Priah Ferguson: The Rising Hollywood Star Behind Erica Sinclair in Stranger Things

You know her as Priah Ferguson, the young actress who brought Erica Sinclair—the sharp-witted little sister in Stranger Things—to life. With her quick comebacks and confident demeanor, Erica started as a supporting character but quickly became a fan favorite. Whether she was negotiating for free ice cream or delivering memorable one-liners, Priah’s portrayal of Erica highlighted her natural talent and screen presence. Before joining the world of Hawkins, Priah was a determined young girl from Atlanta, balancing school and auditions while pursuing her passion for acting.

Since her breakout role, Priah has continued to build her career. She’s taken on roles in family comedies and explored new creative opportunities, showing her versatility as a young actress. With her talent and dedication, Priah Ferguson is steadily making her mark in the entertainment industry.

Early Life & Background

Priah Nicole Ferguson was born on October 1, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia, to parents John and Adjua Ferguson. Her father, John Ferguson, is a design director, while her mother, Adjua, is a graphic designer. Their influence played a role in shaping Priah’s artistic outlook.

As the eldest of two daughters, Priah developed an early interest in dance, theater, and performance, leading her to participate in local theater programs. By the age of five, she had already discovered her love for acting. Her parents noticed her enthusiasm and decided to enroll her in acting classes, where her coaches recognized her potential.

Growing up in Atlanta, Priah was drawn to the city’s rich cultural and artistic scene. She enjoyed visiting museums, attending theater productions, and participating in community events. She was also interested in history and developed a deep appreciation for the Vietnam War and Cold War history, which she frequently read about. She engaged in DIY projects, often customizing her own Converse sneakers and experimenting with fashion trends. Additionally, she loved 90s and modern R&B music, often listening to artists like TLC, Aaliyah, and Beyoncé.

She gained experience through locally produced short films and independent projects before transitioning to mainstream television. Inspired by movies like Daddy’s Little Girls and Crooklyn, she became determined to pursue a career in acting.

High School Experience & Growth

Priah graduated from high school in 2024. Despite her acting career, she preferred to keep her academic life and professional work separate. Many of her classmates were unaware she starred in Stranger Things until they saw her on-screen.

She switched schools during her high school years, an adjustment that required her to navigate new social dynamics. While her previous classmates had known her before she became famous, at her new school, she was often viewed as a celebrity rather than just another student. This shift in environment made her more aware of the challenges of balancing fame and normal teenage experiences.

By the end of her junior year, Priah had stepped into her own identity more confidently. She reflected on how quickly personal growth happened and noted that her high school experience was a journey of self-discovery.

While balancing her education with her career, she worked with a set tutor during filming. She often dedicated time to schoolwork on set, and her mother maintained communication with school counselors to keep her on track academically. She had expressed interest in attending college, possibly at USC or UCLA, but as of 2025, she has not yet enrolled full-time, instead focusing on her career and selective academic pursuits.

Beyond academics, Priah was involved in extracurricular activities. She enjoyed majorette dancing and had aspirations to start a majorette team at her school. She also developed an interest in real estate and had planned to obtain her real estate license by age 17. Her love for history and storytelling influenced her to explore film production and directing as potential career paths. She maintained a disciplined schedule, balancing acting commitments while making time for hobbies like designing outfits, working on creative projects, and staying active in school activities.

Early Career

Before Stranger Things, Priah Ferguson gained acting experience through short films, commercials, and television roles. She appeared in FX’s Atlanta, VH1’s Daytime Divas, and PBS’s Mercy Street.

Stranger Things

Priah auditioned for Stranger Things at the age of nine with a teaser script. Initially cast for a small role in Season 2 as Erica Sinclair, Lucas Sinclair’s younger sister, her performance impressed the showrunners, leading to an expanded role. She found out about her role while coming home from school, and her family celebrated the exciting news.

Originally meant as a minor character, Erica became a fan favorite in Season 2, which led to her larger role in Season 3. She played a key part in the Starcourt Mall storyline, teaming up with Dustin, Robin, and Steve. By Season 4, she was fully integrated into the core group, contributing to the fight against the Upside Down. Priah loved how Erica evolved from a sassy little sister into a capable and intelligent character with strong leadership skills.

Priah’s portrayal of Erica is known for her sharp wit, confidence, and memorable one-liners, some of which were ad-libbed. One of her most quoted lines, “You can’t spell America without Erica,” became a standout moment in Season 3. In Season 4, her character evolved, showing a more serious and determined side as the show’s stakes increased. She has also spoken about the challenges of filming Season 4, noting that the darker tone required her to explore a deeper emotional range.

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Behind the scenes, Priah enjoyed working closely with the cast. She has shared that one of her favorite moments was decorating Converse sneakers with Millie Bobby Brown. She also recalled filming the vent scene in Season 3, which required her to crawl through tight spaces, initially making her nervous but eventually becoming something she enjoyed. Another highlight was working with Gaten Matarazzo and the Scoops Troop, where their frequent laughter caused multiple retakes. One of the funniest moments on set, according to Priah, was watching Gaten accidentally slip and fall during a scene, which later made it into the blooper reel.

She formed a strong bond with Caleb McLaughlin, who often joked that she was as witty off-screen as she was on-screen. The two would frequently sing songs from Hamilton between takes. Priah has also spoken about how the cast remained close despite the demanding filming schedule. She was also welcomed warmly by the main cast when she joined in Season 2 and later built friendships with Maya Hawke and Sadie Sink.

Priah doesn’t always watch her own performances because she tends to critique herself, but she made an exception for Season 3 because she was excited to see how it turned out. She also revealed that many of her classmates didn’t realize she was in Stranger Things until they saw her on-screen.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow

Outside of Stranger Things, Priah starred in Netflix’s 2022 horror-comedy The Curse of Bridge Hollow, playing the daughter of Marlon Wayans’ character. This was her first lead role in a feature film, where she worked alongside Wayans and Kelly Rowland. Marlon Wayans became a mentor to her on set, offering advice on acting and the entertainment industry. He even pointed out that she had achieved more in her career at 16 than he had at 19.

Priah took her first lead role seriously, making sure she was always prepared on set. She has expressed interest in continuing to take on leading film roles, particularly in genres that balance comedy and drama.

She also ventured into voice acting, voicing Lisa in Netflix’s animated series My Dad the Bounty Hunter. She found voice acting to be a rewarding challenge, as it required her to rely solely on her voice to bring a character to life. She enjoyed the flexibility of voice work and has shown interest in pursuing more animated projects.

Philanthropy & Entrepreneurship

At nine, Priah became the Spokeskid for United Way of Greater Atlanta, promoting community service and social awareness. She later founded her own content production company, Bold Honey, to support diverse storytelling. She is passionate about increasing representation for young Black girls in the entertainment industry.

Future Aspirations

As of 2025, Priah continues to explore acting, directing, and producing. She has shown interest in dramatic and action roles and is considering ventures in real estate and business alongside acting. She has also been transitioning to a vegetarian diet, which she believes has positively impacted her health.

Priah Ferguson Trivias

1. First Super Bowl Ad Appearance: Priah Ferguson starred in a Super Bowl ad for General Motors and Netflix, alongside Will Ferrell, promoting sustainability and electric vehicles.
2. First Time Meeting Kelly Rowland: She met Kelly Rowland on set while filming The Curse of Bridge Hollow, where she gifted Rowland a cheesecake made by her mom’s friend.
3. First Celebrity Follow: Priah’s first famous person to follow her on social media was Finn Wolfhard.
4. Real Estate Goals: Priah planned to get her real estate license by age 17, inspired by real estate shows like Selling Sunset, and hopes to own multiple properties.
5. Hobbies & Fashion: She enjoys designing Converse sneakers and doing DIY fashion projects.
6. Majorette Dancing: Priah was involved in majorette dancing at her school and hopes to start a majorette team.
7. Personal Growth Reflection: Priah reflected on her high school experience, noting significant personal growth during junior and senior year. She described her journey as one of self-discovery.
8. Public Recognition: Priah didn’t initially get recognized in public before Stranger Things Season 4, as the gap between Seasons 3 and 4 made her appear significantly older.
9. Halloween Candy Preferences: Priah shared her favorite Halloween candy preferences, such as Skittles over Dots, Snickers over Twix, and Reese’s over Hershey’s Kisses.
10. Dream Halloween Costume: She wanted to dress up as Lilo from Lilo & Stitch for Halloween.
11. Social Media Preferences: Priah’s favorite app is Pinterest, where she creates mood boards, imagines future aesthetics, and plans outfits and decor ideas.
12. Beauty & Style: She occasionally gets acrylic nails on her big toe to make her feet appear more proportional.
13. Shifting Career Focus: At one point, Priah considered stepping away from acting in front of the camera to focus more on producing, directing, and fashion.
14. First Driving Experience: Priah started driving in May and found getting her permit surreal.
15. Personal Preferences: She dislikes pickles, calling them “disgusting” and enjoys McDonald’s and Taco Bell, rejecting the notion that they are “bad food.”
16. Favorite High School Years: She considers the end of her sophomore year through senior year as her favorite high school years when she felt she evolved the most.

References:

Teen Vogue: https://youtu.be/z8x-pDw3YwM Seventeen: https://youtu.be/d_9XIZrrHWc https://youtu.be/GEkrhCGlGz4 https://youtu.be/g28915phGzg https://youtu.be/T-InE-K8FTc https://youtu.be/fgvjL2Y5u-8 https://youtu.be/tnEPwuoWW8I https://youtu.be/u_Ii9g28rTU https://youtu.be/BUXqkj-co1E https://youtu.be/VjdqpYrrvV8 https://youtu.be/UxmoBnimBhg https://youtu.be/42MU4XRmpko https://youtu.be/SJebBPoHhUo