What’s Next for Max? Sadie Sink Opens Up About ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: “It Was Pretty Bizarre

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With Stranger Things nearing its end, Sadie Sink recently discussed what’s in store for her character, Max, in the first part of the final season.

Max almost died in Season 4 when fighting Lord Vecna, but Eleven managed to save her. Sadie Sink, the actress who plays Max, said it was incredibly difficult to portray such a stressful and dangerous situation.

Sadie Sink described how challenging it was to portray Max this season. She usually finds ways to connect with the character through things like her co-stars, the setting, or even her wardrobe and style. But this season, those anchors were missing. Max’s appearance – with unfamiliar clothes, overgrown hair, and a constantly dirty face – reflected a wild and troubled state, making the experience ‘pretty bizarre,’ Sink told The Hollywood Reporter.

She explained that working with a younger actor was a new challenge. She was used to understanding how her character interacted with the established ones – Max, Lucas, Mike, Eleven, and Will – but didn’t know what to expect when working with a twelve-year-old girl.

Pairing up with new cast member Nell (Holly) allowed Sink to see a different side of Max. Sink shared, “It showed that Max is genuinely caring and a great friend. She doesn’t treat Holly like she’s younger; she sees her as an equal and respects her. There’s a real connection between them – Max understands they need to work together, and she values what Holly brings to the table. It was great to see Max connect with her on that level.”

Sink was highly complimentary of Nell’s talent and intelligence, noting she’s brilliant both as an actress and as a person. Sink shared that she admired Nell’s sharp mind and learned a great deal from working with her, describing their collaboration as a joyful and liberating experience, like embarking on a unique journey together.

It was definitely tough being separated from everyone else during filming. Honestly, watching the first four episodes – that’s all I’ve seen so far – was really interesting. As someone who learns best by seeing things, it was cool to finally get a sense of what the others had been creating.

She recounted a humorous moment about unexpected details in the show’s scripts. She and Nell had a good laugh when she pictured a life-sized G.I. Joe action figure based on a script description of something Nell wears around her neck. Seeing the actual, much smaller figure on set clarified things: ‘Oh, that’s what they meant!’

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2025-12-01 19:45