Sierra McClain approaches me with a smile and envelopes me in a huge hug, as if we’ve been friends forever. The 23-year-old — who plays Nessa on Empire — radiates energy and excitement as we settle in at a restaurant in Chicago. She immediately starts asking questions about my day, how long I’ve lived in Chicago, and what I think of the weather, clearly in no rush to pull the “celebrity” card and command all of the attention. But, really, she could.
When Sierra made her debut as Nessa on Empire’s season 3 premiere it was clear a star was born. As Nessa took the stage to perform “Need Freedom”, it was hard to take your eyes off her, and she’s only gotten better in the episodes since. But while Nessa had to wait until young adulthood for her big break, Sierra’s actually much more seasoned. She grew up in the industry, and formed the singing group The McClain Sisters with her younger sisters, Lauryn and China, when she was only 10. And when she was 12, the three girls appeared together in their first major big screen movie, Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls.
But Empire is a whole different ball game. Not only is Sierra working without her sisters, but she’s also transitioning from being a child actress to appearing in a very adult role (“[This is] the first time in my life that anybody had ever had to talk to their kid about not watching something that I was a part of!” she laughs) and making a name for herself in a totally new way. She says that the response “I’ve gotten more than anything else is, ‘Oh my gosh, Nessa's a McClain Sister?’” she tells Teen Vogue in between bites of truffle fries. “And they don’t quite recognize me, which is good. I'm happy with that, because that means Nessa looks like somebody different.”
One thing’s for sure: As part of one of the biggest shows on TV, Sierra’s wild ride has only just begun.
TV: You were a child actress and singer. When did you know this is what you wanted to do?
SM: It was [as early as I can remember], because my parents met singing and doing music. I don't ever remember a time where there wasn't music constantly playing, or somebody wasn't singing in the house. It's always just been a part of my life, and so I can't remember a time I wasn't in love with it or it wasn't around me all the time. [I never] contemplated not doing it. It's almost like it was never an option. It's just what it was. And even now, I hope it works out, because there is no plan B...This is what I was put here for. I know that, for sure.
TV: Did coming up in the industry as a trio with your sisters help you along the way?
SM: Absolutely. I don’t think I would’ve been as comfortable at all if I hadn’t had the background of working with my sisters. Even watching my sisters has helped me, too. Even though I haven't worked in a while, I was on set constantly, so I feel like I’ve been around it forever even if I wasn’t necessarily in front of the camera. And then all of my studio work with my father, [music producer and engineer, Michael McClain] definitely prepared me for the studio sessions here...I was so nervous in the beginning; I didn’t know if I could do this. But it was him talking to me and calling me saying, “Listen, you’ve been doing this forever here with me and with the girls. You can do it. You're ready for it. Go in there and be confident.” There’s no telling what would’ve happened if I hadn’t had that. [Empire] would’ve been like, “Okay, we need a new Nessa.”
Teen Vogue: What was it like joining such a major show in its third season, as the new girl?
Sierra McClain: I was scared out of my mind. I told my mom, “I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to keep up. They've been doing this for three years, their chemistry is already there... I'm nervous!” She was like, “Sierra, if you weren't doing well, I would tell you, because I'm not going to let you mess up my favorite show.” But I was very afraid when I first got here. This was one of my first consistent jobs by myself —I was so used to working with my sisters, [Lauryn and China Anne McClain], and singing with them. I had never sang a full song by myself, so I [didn’t] even know if my voice will hold up at the studio. But my family was a big support system. My sister screamed louder than I did when I booked it!
TV: Are you getting tips or help from other people in the cast?
SM: I work closely with Trai [Byers, who plays Andre Lyon]; he has been really good about helping me during some of these scenes. This show is serious. It's a big show, it's a mainstream show. It's commercial, but it's serious acting. So you can't go on this show and play around with it. You [have to] be in it, because everybody else is. And so he's really helping me out and giving me good advice, and we just have good conversations, and we talk, and I appreciate him for that. It's really helped me.
TV: Have you and Serayah bonded in any way during filming?.
SM: Mmm hmm! We’ve gotten close. It was hard coming to Chicago by myself. At some point, my mother was with me, then Lauryn came up here to be with me, and then they left. But for the premiere of the show, Serayah texted me, “Hey, where are you watching the show?” I told her, “I'm just here in my hotel room” and she was like, “You should come over!” So I went over there, and we laughed and we ate. I don't know if she really knows how much I really appreciated it, but I was here by myself and it was the premiere, and I was away from my family. She didn't have to do that; she had no reason to be as sweet as she has been. But it really meant...so much. And I had a blast, and ate a home-cooked meal for the first time in God knows how long!
TV: Like you said, the show deals with very serious topics, like mental health, violence, and in season 3, police brutality. What is it like being on a show that’s constantly pushing to have these important conversations on such a huge platform?
SM: I've always wanted to do that. I've always wanted to be a part of a platform that was going to use its voice responsibly. So I couldn't be more grateful to be a part of it. When I first heard "Need Freedom" I was...so excited. And it couldn't have come out at a more perfect time. I thought, “This is gonna touch people. They're gonna feel it, I know it, because I'm feeling it right now.” And then getting "Woke" after that...I felt honored that they were using my character to really shed light on these topics and on these situations. They're using music to shed light on these topics. Music is universal. Even if you don't see eye to eye with some of the points that they're making through their storylines [or] even if you don't quite understand it, you're gonna feel it. Music is just a universal language.
TV: What kind of response did you get after the first episode of the season, where you performed “Need Freedom,” aired?
SM: It was big. My name was trending. That’s never happened before in my life. So I was excited. I had to take a moment and call my family and be like, “Guys...what is going on? Is this really happening?" And my sisters were crying; we were all emotional on the phone. It was like an outer body experience. But I felt so full and so blessed. And it’s only gotten better and bigger from there. So hopefully it keeps going.
TV: Is there any part of Nessa’s personality that you feel you identify with?
SM: The guarded part; the part that protects herself. I think you can see it a little bit when you watch her, behind her eyes. It's that, “Keep everybody at arm's length” [mentality]. And that’s one of the parts that I really wanted to come through for her. So hopefully it does, because I think it adds a little bit of depth to her. And then of course the fact that music is running through her veins. I think for her, music is it. There is no doing anything else. I don't even know what I would do if I couldn't make a living off of it. I would just sit in my room and make music, constantly.
TV: Before you joined the show, did you have a favorite episode, moment, or song as a fan?
SM: I'm constantly replaying Serayah's "Body Speak”. Every time it comes across my YouTube, I play it. But there are so many good moments in the show. I think the way they opened the pilot...everybody got hooked from then on. When Jamal was on the piano and Hakeem came down the stairs, and they did this impromptu performance. I don't know what it was about that, but I think from that moment on, that's what got everybody hooked. I love the musical moments on this show. That's why it's so weird taping them, because I’ve watched these for so long, and now I'm a part of them.
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