Salute to Rising Stars

It’s that time again to salute those actresses who are on the move, actresses who deserve a little extra attention for their latest work, those actresses who are rising stars. Landing that crucial role in a TV movie or guest appearance in a successful show or film makes all the difference for aspiring actors.

Let’s take a look at the next group of actresses who viewers should keep their eye on:

[Photo Credit: Pinterest]

Sierra Aylina McClain

Sierra was born in Decatur, Georgia where she formed a singing group with her younger sisters Lauryn and China Anne. The sisters went by several different names before landing on the name Thriii. [It should be noted their father produced the debut album of Solange Knowles – Beyonce’s little sister; and Lauryn has appeared in Disney’s hit A.N.T. Farm and Step Up: High Water while China Anne also appeared on A.N.T. Farm and is one of the stars of Black Lightning.]

Sierra made her debut as part of the children’s choir in the 2005 Boris Kodjoe and Idris Elba film The Gospel. Two years later, the three sisters played the James sisters in the Idris Elba-led box office film Daddy’s Little Girls; and that same year Sierra appeared in several episodes of the comedy House of Payne. In 2009, she appeared in the Kevin Spacey and Keke Palmer movie Shrink.

Things started to change in 2012 when Sierra appeared in the Disney series A.N.T. Farm – which starred her younger sister China Anne. Not only was Sierra the composer of the theme song for the series, but the three sisters performed two songs on the show’s soundtrack.

It was four years later when Sierra was cast in the FOX drama Empire, playing the recurring character of Nessa Parker, where she sang several songs for the show’s soundtrack. She then went on to appear in the dance film Honey: Rise Up and Dance and then appeared in the second season of the TV series Mindhunter.

She is now best known for her role of Grace Ryder, the 9-1-1 dispatcher and wife of firefighter Judd Ryder (Jim Parrack), in the FOX spin-off series 9-1-1: Lone Star, which will return from its break on April 19.

Sierra lives in Los Angeles; and she can be followed on Instagram here; on Twitter @SierraMcClain and on Tumblr.

[Photo Credit: Listal]

RELATED: Salute to Rising Stars

Ann Skelly

Ann is a twentysomething actress who was born in Dublin, Ireland. She attended the Irish Film Academy’s acting classes as a teen and then trained at Bow Street Academy, graduating in 2017.

Her first break came in the 2016 Irish mini-series Rebellion, which was focused on the events surrounding the 1916 Easter Rising, the armed insurrection that took place in Ireland during Easter Week of that year. Ann followed that up with a role in the English language short-format series Playground that was created for the French digital platform Blackpills.

Ann then landed the role of Rachel Reid in the Irish cop drama Red Rock where she appeared in over 60 episodes of the show’s 6 season run. She then had the lead role in the Irish box office film Kissing Candice in 2017 before she appeared in one episode of the small screen PBS adaptation of Little Women.

In 2018, she appeared in the 3-part mini-series Death and Nightingales, starring opposite Matthew Rhys and Jamie Dornan; and then she played Ethelfled in four episodes of season 5 of Vikings.

Ann’s next big role will be as one of the lead characters – Penance Adair – in the period piece drama fantasy series The Nevers, an epic tale following a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world, that is set to debut on HBO on April 11. She will co-star alongside Laura Donnelly (Outlander).

Ann can be followed on Instagram here.