Ernestine Johnson from Beyond the Gates was “trapped” by Shanice’s real-life twist, leaving her in shock.

Ernestine Johnson couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw that her breakout Beyond the Gates character was trending on social media — and not for the first time, either.

“I was floored with gratitude,” Shanice’s portrayer shared on Instagram. 

“When I tell y’all I’m so grateful for this season in my life,” she continued. “It’s been a journey, you hear me?! Wow!”

Oh, we hear ya. When Johnson was cast on the soap, “I didn’t even know Shanice was going to be in multiple episodes,” she tells Soaps.com. But she sensed immediately that there was potential in the nurse. “Shanice is so beautifully written, and I just put my little pizzazz and attitude on it.

“I just relate to her,” she adds. There’s a bit of Johnson in “some of the underlining sassiness, some of the things she says that no one else would probably say… At all times, Shanice is a meme waiting to happen, a gif waiting to happen.”

We’re not surprised in the slightest that the character has generated such a big reaction. But Johnson was taken aback to learn how popular she is.

“I didn’t even know the fans go crazy online for Shanice. I looked on [social media], and I’m like, ‘Oh. Wow. They love Shanice. I’m super grateful that I get to bring her to life for everybody.”

Here’s hoping she gets to keep bringing her to life, too. Shanice has been locking horns with crazy Dana/Leslie/Anna/Sherry/Lulu, and we all know that that can be a fast track to the ER… or worse! Read Johnson’s tale on Leslie vs. Shanice.

While you’re here, celebrate Pride month with our below photo gallery of the LGBTQ+ stars of Beyond the Gates and all the soaps.