Exclusive Interview: Elodie Grace Orkin Talks Stranger Things Season 4

Elodie Grace Orkin is a rising young star who is taking the industry by storm. Her talent and poise have landed her coveted roles in projects such as Stage Fright, Saving Paradise, and a little show that you may have heard of called Stranger Things.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with Elodie to talk about her breakout performance in Season 4 of Stranger Things.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and storytelling?
Elodie: When I was little, I was actually very shy. To try and break me out of my shyness-shell, my mum enrolled me in a variety of after-school, extracurricular activities. I tried all of them: football, swimming, ballet, and nothing worked. Realizing that I spent every minute of my day singing to myself, my mum finally enrolled me in a musical theatre class, whereupon I immediately blossomed and found myself. I have been acting ever since!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Elodie: I was obsessed with Harry Potter, so Emma Watson had the earliest influence on my career. She was also my first introduction to feminism, and I admire her talent, her activism, and how she incorporates that into her acting career.

PC: You’re starring in the upcoming season of Stranger Things. What should audiences know about your character Angela?
Elodie: Angela is pretty evil, and there is not much that I can say that can redeem her from her horrible actions. However, when preparing to play Angela’s character I created deeper, underlying reasons why she would be so mean…but that’s beside the point, and I don’t expect the audience to feel any sympathy or warmth towards Angela.

PC: When you’re playing a character who is so different from yourself, is that more or less challenging?
Elodie: Honestly, I think it’s easier to play characters who are quite different or the opposite to who I am. Creating a character like Angela was a playful, creative experience, whereas if I were playing a character similar to myself, I would have to be more vulnerable, and that’s harder.

PC: Did you feel any pressure heading into this project, given how beloved this series is?
Elodie: I had a lot of time to prepare for playing Angela and filming during quarantine. Whatever pressure I felt towards doing the show justice, I reassured myself that by being well prepared I could give my best possible performance.

PC: Is there a scene that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Elodie: Yes, the roller skating scenes—they are so intense!

PC: If you had to describe Season 4 in one sentence, what would it be?
Elodie: Stranger Things season 4 is a beautiful web of genres and stories that form the most thrilling and heartbreaking season yet!

To keep up with Elodie, follow her on Instagram. Watch Stranger Things Season 4 on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Kristin Gallegos