For years, fans have known her by the name that appears in the credits of Stranger Things, but now, the 21-year-old actress is opening up about her real name and why she chose to change it. In a recent interview with BuzzFeed UK, the beloved actress reflected on growing up in the public eye and the deeply personal reasons behind her surprising name switch.
The Story Behind Her Name Change
Many Hollywood stars adopt stage names for a variety of reasons—some for privacy, some for branding, and others to avoid being typecast. For this Stranger Things actress, the decision to use a different name was a personal one, rooted in her desire to separate her private identity from her on-screen persona.
During the interview, she explained that while her birth name holds sentimental value, she felt a need to create some distance between her real-life self and the public figure she was becoming. “When you step into this industry at a young age, you don’t always realize how much of your personal identity will be tied to your work,” she shared. “I wanted to have something that was mine, that wasn’t completely dictated by my career.”
Though she didn’t go into exact details about the origins of her real name, she did reveal that making the switch allowed her to feel more in control of her public persona. It was a decision that not only helped her navigate fame but also gave her a sense of protection as she grew up in the industry.
Growing Up in the Spotlight
Finding fame as a teenager on one of Netflix’s biggest hit series wasn’t always easy. The actress admitted that while she is grateful for the opportunities Stranger Things has given her, being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age came with challenges. “You’re growing up, making mistakes, learning who you are—all while millions of people are watching and forming opinions about you,” she said. “That’s not always an easy thing to deal with.”
She also touched on the scrutiny that comes with being a young woman in Hollywood, explaining that everything from her fashion choices to her personal relationships has been under a microscope. The name switch was just one way she found to create a small sense of normalcy in a life that has been anything but.
Embracing the Future
Despite the pressures of fame, the actress remains optimistic about her future. With Stranger Things approaching its final season, she is excited to take on new challenges and continue carving out a career beyond the show that made her a household name.
For fans who have been curious about her real name, the revelation is a reminder that even the biggest stars are still navigating their own personal journeys. And for the actress herself, embracing both her public and private identities is all part of growing up—just with the added challenge of doing it in front of the world.
