Why does Holly Wheeler from Stranger Things look so familiar? Here’s where you’ve seen her before

Were you watching Stranger Things and thought, “Wait, why does Holly Wheeler look so familiar now?” We've got you covered.

The once-background toddler of Hawkins has stepped into the spotlight, and her actor has already racked up a résumé that’s far bigger than you might expect! Holly Wheeler's familiar face belongs to Nell Fisher, and chances are you’ve seen her recently in places that feel very un-Hawkins.

Let's look at Fisher’s career beyond Stranger Things, shall we?

Stranger Things' Holly Wheeler, aka Nell Fisher's movies and TV shows

Before she took over as Holly in Stranger Things season 5, Nell Fisher had already made an impression on horror fans.

Her most recognizable role outside Netflix is Kassie in Evil Dead Rise (2023). Yes, Fisher has held her own in one of the franchise’s most brutal entries while sharing the screen with Alyssa Sutherland and Gabrielle Echols. But the funniest part is that she wasn’t old enough to see the movie in theaters when it came out! She did watch a slightly edited version at a private screening, though.

Then there’s Bookworm (2024), where Fisher starred opposite Elijah Wood as Mildred. The latter is an 11-year-old whose life flips when her estranged magician father takes her on a camping trip in search of a mythological beast. The role showed her as more than just “that kid from the horror movie.”

She’s also popped up in New Zealand productions like Northspur (2022) and My Life Is Murder, where she played Olive Crowe in two episodes. Toss in roles in Choose Love and maybe even an appearance in a live-action Yu-Gi-Oh! project, and it becomes clear why her face rings a bell. Right?

What's Holly Wheeler been up to on Stranger Things?

For longtime fans, Holly Wheeler has always been there. She was watching Christmas lights flicker, singing “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” and clocking supernatural chaos with us. The adults shrugged her off, though.

From seasons 1 through 4, she was played by twin sisters Anniston and Tinsley Price. But Season 5 changed the actor.

As we saw in season 5, part 1, the timeline of the show has jumped forward. So it makes sense that Holly is now older, and Nell Fisher is the new face of Holly Wheeler. According to the show’s canon, Holly becomes far more perceptive and brave, which puts her directly in Vecna’s crosshairs.

Without spoiling too much, we can assure you that Holly’s arc in season 5 leans into psychological horror. She first meets Vecna as an “imaginary friend,” and then survives a terrifying Demogorgon attack inside the Wheeler house. Ultimately, Holly gets pulled into Vecna’s mindscape. And to think she was once known for stuffed animals and Lite-Brites. Fisher has proven herself.

Holly is now a Stranger Things character you need to pay attention to. And her past work explains why Netflix trusted her with that leap.

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Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.

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