‘Stranger Things’ Fans Shocked to Learn One Character Was Played by Twin Actresses

As Stranger Things fans look back on the hit Netflix series after its long run, a surprising detail about one of the show’s youngest characters has caught many people off guard. Viewers have recently learned that Holly Wheeler was not played by one child, but by two.

The actresses who first played Holly shared a short video online showing behind-the-scenes moments from their time on the show.

The clip included old photos and videos from the set, with appearances by stars like Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Carla Buono. The post quickly gained attention, but what shocked fans most was the reminder that Holly was played by identical twins.

@thepricetwins We adored season 1 of Stranger Things, and we hope you enjoy some behind the scenes taken during our first season. We were 3, and the Stranger Things universe was just starting. From our first day to the wrap party, we loved every moment! #strangerthingsseason1 #behindthescenes #hollywheelerstrangerthings #strangerthingsbehindthescenes #pricetwins ♬ Where'd All the Time Go? – Dr. Dog

The discovery sparked strong reactions on TikTok. Many viewers admitted they had no idea. One fan wrote “THERE’S TWO?!” while another commented “Wait, like the Holly from Stranger Things has a twin?” A third added “How did I not notice?!”

Holly Wheeler, the younger sister of Mike and Nancy, was originally played by twins Anniston and Tinsley Price. They took on the role when the show began in 2016 and continued through the first four seasons. Because Holly was very young and had few lines, many viewers never realized two children were sharing the role.

For the fifth and final season, the role was recast. Actress Nell Fisher stepped in as Holly, as the character became more important to the story. Speaking to SFX, show co-creator Matt Duffer explained the change, saying “Once you see the full season, you’ll have a better understanding of why it was so important to add her to the cast.”

Ross Duffer also spoke about the decision in an interview with Variety. He said “If you watch the previous seasons, Holly barely talks at all. So we didn’t really have much of a character there.” He explained that Holly was more of a background role before, and the twins were filmed naturally without much direction.

He added “As we found Nell, who’s such a character […] we started infusing Nell’s personality into Holly.”

Matt Duffer admitted the recasting came with concerns. He said “We were really nervous about [recasting Holly]. It is not like she had to look identical to the twins who were playing Holly in the past, but she had to resemble them enough that you weren’t totally confused.” He also stressed that acting ability mattered most, saying “More important than that, they have to be an incredible actor.”

Executive producer Shawn Levy also addressed the change in an interview with TUDUM. He explained “For this season, the Duffer Brothers wanted to centralize Holly as a main character.” He added that when the show first began, “we had two 3-year-old twins play Holly,” and that it was now time to find someone closer in age to match the story’s needs.

Even though fans were sad to see the twins leave the role, there was no bad feeling behind the scenes. Anniston and Tinsley Price shared a kind message to Nell Fisher on Instagram, writing “Can’t wait to see where you take our girl, Holly. We know it’s going to be amazing!”

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