Sadie Sink, best known for her breakout performance as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, has opened up about why she has always kept her personal life guarded and why she now sees that choice as essential to her craft.

In a recent interview with Australia’s ELLE magazine, the actor reflected on her early hesitation to share too much of herself publicly. “When I was younger, I thought maybe I needed to be more open about who I was because there’s so much public interest,” she said, adding that she consciously resisted that pressure. “Now I’m really grateful, because I’d rather people see me as Max than Sadie. If I can leave myself out of it, then I’ve done my job.”

Sink joined the Netflix series in its second season, stepping into an already tight-knit ensemble. She admitted that fitting in initially felt daunting. Revisiting memories from that period recently left her unexpectedly emotional, especially after watching a video from her very first day on set.

Recalling the moment, she shared that the clip showed the cast dancing together in costume, the boys dressed as Ghostbusters, while she wore a Michael Myers outfit from Halloween. “That was my first day of filming,” she said, noting how vividly she remembers the nerves she felt at the time.

Watching it now, Sink says, has taken on a different meaning. “I remember feeling so nervous to be there, not just because it was a huge TV show, but because they were a group of friends who already loved each other so much. I kept wondering, ‘Will I fit in?’” she explained. “Seeing that video now, I realise that I did. It’s such a precious memory.”

As Stranger Things prepares to wrap up its journey, Sink admits that letting go of Max Mayfield isn’t something she can easily do. While saying goodbye to the show and her co-stars has been the toughest part, the character herself remains deeply ingrained in her. “She’s such a huge part of me,” Sink said. “I don’t think I could ever truly say goodbye to her.”