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Sierra McClain

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Sierra McClain
McClain at the 2011 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
Born
Sierra Aylina McClain[1]

(1994-03-16) March 16, 1994 (age 30)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2005–present
Parent(s)Michael McClain (father)
Shontell McClain (mother)
RelativesChina Anne McClain (sister)
Lauren McClain (sister)
Gabriel McClain (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano

Sierra Aylina McClain[2][1] (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 (2007). She had her breakthrough as Nessa Parker in Empire (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

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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' debut album Solo Star (2002).[3][4] Shontell (née Rucker) is a songwriter and former television screenwriter.[5][6][7][8][2]

Sierra has two younger sisters, actress/singers Lauryn (born January 9, 1997) and China Anne (born August 25, 1998),[2] and a younger brother, actor Gabriel (born April 17, 2001).[9]

Career

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Acting

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2005–2010: Daddy's Little Girls

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After Sierra's sister China was discovered in 2004 by a music executive who heard her sing, China was cast in the film The Gospel (2005), with Sierra cast in the children's choir.[10]

In December 2005, while on the set of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, 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 (2007) as the James sisters, and Sierra guest starred in the series, Tyler Perry's House of Payne.[11][12]

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 and Keke Palmer.[13]

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

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In September 2015, McClain was cast in a Showtime pilot by Lena Waithe, but it was not picked up.[14] In 2016, McClain was cast and began starring as Nessa Parker, a recurring role, in the television series Empire (2016–2018).[15] For the series, she sang several songs for the series' soundtrack, and her role as Nessa is considered her breakthrough role.

Sierra went on to star as Tosha in the dance film Honey: Rise Up and Dance (2018).[16] She gained further recognition for other lead roles, starring as Tanya Clifton in the second season of the critically-acclaimed television series Mindhunter (2019),[17] and as Grace Ryder in 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–2023).[18]

Music

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2005–2010: 3mcclaingirls

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Around 2005, Sierra, China and Lauren formed the music group, 3mcclaingirls. In 2008, the sisters began posting videos of themselves performing cover songs on their YouTube channel.[19]

2011–2014: McClain Sisters and A.N.T. Farm

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Main article: McClain Sisters

After China landed her own show on the Disney Channel 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".[20] Sierra was also a theme-music composer for the series.[21]

In December, the group performed their version of the song "Jingle Bell Rock" at the 2011 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade.[22][23]

In March 2012, the group signed with Hollywood Records,[24][25] released their song "Rise", and was the opening act in Houston at the Houston Rodeo for Big Time Rush on their Better with U Tour.[26][27] In April, they performed at the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll.[28][29] Most notably they released "The Great Divide", which peaked at number four on Billboard's US Kid Digital Songs.[30]

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.[31]

In December 2013, China announced on Twitter that A.N.T. Farm would be ending after its third season.[32][33] Shortly afterward, McClain Sisters parted ways with Hollywood Records, and again changed the group's name, from "McClain Sisters" to simply "McClain".[34][35][36]

2014-2020: McClain

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The group McClain continued performing, releasing songs and making appearances. They performed at the pre-show for the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards and presented an award,[37] had their first headlining concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California,[38][39] and performed at the 19th Arthur Ashe Kids' Day.[40] From the summer to the fall of 2014, the group embarked on a state fair tour around the United States.[41]

Around 2016, the group McClain went on hiatus after all three sisters booked various acting roles.

2020-present: Thriii

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Main article: Thriii

In June 2020, the group McClain changed their name to "Thriii" and performed at Radio Disney Presents ARDYs Summer Playlist.[42]

Personal life

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When she was young, Sierra resided with her family near Atlanta, Georgia, but they later moved to Los Angeles for China's acting career.[43][2]

Sierra is a Christian, 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.[44]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 The Gospel Youth in Children's Choir
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Sierra
2008 Six Blocks Wide Neighbor Short film
2009 Shrink Carina
2018 Honey: Rise Up and Dance Tosha
2024 Brewster's Millions: Christmas Toya

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Jasmine Episodes: "Paternity and Fraternity: Parts 1 & 2"
2012 A.N.T. Farm Syerra Episode: "chANTs of a Lifetime"
2015 Untitled Lena Waithe Pilot Jerrika Pilot (unaired)
2016–2018 Empire Nessa Parker Recurring role (seasons 3–4)
2019 Mindhunter Tanya Clifton Main role
2020–2023 9-1-1: Lone Star Grace Ryder Main role (seasons 1–4)

References

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  1. ^ a b c McClain, Sierra Aylina (March 16, 2018). "It's my birthday, y'all! I'm 24 today..." Instagram. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Franklin, McKinley (July 21, 2024). "All About China Anne McClain's Sisters, Lauryn and Sierra McClain". People. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Michael McClain | Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "China Anne McClain Bio". kidzworld.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  5. ^ "Shontell McClain | Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Legg, Catherine (December 12, 2011). "Disney Channel star visits MES". Shelby County Reporter. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "China Anne McClain: 'Farm star, musical prodigy spreads wings". Variety. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Meet the Browns - Season 1 Episode 5". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Barnes, Brooks (May 10, 2011). "Tween Stars Wanted: Must Be Primed for Pressure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Disney Channel Bio – China Anne McClain". Disney Channel Medianet. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012.
  11. ^ "McClain notes on Lionsgate". lionsgatepublicity.com. March 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010.
  12. ^ Murray, Cori (June 30, 2017). "Growing Up Nicely: The McClains Sisters On Being A Showbiz Family". Essence. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Holden, Stephen (July 23, 2009). "Physician, Drug Thyself: Psychiatrist in Hollywood". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 10, 2015). "Showtime's Lena Waithe Pilot Casts Sextet Of Actors, Adds Elwood Reid As EP". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Stanhope, Kate (July 13, 2016). "'Empire' Taps Actress and Singer Sierra McClain for Recurring Role (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Honey: Rise Up and Dance". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020.
  17. ^ Paige, Rachel (August 16, 2019). "Meet The "Mindhunter" Season 2 Cast". Refinery29. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Thorne, Will (September 20, 2019). "Ronen Rubinstein, Sierra McClain Join '9-1-1' Spinoff at Fox". Variety. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "3mcclaingirls". YouTube. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  20. ^ "A.N.T. Farm - Music on Google Play". Google Play. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Sierra McClain - Music Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  22. ^ Christmas Parade 2011 McClain Sisters - Celebrity Take with Jake, archived from the original on February 3, 2018, retrieved April 5, 2020
  23. ^ "OneRepublic and China Anne McClain and The McClain Sisters Perform for The 2011 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade | TigerBeat". Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  24. ^ "McClain Sisters Sign with Hollywood Records". Black Celeb Kids. June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  25. ^ "McClain Sisters Now Signs with Hollywood Records". Clinton Lindsay. March 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  26. ^ Guerra, Joey (March 5, 2012). "Big Time Rush show leaves little to like". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  27. ^ "Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Officials Announce Star-studded Entertainer Lineup, Ticket Sales Information". PR Newswire. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  28. ^ Slack, Megan (April 9, 2012). "The 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll". White House. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  29. ^ Zhang, Joanna (April 10, 2012). "Let's Go, Let's Play, Let's Move! The 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll | Let's Move!". Let's Move!. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  30. ^ "January 26, 2013 - Kid Digital Songs". Billboard. September 8, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  31. ^ West, Abby (November 19, 2012). "Watch the McClain Sisters unite on 'The A.N.T. Farm'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  32. ^ Kimball, Trevor (February 24, 2014). "A.N.T. Farm: Disney Series Finale Airs March 21st". TV Series Finale. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  33. ^ China† (December 26, 2013). "It was GREAT filming ANT Farm but after 3 seasons it's come to an end. I'm excited about my secret projects and keeping you guys happy!". @chinamcclain. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  34. ^ "McClain Interview". MaximoTV. January 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014.
  35. ^ "McClain Interview - ClevverTV". ClevverTV. July 13, 2014. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017.
  36. ^ "mcclain". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  37. ^ "Exclusive: McClain Makes Special Announcement". Jet. March 28, 2013. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  38. ^ "McClain On Headlining At The House Of Blues!". Sweety High. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  39. ^ Hiser, Lisa (June 30, 2014). "Exclusive: McClain Headline House of Blues Anaheim". Shine On Media. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  40. ^ "2014 Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Talent". Arthur Ashe Kids' Day. August 2014. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  41. ^ Oskin, Allison (September 10, 2014). "McClain Performs on FOX43". WPMT. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  42. ^ Harnick, Chris (June 30, 2020). "Katy Perry, BTS and More Join Radio Disney Presents ARDYs Summer Playlist". E! Online. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  43. ^ "Biography of China". chinaanne.net. Archived from the original on November 25, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  44. ^ Dikkers, Jan-Willem (December 22, 2016). "Sierra McClain Go-See Interview". YouTube. Issue Magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
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