scarlett & Ruby Mirror Murder House's Tate & Violet|url=https://screenrant.com/american-horror-stories-scarlet-ruby-tate-violet-copy/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Barr|first=Sabrina|date=2021-08-24|title=American Horror Stories review: Horror stakes veer from repetitive to terrifying|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/24/american-horror-stories-review-grisly-series-builds-momentum-15141540/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Metro|language=en}} CBR described her as having a "captivating screen presence", and went on to state that she made "a strong debut ... it'd be seriously surprising if she doesn't eventually get cast in some of Murphy's other projects. She's set to be a star."{{Cite web|date=2021-08-07|title=American Horror Stories: 5 Actors Who Nailed Their Roles (& 5 Who Fell Short)|url=https://www.cbr.com/america-horror-stories-good-bad-performances/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=CBR|language=en-US}}
In 2023, McCormick starred as Sybil in the acclaimed crime thriller film The Last Stop in Yuma County, directed by Francis Gallupi.{{Cite web |last=Hopson |first=Travis |date=2024-04-03 |title='The Last Stop In Yuma County' Trailer: Jim Cummings And Sierra McCormick Stars In A Good Old-Fashioned Western This May |url=https://punchdrunkcritics.com/2024/04/the-last-stop-in-yuma-county-trailer-jim-cummings-and-sierra-mccormick-stars-in-a-good-old-fashioned-western-this-may/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Punch Drunk Critics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fuhrman |first=Dillon |last2=Bazarte |first2=Karina |last3=Moran-Norris |first3=Zackary |date=2024-05-19 |title=Director of "The Last Stop in Yuma County" talks about film |url=https://kyma.com/news/local-news/2024/05/19/director-of-the-last-stop-in-yuma-county-talks-about-film/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=KYMA |language=en-US}} She will next headline the coming-of-age drama film Sour Milk.{{Cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=2021-10-13|title=Sierra McCormick, Jason Butler Harner, Ryan Simpkins, Emily Robinson & More To Topline Coming-Of-Age-Drama 'Sour Milk'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/sour-milk-sierra-mccormick-jason-butler-harner-more-topline-drama-1234855401/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released |
= Film =
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2007
| Kid | Episode: "Summer of Love" |
| 2007–2008
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? | Herself | 5th grade classmate (season 2) |
| 2007–2009
| Emma | Episodes: "The Bat Mitzvah", "The Reunion", "The Table Read" |
| 2008
| Daniella | Episode: "Dances with Wolves" |
| 2008
| Lilith | Episodes: "No Rest for the Wicked", "Yellow Fever" |
| 2009
| Jack and Janet Save the Planet | Molly | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2009
| Lynn Robillard | Episode: "Bloodline" |
| 2009
| Gillian | Episode: "Welcome to the Bungle" |
| 2009
| Monk | Anne Marie | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Dog" |
| 2009
| Kara Bannister | Television film |
| 2010
| Medium | Allison (Young) | Episode: "There Will Be Blood... Type A" |
| 2010
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Gracie Layman | Episode: "Irradiator" |
| 2010
| Scout Thomas | Main role |
| 2011–2014
| Main role |
| 2011–2014
| Jessie | Connie | 3 episodes |
| 2013
| The Breakdown | Little Girl | Television film |
| 2016
| Sorority Nightmare | Sarah | Television film; originally titled Twisted Sisters |
| 2017
| Christmas in the Heartland | Kara Gentry | Television film |
| 2019
| Who Stole My Daughter? |Katie Sullivan |Television film |
| 2021
| Scarlett Winslow | 3 episodes{{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/american-horror-story-updates-ryan-murphy-shares-creepy-art-more/|title=American Horror Story Updates: Ryan Murphy Shares Creepy Art & More|date=April 19, 2021}}{{cite web |title=The actress opens up to ET about joining the 'American Horror Story' spinoff. |url=https://www.etonline.com/ahs-newcomer-sierra-mccormick-on-extending-the-rubber-man-legacy-exclusive-169074 |website=www.etonline.com}} |
= Music videos =
- "Dynamite" (2011), by China Anne McClain
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist|33em|refs=
}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2811823}}
- {{Twitter|SierraNMcCormic}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
Member of the Class
Occupant of Seat #3|before=Jacob Hays
(Season 1)| after=Olivia Dellums
(Season 3)| years=Season 2 (2007–2008)}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCormick, Sierra}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from North Carolina
Category:American child actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses