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8 Feb 2026 14:46
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Natalia Dyer thought she'd "bombed" her 'Stranger Things' auditions

    The 27-year-old actress portrays Nancy Wheeler in the Netflix drama series but landing the role took her by surprise because she was convinced she'd messed up her try-out


    She said: "I auditioned twice for the role. I thought I bombed the initial audition, but then I got the callback, and I thought I bombed that as well."

    Natalia admitted she and her co-stars had no idea how big the show would be or that it would still be going today.

    She said: "At the time, Netflix wasn't what it is today. They had some really cool shows such as 'Orange Is The New Black' and 'House Of Cards', but I really wasn't aware there was a possibility of a second season. The energy was like, 'I hope people like it. We like it. We think this is cool.' " And the huge "overnight" success of the show brought the cast, including the likes of Millie Bobby Brown and Joe Keery, together.

    She said: "It's a bond that is hard to describe. We were all very excited and we hadn't done anything like it before. So to have it become so big, literally overnight, was a very specific experience. It really tied us all together."

    And Natalie feels very "protective" of her younger co-stars because she knows she couldn't have coped with the scrutiny the likes of Finn Wolfhard have at such a young age.

    She told Cosmopolitan: "Every time I see Finn, it's like, 'You're so tall! Are you taller?' There's an inherent sense of protectiveness there.

    " I'm always impressed by them; by how they carry themselves and how aware they are of the pressures. But it's nerve-racking and I don't envy them at all. I would've been a complete mess if I'd gone through that at their ages. It really is a lot."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Rugby:
    New Zealand's Paul Coll has won into the last eight at squash's Windy City Open in Chicago 14:37

    Business:
    Many businesses across the country could have unknowingly have a gender pay gap 14:17

    General:
    Winter Olympics 2026 quick guide: What to watch on Day 2, Sunday, February 8 14:17

    International:
    Savannah Guthrie indicates she will pay ransom for return of her mother in video message to apparent kidnappers 14:07

    Environment:
    State Highway Two through the Waioweka Gorge, which connects Gisborne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty, re-opens tomorrow under special conditions 14:07

    Health & Safety:
    Water warnings along the capital's South Coast are expected to remain for another week, as officials wait for more test results 13:47

    Golf:
    Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is in prime position to pull off a third victory at the PGA Tour's latest stop in Phoenix 13:37

    Basketball:
    A double-dose of positive news for the Breakers as they fight to keep their dim NBL basketball playoff hopes alight 12:27

    Skiing:
    Valentino Guseli missed out on a bonus 2026 Winter Olympics medal, but won something even more important 12:07

    Golf:
    New Zealand golfers will be in contention heading into the final round at the big tournaments in Europe and the United States 11:57


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