Sadie Sink Reflects on Life After Stranger Things

Sadie Sink, now 23 years old, rose to fame when she joined the cast of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things during its second season in 2017. Since then, her world has never quite been the same.

Speaking to me over Zoom from her parents’ home in New Jersey, Sink reflects on her time on the show and the impending end of an era. “There’s life during Stranger Things and there’s going to be life after Stranger Things. It was my childhood. Things are going to be very different,” she says with a bittersweet smile.

As the show’s finale approaches on New Year’s Eve, Sink and her co-stars, including Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, and Millie Bobby Brown, have gone from unknown teenagers to globally famous young adults. “None of this has been a normal way to grow up, but what made it manageable was that we were all going through it together,” she continues. “Having people who understood it without needing to explain it—that’s invaluable.”

Stranger Things has become Netflix’s biggest franchise, captivating audiences with its nostalgic 1980s setting and supernatural storylines. Created by the Duffer brothers, the show has spawned merchandise, theme parks, and a dedicated fan base across generations.

Playing the introverted Max Mayfield, Sink has become a fan favorite with her cool, sensitive portrayal. Her performance in Season 4 was so powerful that the 1985 Kate Bush song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” reentered the pop charts in 2022 as a nod to Max’s story.

“Any time young girls see themselves in Max, it’s something special,” Sink says. “I’ve met kids who have said they took up skateboarding because of her or felt seen because of her. It’s a reminder of how many people the show reaches, especially young viewers. I’m proud to be part of something that celebrates misfit kids who are different, but who are still heroes.”