Netflix
Why ‘Stranger Things’ Recast Holly Wheeler — Meet Rising Star Nell Fisher: Age, Roles and More
Holly Wheeler has always been a small character in the expansive world of Stranger Things, but Season 5 is expanding her role with a brand new actress to play her — Nell Fisher.
“I really can’t say much. It’s just so secretive, but it’s been so much fun,” Nell said of the final season during an October 2024 interview with J-14 Magazine. Her comments came months after photos of her as Holly Wheeler went viral online — a role in which she replaced twin sisters Anniston and Tinsley Price.
“Everyone’s been so welcoming and I’m having the time of my life over here,” she continued. “I think I am lucky because this is the start of a journey for me and is such an incredible opportunity — but, you know, I’m part of the end of a very long road for a lot of people and that’s a real joy to be a part of.”
The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, have also revealed that Holly Wheeler is the quiet centerpiece of Season 5, saying, “Once you see the full season, you’ll understand why it was so important to bring her forward.”
So, who is Nell, exactly?
The young actress, 14, was born in London, UK, and also has citizenship in New Zealand as that’s where her father is from. Due to her mother’s diplomatic career, she moved around frequently, living in South Africa, New Zealand, and London. Some of her best known roles are Evil Dead Rise (2023), Bookworm (2024) and Choose Love (2023). However, her Stranger Things role is sure to be her biggest breakout role yet.
Her casting also solves a major creative challenge, as the Duffers explained to SFX that the original Hawkins kids … aren’t really kids anymore.
“We wanted to recapture some of the feeling of season one, and some of that you can’t recapture unless you have kids, because our kids are not kids any more,” Matt Duffer said. “They’re not close to being kids any more. So it was really fun to add Holly and her classmates into the show, because it allowed us to recapture some of that feeling.”
Netflix has even hinted at Holly’s arc this season, teasing that she’s “finding comfort in an imaginary friend” while dealing with school struggles and trying to fit in — which, in true Hawkins fashion, sounds like a red flag for something supernatural.
Nell also teased a major moment fans can look forward to. Speaking to RadioTimes.com, she shared, “I have this amazing sequence with Cara [Buono] who plays my mum where it’s like quite a lot of action. In the trailer we saw a little sneak peek of her and I hiding underwater and there’s a whole lot to follow, which was a dream to film.”
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