Priah Ferguson might be starring in one of the biggest shows in the world, but she still tries to stay as grounded as possible.
The 19-year-old Georgia native stars as Erica Sinclair, the wise-cracking younger sister of Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), on “Stranger Things.” She also graduated from Fayette County High School earlier this year, refusing to miss out on real life teenage experiences.
While Erica didn’t start out as one of the main crew of kids on “Stranger Things,” over the past couple of seasons, she has become a fan favorite. The first half of the last season of “Stranger Things” premiered on Nov. 26. Episodes 5-7 will be released on Christmas Day, and the series finale will come out on Dec. 31. Ahead of the release of new episodes, Rough Draft Atlanta spoke with Ferguson about her time on the show.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Erica, over the past few years, has kind of become a fan favorite, but obviously she wasn’t in the main crew when the show started. I’m curious, what’s that been like for you, seeing this character explode and coming into the spotlight in that way later in the show’s run?
Priah Ferguson: It was exciting for me. As Erica evolved, I feel like I learned a lot about her. Knowing and understanding how confident she is and how much of a nerd she is, is really fun. She’s not scared or shy to show people that she really is nerdy, and her being one of the smartest in the room and saying what people are thinking, that’s always fun to me. So seeing her evolve has been just as special to me as it probably has been for the fans, because she did start off as the quick wit little sister with smart remarks, but then she tapped into herself a little bit and was confident in her nerdy side.
You saying that she says things that everyone is thinking — I think it was when they’re trying to get her on board to save Holly.
Ferguson: Yes!
They start off with a whole long pitch. I think a split second before you said it, I was like, why didn’t you just start with Holly?
Ferguson: Why didn’t you just start off with that, right? [Erica] did not care about Tina or Derek. She was focused on Holly.
You mentioned watching Erica grow, but spending your formative years on a show like this, what’s it been like for you? How do you think you’ve grown as an actor over the last couple of seasons?
Ferguson: I’ve grown a lot, honestly. I would say playing a 13 year old, it’s not challenging, but you’re gonna have to, not make your work as kiddie, but put yourself in a 13-year-old mindset, or what a 13 year old might be thinking. Because I’m 19, it wasn’t difficult, but it was tapping into my 13-year-old self. I kind of learned how to … manipulate my mind, kind of put me in a different head space a little bit, which was something I took away from [the show]. I think that’s what all actors kind of have to do, especially when it comes down to tapping into different roles. So that would be something I took away from it, finding different characteristics of myself, or what little Priah would do to portray this character.
I know you recently graduated high school, and you’re from Atlanta. I’m curious — obviously you get to film here and that’s probably really great, but what was it like balancing being on the show and being in high school?
Ferguson: It’s been pretty easy, because I’ve been balancing public school and being on the show my whole life. So when I got into this industry, I was very proactive. I wanted my parents to trust me, trust that I can handle both. You know, education always came first in my household, so I made sure to communicate with my teachers and my counselors and told them what I did. But at the end of the day, it was on me to get my assignments in by the due date, because they don’t care about which show I’m on. The grade is the grade. I wanted my teachers to trust me as well. So it wasn’t difficult, because I did start at a young age and learn effective communication at a young age, which also helps me now. I feel like I’m kind of like a pro at it a little bit, because I started so young.
I’ve heard you talk about this a little bit in an interview before, but now that the show is coming to an end, how would you like to explore your range as an actor and grow? I know that you’re working on a movie, I believe it’s called “Samo Lives?”
Ferguson: Yes, that’s a movie about Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was a legendary artist from New York, which was fun to film. It’s starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Jeffrey Wright. Also, as far as my range as an artist, I definitely want to tap into many different things. Great writing, I’m a fan of that — so I don’t have a particular genre or a dream role in my head, I’m honestly open to any opportunity that has great writing. And, of course, I want to lead in something one day. But I’m not in a rush, because I know it’ll come.
Speaking of great writing, is there a favorite moment you’ve had with Erica over the last few years?
Ferguson: The pie scene was honestly my favorite, because I think it really tapped into a manipulative side of Erica. I mean, acting while acting is crazy, her even crying and just pretending, putting on this whole show. She showed a lot of range in a time span of a minute. So that was one of my favorite things. And also season three as well, her whole monologue, and “can’t spell American without Erica,” and her realizing she’s a nerd — that’s my favorite. It’s many different things. And her playing Dungeons and Dragons in season four — I have many favorite things about her.
You’re from Atlanta, and you had an interesting quote about being from Atlanta, and this confidence that comes with that. I’m sure filming the show in your home state must help — it feels a bit like home — but I was curious to hear your thoughts on what you think gives Atlanta performers that confidence?
Ferguson: I think honestly, you see so much success in Atlanta. I think Atlanta is one of those places where, if you could succeed here, you could succeed anywhere. Atlanta, you see so many different people who come from so many different backgrounds in rooms that you want to be in. As a young girl growing up and seeing that, it gave me that confidence that I could be in any room that I wanted to be in. I think that was the confidence I was talking about. When I went to the nice areas in Atlanta, and I saw people doing it, I was like, oh yeah — I could do that as well. It didn’t feel like a far reach, you know? And the connections are right there.