pictured: me in evil director mode during the biblical flood of our first night shoot 📸 @lucydismore
About Shannon Purser
Shannon Purser is an American actress, writer, and director, best known for her breakout role as Barb in the Netflix series Stranger Things, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She is also recognized for her role as Ethel Muggs in Riverdale. Purser is a prominent advocate for mental health, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ rights, often sharing her personal struggles with faith and sexuality to inspire young people.
Career

Actress, Writer, Director
Currently in post-production on her first short film, "Sisters," demonstrating a pivot into creative leadership and filmmaking. This role involves overseeing the final stages of editing, sound design, and color grading to prepare the film for festival submission and distribution.
Actively involved in the entertainment industry as an actress, writer, and director, leveraging her public profile to advocate for mental health, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ rights. She uses her platform to discuss industry issues, such as the casting of fat characters.

Actress
Portrayed Ethel Muggs in the CW's teen drama series, a recurring role that expanded her television presence and showcased her ability to handle complex character arcs within a popular franchise. This role further solidified her status as a recognizable young actress.
Starred as the lead character, Sierra Burgess, in the Netflix romantic comedy film, which was a major role that demonstrated her capability to carry a feature film. The film was a significant title in Netflix's young adult content library.
Made her film debut in the supernatural horror film, "Wish Upon," marking her transition from television to the big screen. This role provided early experience in the feature film production environment.

Actress
Achieved widespread recognition for her breakout role as Barbara "Barb" Holland in the first season of the Netflix drama series, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
The character's sudden disappearance and the subsequent fan reaction led to the popular "Justice for Barb" movement, highlighting her significant, albeit brief, impact on the series' narrative and pop culture. This established her as a prominent new talent.
Skills
Core technical and professional competencies inferred from her career as an actress, writer, and director, and her advocacy work.
Acting Performance
Character Development
Screenwriting
Directing (Short Film)
Film Production
Improvisation
Mental Health Advocacy
LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy
Public Speaking
Audience Engagement (1.1M Followers)
Social Media Strategy
Body Positivity
Team Collaboration
Project Management
Creative Vision
Self-Direction
Time Management
Domains
Film & Television, Entertainment Industry
Mental Health, LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Youth Empowerment
Tags
Authentic, Candid, Inspiring, Relatable, Creative
Advocacy, Storytelling, Directorial Debut, Body Positivity
Recent Content
It feels weird … Ft. @tlenkarski @shannonpurser @_vitaloca
🍂🍂🍂
We wrapped my short film Sisters last week and I could not be more grateful to each and every member of our cast and crew for making my directorial debut so fulfilling, exciting, seamless, and FUN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Factual FAQs detailing Shannon Purser's acting career milestones, current professional roles, and social media presence are provided.
What role earned Shannon Purser an Emmy nomination?
Did Shannon Purser star in Riverdale?
Yes, she is recognized for her recurring role as Ethel Muggs in the CW television series Riverdale, which she held during the 2017-2024 period.
Is Shannon Purser a writer and director?
Yes, her current status in the Entertainment Industry (2025 - Present) includes roles as an actress, writer, and director.
What advocacy topics does Purser support?
She is a prominent advocate for mental health, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ rights, often sharing personal struggles to inspire young people.
How many followers does Purser have on Instagram?
As of the latest data, Shannon Purser has approximately 941.7K followers on Instagram with an engagement rate of 4.9%.








