Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max Mayfield in Netflix’s Stranger Things, took the stage at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on Saturday to introduce her latest project, O’Dessa. The event also gave the actress a chance to share heartfelt memories from the final days of filming the beloved sci-fi series, which wrapped its fifth and final season in December 2024.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sink opened up about the emotional weight of saying goodbye to Stranger Things, a show that has defined much of her career. “I haven’t seen anything from it yet, I’m very curious though,” she said of the upcoming season, set to hit Netflix later this year. “It’s going to be super emotional so I’m ready to cry with everyone.” The 22-year-old admitted that the last day on set was particularly overwhelming. “I had cried so much that my eyes were so puffy — they had never been like that before and there are some pretty embarrassing photos of me just with these giant puffy eyes,” she revealed.
While fans eagerly await the Stranger Things finale, Sink is stepping into a bold new role with O’Dessa, a rock opera that debuted at SXSW. Directed by Geremy Jasper, the film casts Sink as the titular character, a farm girl navigating a post-apocalyptic world to recover a family heirloom and rescue her true love. The project, which also stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Regina Hall, and Murray Bartlett, blends music and storytelling in a way that immediately caught Sink’s attention. “I was immediately intrigued but I had to listen to the music first,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “And then I did and I really fell in love with the character and also just the musical world that Geremy had built. So it seemed like the perfect challenge to take on.”
Sink’s roots in entertainment trace back to Broadway, where she began her career before breaking out on Stranger Things. She’s set to return to the stage this spring in John Proctor is the Villain, but O’Dessa marks a different kind of musical venture. “Singing in the film versus on stage are very different,” she explained. “I hadn’t sang in like 10 years, so it was cool to like come into a new voice through O’Dessa. Scary but rewarding.” The experience allowed her to stretch her talents in a fresh direction, one she found both daunting and fulfilling.
O’Dessa will be available to stream on Hulu starting March 20, giving audiences a chance to see Sink in a role that contrasts sharply with her Stranger Things persona. As she transitions from the Upside Down to this new musical landscape, Sink’s versatility continues to shine—puffy eyes and all.
Stay tuned to Trevor Decker News for more updates on Stranger Things Season 5 and Sadie Sink’s upcoming projects!
