The breakout star of the final season of Stranger Things, Nell Fisher, joined the sofa on ITV’s This Morning to share the fascinating journey of how she became the new Holly Wheeler. Speaking with the hosts, the 14-year-old actress revealed that landing the role was a mixture of talent and a lucky fashion choice. During her audition, Fisher decided to wear her hair in pigtails to appear younger, completely unaware that pigtails were actually the signature look for the character in previous seasons. This small detail helped her clinch the role and transition Holly into a much more central figure for the series’ massive finale.
Surprisingly, Fisher admitted that she hadn’t actually seen the hit Netflix series before she got the audition. Her mother, a British diplomat, had previously told her the show was simply too scary for her to watch. Once she landed the part, she was finally given the green light to binge-watch the first four seasons, realizing for the first time the scale of the production she was joining. She also shared a heartwarming story about meeting the original actresses who played Holly, twins Anniston and Tinsley Price. The trio met up at a trampoline park for several hours, where the twins effectively “passed the torch” to Fisher as the character’s storyline expanded into darker territory involving the villainous Vecna.
Life on the set of a global phenomenon was a whirlwind for the young star, who spent a full year filming in Atlanta. Fisher formed close bonds with the veteran cast, particularly noting that Sadie Sink became a mentor to her. She described their relationship as getting along “like a house on fire” from the very first screen test. She also recalled valuable advice from director Shawn Levy, who told her “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” when it came to the heavy emotional lifting required for her scenes. This guidance helped her navigate the intense psychological aspects of being Vecna’s latest fixation without being overwhelmed by the weight of the performance.
Despite the international fame that comes with being the face of the final season, Fisher remains incredibly grounded. She described herself as a “huge geek” who truly loves her education, revealing that she even studies Russian, Ancient Greek, and Latin. Perhaps most refreshing is how her school friends in London have reacted to her Hollywood status. Fisher laughed as she explained that her peers are “really self-involved” and generally uninterested in her television career. Instead of asking for spoilers, they are more likely to complain about their maths teachers or upcoming chemistry tests, providing her with a welcome sense of normality after her time in the Upside Down.