News | Entertainment
11 Jan 2026 16:47
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Nell Fisher says her friends "don't care" that she stars in Stranger Things

    The 14-year-old actress joined the cast of the fifth and final season of the Netflix series - which was created by The Duffer Brothers - as Holly Wheeler, appearing alongside established cast members such as Millie Bobbie Brown, Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo.


    Nell insists upon returning to her school in London she was not treated like a major celebrity, admitting her friends' own self-absorption actually helps her keep a sense of normality despite her high-profile role.

    Appearing on UK TV show This Morning, she said: "In 2024 I was in Atlanta for a whole year. I basically wasn't at school at all, so going back to normal life, chemistry tests all of that, it does feel a bit awkward at first but I do I really love my school. I'm a huge geek!

    "In terms of other people. The amazing thing is that teenagers actually don't really care, they're like really self involved so they're like, 'Oh you're in Stranger Things that's really cool, anyway my maths teacher was being so annoying.'

    "And you can just sort of skip past it which I actually found was really nice that I could actually have a place with a bit of normality."

    Nell was around 12 when filming Stranger Things Season 5, turning 14 during production in 2024. She took over the role of Holly Wheeler from younger actresses to play a bigger, more central part.

    Landing the role was pure "serendipity" as Nell wore her hair in pigtails to look younger for her audition, and it just so happened to be Holly Wheeler's signature style.

    She said: "When I was doing the audition I was meant to be 10 years old and I was 11 when I auditioned, I find that when I put my hair up in pig tails it makes me look younger.

    "What I didn't know is that that's actually holly's signature look so it was a bit of Serendipity. After the audition I had a zoom call with the duffers, they explained that the part was Holly and I still didn't quite get how big the part was, then I read the script and was like wow. It was all pretty incredible."

    Before auditioning, Nell had never watched Stranger Things - because her mother Laura Clarke, a British diplomat, though the sci-fi series was too frightening for her young daughter.

    She admitted: "I have been lobbying to watch it for a long time, but my mum claimed that it would be too scary, she meant it would be too scary for her! But then I got this audition and it was like ... so first of all, 'Oh I could be in Stranger Things, that's exiting.' But my main thought was 'OK, I now get to watch it!'

    "So I just started and I didn't stop and I went all the way from one to four and I just remember thinking what an amazing show it was and how incredible it would be to be on it."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     11 Jan: Leigh-Anne Pinnock's husband Andre Gray went to therapy to save their marriage after he "broke" her heart
     11 Jan: Minnie Driver is "so glad" she found love with her fiancé Addison O'Dea
     11 Jan: Sarah Jessica Parker has hinted she is keen to play her Sex and the City character again
     11 Jan: Jenny McCarthy faces bedroom "challenges" with Donnie Wahlberg because she's constantly battling to block out his snoring
     11 Jan: Nikki Glaser has been warned off making jokes about "America's sweetheart" Julia Roberts at the Golden Globe Awards
     11 Jan: Shaun Ryder was forced to miss Gary 'Mani' Mounfield's funeral because he was struck down with a bout of pneumonia
     11 Jan: Jessie Buckley "wasn't well" during her stint on Andrew Lloyd Webber's "bonkers" TV talent show I'd Do Anything
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    New Zealand Giant Slalom skiing star Alice Robinson isn't switching focus despite surprise showings in a different discipline More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand households and small businesses will soon have a simpler way to slash their electricity bills More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Leigh-Anne Pinnock's husband Andre Gray went to therapy to save their marriage after he "broke" her heart 16:23

    Cricket:
    The Northern Brave have fallen agonisingly short of pulling off a stunning run chase over the Wellington Blaze in their T20 Super Smash at the Basin Reserve 16:17

    Entertainment:
    Minnie Driver is "so glad" she found love with her fiancé Addison O'Dea 15:53

    Living & Travel:
    The Breakers require an instant reset for this afternoon's Australian basketball league trip to Illawarra 15:27

    Politics:
    Iranian protesters chant anti-government messages as authorities signal intensifying crackdown 15:27

    Soccer:
    An opportunity for the Wellington Phoenix to move up through the congested A-League ladder 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Sarah Jessica Parker has hinted she is keen to play her Sex and the City character again 15:23

    Accident and Emergency:
    A search is continuing for a swimmer swept down the Waikato River yesterday afternoon 15:07

    Entertainment:
    Jenny McCarthy faces bedroom "challenges" with Donnie Wahlberg because she's constantly battling to block out his snoring 14:53

    Law and Order:
    Eloise Worledge was snatched from her bed. 50 years on her aunt is still looking for answers 14:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd