Sierra McClain is looking to the future after hanging up her badge on 9-1-1: Lone Star. The actress, who left in June 2024, has officially landed a new role. After her long run as Grace Ryder, Sierra will play Toya in the BET+ Original, Brewster’s Millions: Christmas.
According to IMDb, the holiday film “follows Morgan Brewster’s journey to inherit her uncle’s fortune before Christmas. Amidst the chaos of the holiday, she discovers love, faith, and the importance of family through giving.”
A family affair, Sierra will star alongside her sister China Anne McClain, who is set to play the lead role, Morgan Brewster. With an impressive cast, the film also stars Richard Pryor Jr., Romeo Miller, Telma Hopkins, and Tequan Richmond. The film is set to be released on December 5. Production wrapped in August 2024, just two months after Deadline reported that Sierra had left 9-1-1: Lone Star due to failed contract negotiations. The actress has yet to address her decision to leave.
Amid Sierra’s departure, co-director Rashad Raisani reflected on Grace’s storyline in season five.
Speaking to Screen Rant, he said, “I think most people would say Judd and Grace are the heart and soul of Lone Star and half of that is gone. So there’s no way we can just address it or quickly erase it.”
Rashad noted that the writers had to “accept that loss” and “share the pain that we felt behind the scenes on camera and make that into the story, especially for Judd.”
Noting that it was important to honor both Grace and Sierra, the EP confirmed that her character’s storyline was handled with “the utmost respect and love.”
As 9-1-1: Lone Star moves deeper into its fifth and final season, fans have learned that Grace has temporarily left her family to volunteer overseas.
Jim Parrack, who plays the character’s on-screen husband Judd Ryder, has hinted that Grace’s absence will have a profound impact on Judd in future episodes, leading to some outrage. “Stay tuned because Judd may be facing some things coming up,” he told TV Line.
However, Jim has nothing but admiration for his co-star and supports her decision to leave. “I love and respect her so much,” he began. “She’s a good person, of great integrity. I said, ‘Hey, trust yourself and do whatever you think is best.’ There was no part of me, on a human level or a friend level, that could have talked her out of such an important decision.”
“Of course, I was like, ‘Fuck, she’s one of the best co-stars I’ve ever had, and now I’m not going to have her,’” he recalled.
