NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� When Sadie Sink joined the cast of in its second season, the then 14-year-old was already a fan of Netflix鈥檚 megahit show. But with the series turning many of the teen stars into household names overnight, attempting to carve out her own lane wasn鈥檛 easy.
鈥淚 kind of knew what I was stepping in to, but I didn鈥檛 really know until I was in it," said Sink. 鈥淏eing the new kid, I think it really gave me a perspective on everything. So, I kind of liked coming in a little bit later, even though I definitely had like the biggest imposter syndrome, like, ever.鈥�
Sink is far from an imposter. Her 鈥淪tranger Things鈥� character, Max, was more integral to the storyline last season, and her performance when she freed herself from the evil trance of the monster Vecna became a huge cultural moment for both the song, which roared back onto the charts, and Sink.
The 20-year-old has joined her 鈥淪tranger Things鈥� co-stars as a household name, leading to her selection as one of The Other honorees include Iman Vellani, Tenoch Huerta, Stephanie Hsu, Danielle Deadwyler and others whose work has put them on the path to superstardom.
The smiley Texan has built an impressive resume first rooted in theater, and now blossoming with Darren Aronofsky鈥檚 buzzy new film touted as as an obese English teacher whose health issues prompt him to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Sink.
鈥淭his has definitely been a big year just in terms of career milestones,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just nice to have these opportunities and to have kind of found acting at a young age and to be able to stick with it.鈥�
Easily recognized by her flowy red locks, Sink said 鈥淭he Whale鈥� was not only a career opportunity, but an education.
鈥淭he whole project as a whole, I think, was a big moment for me, just in terms of becoming fully comfortable in front of a camera. I think it takes a really long time to do that. And especially for the more vulnerable scenes, you鈥檙e on set, the lights and everything 鈥� the stakes feel really high,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough working on this, I think I really got comfortable with the help of Brendan and Darren. And that was, I think, a really educational experience for me, and I think I carried a lot with me after that on to 鈥楽tranger Things.鈥欌��
Sink was born in Brenham, Texas, a small country town with a Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory that's a field trip destination for Houston-area elementary students.
The fourth of five siblings, Broadway shows on YouTube inspired 7-year-old Sadie and her older brother Mitchell to begin acting in local plays. By 9, she was regularly performing at Houston鈥檚 Theatre Under the Stars before landing the title role 鈥淎nnie鈥� the following year for the 2012 Broadway revival.
But after a few TV guest appearances, working with Helen Mirren on the Broadway play 鈥淭he Audience鈥� morphed her professional acting dream from possibility to reality.
鈥淚t just like kind of really shifted my relationship with acting being around someone like Helen Mirren and just seeing how they approach their craft. That鈥檚 like a master class and I just saw it in this whole new light,鈥� said the 鈥淒ear Zoe鈥� lead. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 really the moment that I knew that this was something that I really, really wanted to do.鈥�
Sink, who鈥檚 also become a high fashion front-row regular at top shows like Chanel and Kate Spade, is preparing herself for the fifth and final season of 鈥淪tranger Things,鈥� set to begin production next year. She鈥檚 also wrapped the upcoming Jordan Scott film 鈥淏erlin Nobody,鈥� an adaptation of the 2015 novel 鈥淭okyo鈥� by Nicholas Hogg.
She hopes to continue to work with directors who can help grow her craft, saying 鈥淭he Whale鈥� has influenced how she鈥檒l map out her film future.
鈥淎fter working on this movie and it being as fulfilling as it was, it really taught me the importance of just choosing the right projects but really choosing the right filmmakers and the right actors to work with and how big of a role that plays in your overall experience.鈥�
Sink will also keep her eye on next year鈥檚 Grammys, as Taylor Swift鈥檚 鈥淎ll Too Well (10 Minute Version)鈥� earned a nod for song of the year and is up for best music video. Sink, who鈥檚 become friends with the megastar, said Swift has given her advice about navigating fame as a young star 鈥� something she knows all too well.
鈥淚t comes in a very intense form for her 鈥� it鈥檚 nice to have someone who can kind of relate to you on that kind of stuff,鈥� said Sink. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very unique kind of coming-of-age process to be 鈥� in the public eye. And growing up, it鈥檚 not normal, but something that I wouldn鈥檛 trade for anything.鈥�
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Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
