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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Lifestyle
Jess Molyneux

Stranger Things throwback photos show cast before they were all grown up

It's hard to believe how fast the cast of Stranger Things have grown up before our eyes.

The hit Netflix show burst onto the scene back in 2016 and as the characters have grown, so have the actors who play them. At the start, Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, was just a scared little girl who didn't know much about the world around her and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Will (Noah Schnapp) were innocent Dungeons & Dragons-loving kids.

And if you look back at season one compared to now, you may feel old yourself when you think how quickly time has flown by. Most of the younger cast are now in their late teens, with the creators of Stranger Things noting there will be a time jump in later episodes.

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As many of us have now seen the conclusion of the fourth season, we've delved into the archives to find these throwback photos of the cast. Some show actors as the show started, whereas others capture them years before the popular TV series.

You can also see how much the younger cast members have grown up, as well as what some of the actors looked like decades ago at the start of their careers. Here are 11 Stranger Things actors before they were 'all grown up.'

Natalia Dyer

Natalia Dyer seven years before she played Nancy Wheeler, in April 2009 (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

Natalia Dyer, 25, plays high school senior Nancy Wheeler in the hit series. Older sister to Mike, Nancy is a student journalist who finds herself investigating the Hawkins Lab and growing closer to character Jonathan.

In her career, Dyer has also appeared in Netflix thriller Velvet Buzzsaw and the music video for Wild Love by James Bay. She has grown up a lot since her early red carpet days, as seen above at The Hannah Montana Movie premiere in 2009.

Natalia Dyer attends Netflix's Stranger Things ATAS Official Screening in 2022 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)

Gaten Matarazzo

Olivia Newton-John and Gaten Matarazzo back in 2011 (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

Nerdy but sweet Dustin Henderson is played by a now 19-year-old Gaten Matarazzo. A key member of the group, Dustin is also loved for his ever-growing friendship with Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery.

Before Stranger Things, Gaten appeared on Broadway in Les Misérables and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Here is an adorable photo of Matarazzo, aged eight, back in 2011 with Olivia Newton-John.

Gaten Matarazzo, who is now 19, pictured this year (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Sadie Sink

A young Sadie Sink during her time in Annie, age 11 (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)

Flame-haired tomboy Max Mayfield came onto our screens in season 2 and is played by Sadie Sink, now aged 20. Before her Stranger Things days, Sink appeared in other television series' such as The Americans and Blue Bloods.

Like her co-stars, Sink also boasts a successful Broadway career, starring in shows such as The Audience and Annie. Above, you can spot a young Sink performing at the age of 11.

Sadie Sink is now 20 and has also appeared in a Taylor Swift music video (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)

Caleb McLaughlin

Lion King Cast: Jaden Jordan, Bobbi Bordley, Teshi Thomas and Caleb McLaughlin in 2013, three years before his Stranger Things debut (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)

The oldest of all the main boys, Caleb McLaughlin, 20, plays teenager Lucas Sinclair. Best friend to Mike, Dustin, Will and Eleven, he is also the love interest of Max, played by Sadie Sink.

In his earlier years, he played a young Simba in a stage adaptation of The Lion King, as pictured above. McLaughlin has since been cast as the voice of Tico the Squirrel in the film Dora And The Lost City of Gold.

Caleb Mclaughlin attends Netflix's Stranger Things season 4 premiere, 2022 (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Maya Hawke

Ethan Hawke with his kids, Maya and Roan in 2003 (Photo bt Mario Magnani/Getty Images)

Maya Hawke, 23, is no stranger to the world of acting. She is the daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.

A fairly new addition to the main cast in more recent series, Hawke plays Robin Buckley, who works with Steve at the ice cream parlour. She previously played the lead role of Jo March in the BBC adaptation of Little Women in 2017.

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Maya Hawke, now 23, attending Netflix's Stranger Things ATAS Official Screening on May 27, 2022 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)

Sean Astin

Sean Astin as Mikey in a scene from the film The Goonies, which was released in 1985 (Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

Actor Sean Astin portrayed Bob Newby in the second season of Stranger Things, but has been in the spotlight for many years. He is now best known for his film role as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord Of The Rings series.

But as a kid, many will remember he played Mikey Walsh in The Goonies. Above is a throwback photo of Astin on set of the 1985 classic.

Who is your favourite Stranger Things character? Let us know in the comments section below.

Sean Astin photographed this year (Photo by Thomas Cooper/Getty Images)

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown two years prior to playing Eleven (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Millie Bobbie Brown skyrocketed to fame with her portrayal of Eleven in the hit Netflix show. Playing a psychokinetic girl who was experimented on since young childhood, Brown was born in Marbella, Spain and is now 18 years old.

Brown has since found movie roles in Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and its sequel Godzilla vs Kong, whilst also playing the title role in Enola Holmes on Netflix. The above photo captures a young Brown before her Netflix debut back in 2014.

Millie Bobby Brown turned 18 this year (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Noah Schnapp

Noah Schnapp arrives at the red carpet premiere of The Peanuts Movie, 2015 (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/WireImage)

Noah Schnapp is known for his role as Will Byers - the boy whose disappearance started it all back in season one. Now 17, Schnapp is pictured above at the red carpet premiere of The Peanuts Movie in 2015.

Schnapp is also known for voicing Charlie Brown in that film, and had a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg drama Bridge Of Spies.

The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.

Noah Schnapp, photographed this year, is now 17 (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Fendi)

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder, circa 1986 (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)

Winona Ryder is no stranger to our screens. Before her role as Joyce Byers, the Hollywood movie star was known for her roles in Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Alien Resurrection, Bram Stoker's Dracula and more.

Many will recognise Ryder as photographed above in the 1980s. In Stranger Things, Ryder plays the struggling and brave single mother of Jonathan and Will Byers.

Winona Ryder has many Hollywood films under her belt (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Finn Wolfhard

Finn Wolfhard as her Stranger Things career began (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Finn Wolfhard plays the role of Mike Wheeler, younger brother of Nancy and head of the Hawkins crew of kids. In the series, Wolfhard's character is also the love interest of Eleven.

Now 19, above is an adorable throwback of the actor when his Stranger Things journey began. Wolfhard has since found movie roles since Stranger Things began, being cast in IT, The Goldfinch, The Addams Family, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

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Finn Wolfhard attends Netflix's Stranger Things season 4 premiere (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

David Harbour

Actor David Harbour in May 2005 (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

David Harbour plays heroic man of the law and Eleven's adoptive father Jim Hopper. Since Stranger Things first premiered, Harbour has played the titular superhero in Hellboy and starred in Marvel's Black Widow movie.

But the actor has also starred previously in Brokeback Mountain, Quantum Of Solace and more. Here is a photo of Harbour back in 2005.

David Harbour is married to British singer Lily Allen (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

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