Beyond ‘Stranger Things’: Priah Ferguson's New Ventures

Priah Nicole Ferguson is a rising star, breaking the proverbial glass ceiling for young Black female actors looking to star in science fiction films. She is renowned for her exploits in Stranger Things, where she brings the character of Erica Sinclair to life.

Her character is full of wit, a cool demeanor, snarky comebacks, and a tell-it-as-it-is attitude—a character many ardent followers of the show have come to love. Erica's character traits combine to provide the Stranger Things faithful memorable comedic relief.

There aren’t many of her kind in the show... or any other sci-fi show.

Priah made her first appearance in Season 2 with breakout performances that saw her reprise the character in subsequent seasons with a bigger role. Importantly, her character has enjoyed ever-increasing on-screen minutes. This is a testament to Priah's increasing importance in the show (and star power).

She will feature quite heavily in the upcoming final season – Season 5.

Although she is still young and enjoying the success accrued from her performance in Stranger Things, she has not rested on her laurels. She has challenged herself, taking on roles in a wide range of genres, including drama-comedy films and voice acting in sci-fi animations. Let’s explore the ever-rising stardom of Priah Ferguson and how she is building an interesting body of work while still in her teens.

Priah has made appearances in several series. In 2017, she appeared in Daytime Divas in one episode as Fatima. In 2019, she appeared as Erika in Bluff City Law. She also appeared as Cookie in the Cast Black Talent Virtual Reading Series.

Priah has also ventured into the world of voice acting. She is the voice of Bailey Carter in Hamster & Gretel in a recurring role. She has voiced other characters in the show.

Additionally, she has a recurring voice acting role in My Dad the Bounty Hunter as Lisa (nicknamed Young Tess).

In 2017, the same year she starred in her breakout role as Erica Sinclair in Stranger Things, she also made her first film appearance in La Vie Magnifique de Charlie as Young Brandy. Since then, she has appeared in some movies, including 2018’s The Oath with Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz. She played the role of Hardy Fontaine.

In 2022, she starred alongside Marlon Wayans in The Curse of Bridge Hollow as Sydney Gordon. The family-friendly comedy-horror explored the experiences of a father-daughter duo caught in a Halloween curse that causes Halloween decorations to come to life. In this film, she played a leading role, which she reckons allowed her to grow as an actor as she took on more responsibilities that come with such a position.

She has appeared in numerous short films, including 2017’s short film End as Charlie. She also appeared as Tawanda in Glitter Ain’t Gold, a short film that explores modern-day status symbols.

Beyond acting, Priah has participated in philanthropy. In 2015, she was selected to create a video for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, bringing attention to children’s well-being. She would be appointed as the official spokeschild of the non-profit's Atlanta chapter.