I certainly hope that we will get more women in power, when it comes to executives and producers and directors, because the problem is not a shortage of females who are qualified to do the job. It's just that women are not favoured or chosen.
— Shannon Purser
I've been singing since I was a kid, but I take my voice a lot more personally than my acting. I feel a lot more personal criticism when somebody tells you that you don't have a good voice.
I had this incredible opportunity with 'Stranger Things,' and now all it tells me is that people like my work, so I need to keep working. I need to push forward and put as much of my heart into every character I play as I did into Barb.
It's something that I feel every young person goes through, this idea that they're not doing enough, or that they're stuck. Definitely when I was in high school I was like, 'What am I doing here, I want to be an actor, instead I'm just stuck at school and I'm not doing anything.'
I'm always going to love Barb and I'm always going to be grateful to 'Stranger Things' and for the incredible opportunity I've had.
I've always felt, as a person, that I wanted to make people feel included and loved because I think at some point in all of our lives, we've felt not included and unworthy, especially in terms of appearances.
Some of the best relationships I had in high school were not romantic - they were with my best girlfriends.
We're constantly bombarded with perfect airbrushed images. Every magazine you look at is like 'top 20 tricks to have the perfect body' and it's ridiculous.
I related to 'Sierra' in the fact that I tend to come off as pretty confident in who I am, but definitely in high school I had a lot of insecurity and was unsure if I should be changing myself to fit in more.
I would definitely love to see a queer rom-com because representation matters. It does so much to help normalize things in the mind of society.
But I've always loved the whole costuming part of acting.
When I was younger, I felt very alone and that I didn't fit into my own skin. I loved the idea of becoming somebody else, and acting was an outlet for me and those emotions.
I've found beauty in such unexpected places. I think the most beautiful thing you can do is be yourself and to own it.
I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety several years ago, so it's something I've been battling most of my life.
I think once I kind of got to a place of self-acceptance, looking past all the insecurities that I have, I've really grown so much as a person.
I had a really, really bad case of it. Everybody hears OCD and they think, 'Okay, you like to clean or be organized.' That's really not what it is, especially not for everybody. In my case, it was me being super self-conscious, to the point where it was debilitating.
People have actually had my face tattooed on to their bodies, which is so odd.
Looking back on my wardrobe from 'Stranger Things,' I would probably wear a lot of it. I might style it a little bit differently but I like the pieces.
Playing the nerd isn't necessarily the most ego-boosting role.
I do feel like young people feel pressured to be extraordinary in a new way. Of course everybody is extraordinary in their own special way... but not everybody has been an activist, or volunteered somewhere incredible, or has perfect scores. So it's a lot of pressure to put on young people.
When I was a kid I was a huge reader, I always had a book in my hand.
I'm a real homebody, I don't do a whole lot.
I love the nostalgic feel of the '80s and, oh, I love Winona Ryder so much. I was such a huge fan of hers growing up, so breathing the same air as her was an honor for sure.
I think the best relationship you'll ever have is the one with yourself. That might even be the most important one.
I think people are more alike than they are different, especially in high school. No matter what clique you belong to, everybody's trying to get approval and trying to fit in.
It's movies like 'Love, Simon' that are so pivotal because it's this sweet rom-com that you would watch about a straight couple, but it's two guys. It feels natural and real and just charming. I would love to see more movies like that.
I love that 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' is an interracial couple.
As fun as it is to be the nerdy best friend. I'm capable of more than that, and I feel that I have emotions to share, and there are roles I can add something to. I just hope there are other people who are willing to take that chance on me and let me tell their stories.
I understand that feeling of insecurity, like you're not good enough as you are, and you need to change.
I'm very interested in makeup and fashion and beauty.
Things like the Women's March have been just so encouraging, and I'd like to see that continue.
I don't have a typical body type, and that used to be something that made me feel very alone and weird.
I'm excited to see a new age of rom-coms, and especially teen romantic comedies, because when I was younger, I was watching 'Harry Potter' and 'Hunger Games' and stuff like that. I loved those movies, but they are a little bit heavy. We didn't really get to have the lighthearted love stories.
I guess everyone's had an experience when they felt overlooked, ditched, hurt or taken for granted. Where they felt like the only one behaving with common sense but still got the short end of the stick. We all feel like the odd one out at some point.
I watch Jimmy Fallon all the time. I think he's hilarious.
Instagram is great but I'm not an amazing photographer and I don't wanna post selfies constantly.
You don't have to be the next Einstein. You can just be you, and that's more than good enough.
Stranger Things' was my first job, and I was learning everything as I was doing it and it was such a whirlwind.
I'm aware that I don't look like the traditional or the stereotypical type of Hollywood starlet and that is OK with me.
I think people need a little light and a little happiness in their lives.
I think society is so hard on young women. Growing up, the images that I saw, the standards that I had to live up to in terms of how I looked and how I fit into my social groups - it was a lot of pressure.
I think temptation is ever present to become something that you think is more socially acceptable.
Sierra' is me being a plus-size woman.
I love the style from the '80s, obviously some of it is a little, you know, out there.
I like being known for who I am.
I mean, I definitely relate to not being a part of the popular crowd.
I was into this one guy that was like, punk and cool and rock 'n roll. So I went out and bought black high top Converse.
Everyone has been an outcast at one point in their life.
It's incredible, but I will sing the praises of therapy. I think everybody should be in therapy. It helps so much to have somebody educated you can talk to.
The '80s weren't perfect and people made some questionable fashion choices but in terms of music and movies, it was revolutionary and wonderful.
