Millie Bobby Brown then
British-born Millie Bobby Brown stars as lead character Eleven in Stranger Things. Only 11 years old at the start of filming, Brown’s portrayal of Eleven in the first series earned her a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Millie Bobby Brown now
Credit: Millie Bobby Brown via Instagram
Now 19, Brown’s star continues to rise. She was named one of the most influential teens of 2017 and 2018 by Time magazine. Her big screen debut came in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, coming a year after she was named as the youngest person ever to be appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Brown announced her engagement to Jake Bongiovi, son of Jon Bon Jovi, in April 2023.
David Harbour then
David Harbour plays the role of Police Chief Jim Hopper and father figure to Brown’s Eleven character. Harbour’s character was heavily pushed to be the lead by network executives when considering buying the script from its creators, the Duffer brothers. The Duffer brothers stayed firm in their belief that the show should focus on the kids, and thankfully, Netflix shared their vision.
David Harbour now
Credit: @dkharbour via Instagram
Harbour would star as the lead in 2019’s reboot of Hellboy and also featured in 2021’s Black Widow. Harbour has been in a relationship with British singer Lilly Allen since 2019, with the couple tying the knot in a 2020 Las Vegas wedding officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator.
Noah Schnapp then
Noah Schnapp plays Stranger Things’ traumatised youngster Will Byers. Coming into Stranger Things off the back of starring in Stephen Spielberg’s 2015 Oscar winner Bridge of Spies, Schnapps has been praised for his acting ability at such a young age. He was only 12 when he started on the show.
Noah Schnapp now
Credit: @noahschnapp via Instagram
Schnapp revealed he was gay in a 2023 TikTok video and is seen as a strong teen role model in the gay community. In the video, Schnapp caused a stir with his comment of “I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought,” in reference to speculation that his Stranger Things character is also gay. Rumours online have suggested Schnapp is dating influencer Moti Ankari.
Sadie Sink then
Sadie Sink joined the cast of Stranger Things in season two at the age of 15 and plays Max Mayfield. Sink’s character really came to prominence in series four, cementing Max as her breakthrough role. The fate of Sink’s character was left unknown at the end of season four, although Sink has been cast for season five.
Sadie Sink now
Credit: @sadiesink_ via Instagram
Sink’s casting as Max has opened many doors in Hollywood for her, having her most notable role in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological drama The Whale in 2022. Sadie is rumoured to be dating Patrick Alwyn, the younger brother of Taylor Swift’s ex, Joe Alwyn. This came after Sink starred in Taylor Swift’s 2021 movie project, All Too Well: The Short Film.
Gaten Matarazzo then
Gaten Matarazzo was just 14 when he was cast as Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things. The former Broadway star, who played Gavroche in Les Misérables in 2014, provided the comic relief in the early seasons. Born with cleidocranial dysplasia, Matarazzo was instantly adored by fans due to his quirky nature and quick wit.
Gaten Matarazzo now
Still sporting his iconic braces, Matarazzo landed his own hidden camera prank show on Netflix in 2019 called Prank Encounters. Broadway came calling again in 2022 with the musical Dear Evan Hansen and later Sweeney Todd. On-screen romance blossomed into the real world as Matrazzo is currently dating Stranger Things co-star Lizzy Yu, who plays Dustin’s girlfriend on the show.