Happy Sad Confused - Sadie Sink

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

Sadie Sink is a busy young woman. She has a new movie musical (O'DESSA), a return to Broadway around the corner (JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN), the end of STRANGER THINGS looming, AND if you believe the internet, a big future in Marvel. She joins Josh to chat about it all! UPCOMING EVENT! Nathan Lane -- March 20th in New York -- Tickets here Paul Feig -- April 6th in Miami -- ⁠Tickets here!⁠ C2E2 events in Chicago April 12th -- ⁠Tickets here⁠! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Quince -- Go to Quince.com/happysadco for 365 day returns and free shipping! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. high volume, Batman. The Dark Knight's definitive DC comic stories adapted directly for audio for the very first time. Fear, I have to make them afraid. He's got a motorcycle. Get after him or have you shot. You mean blow up the building? From this moment on,

none of you are safe. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. I'm just very selective with who I show, like, my theater kid's side, too. So it's there, it comes out in certain situations. Yeah. And how does it manifest? What does that mean?

Is that just, like, getting up and? It could be an impromptu performance. Sure. It could be a time step here and there. Okay. Yeah. Practicing a dance move when you walked in, a new one you just learned. Wow, you just exposed me.

Sorry. No, that's okay. I was practicing a dance move about 15 minutes ago. Yeah. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, Sad, Confused begins now. Hey guys, it's Josh. Welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused.

You're in for a treat today. We have Sadie Sink, one of our best young actors working today. This is a rare treat. She hasn't done, I think, a lot of long-form conversations. And I'm thrilled that she chose to spend her time with me promoting a whole lot of things from her new film, Odessa. on Hulu, her new play coming to Broadway,

John Proctor's the villain, and of course, the upcoming season of Stranger Things. So, yes, that is the main event on today's Happy Set, Confused. Before we get to that, so many things to keep you guys abreast of in terms of Happy Set Confused World. As always, if you want to the rundown of everything going on, check out our Patreon.

That's where all the discounts, the merch, the autographed posters, all the cool stuff is available. Patreon.com slash Happy. be sad, confused. As always, my humble reminder to you is supporting us over there makes us, helps us make more cool stuff for you over

here. So I appreciate you guys in advance for checking out the Patreon. If you so choose to join us, I guarantee you'll have a good time over there. In terms of stuff going on, there's a lot. Live events, let's run it down. March 20th, next

week in New York City. It's Nathan Lane. Nathan Lane, I've been talking about this one for while. Tickets have sold very well. We still have some left. Check it out. Big career conversation with the icon of theater and film. Then April 6th, I'm so excited to be going to Miami to honor Paul Figue. We're going to screen his new film, another simple favor early on the big screen, and then he's going to get an award from the Miami Film Festival, and I'm going to sit down with him for a live edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Very exciting. And then, And April 12th, big, big day in Chicago.

If you're in Chicago and you go to C2E2, you're going to probably run into me because I'm doing a whole lot of stuff there, including a robocop reunion, a once upon a time reunion, a John Boyega conversation and the marquee big event, a reunion of the Breakfast Club. That's right. All the big stars of the Breakfast Club. Ali Sheedy, Molly Ringle, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, and Emilio Estab. Vez, who really never does this kind of thing. So that's going to be a treat. All the information is in the show notes. Get your tickets now for all these events.

It's going to be fun. And there's more to come. More to come. All right. So back to today's main event, Sadie Sink. Okay, Sadie Sink is 21, 22. She's so young, has already accomplished so much. Of course, most people came to know her, thanks to her performance in Stranger Things,

particularly in season four when she had that remarkable arc and repopularized Kate Bush for the masses. She's truly a great talent, I think, as evidenced by both Stranger Things, her performance in The Whale. And now has a lot going on. She has this crazy new movie called Odessa. It is kind of a, not kind of it is.

It's a rock opera post-apocalyptic, big swing of a crazy movie, and she is front and center. She is singing her heart out in this. For those who don't know, she had her roots. Sadie did singing on Broadway in Annie as a little kid, and now she's returned to singing in this, and she's exceptional in it. It's on Hulu, March 20th.

Also, March 20th, actually, same day. Previews begin in New York City for her return to Broadway in a play. John Proctor is the villain, which I'm very excited to see. and is a big moment for her. So caught her at this kind of big transitional moment as the play begins, as the movie comes out, and as we careen towards the end of Stranger Things,

they've wrapped production. So, of course, we talk a lot about the end of Stranger Things, too. So there was a lot to chat about. She's super sweet. I really enjoyed this long conversation with her. I think you guys will, too. As always, remember to subscribe if you haven't already. As I said, hit that, check out that Patreon.

on Patreon.com slash happy, say I confused. Then come on out and see me in person one of these days because we have a good time when we do these in person. All right, here it is. Me and Sadie Sink. Enjoy. Sadie, are you ready to be podcasted? Yes.

We're doing this. Wow. Nice. Congratulations. You have a lot going on. So I more than appreciate the time because you should be, you really should be rehearsing right now. Let's be real.

I really should be. I have like some serious fomo today. What portion of your brain? brain is at the rehearsal stage with your buddies for this is going to be your return to Broadway we'll get to that in a sec but yeah what portion of your brain is over there right now I'm trying to compartmentalize a bit and just focus on oh no I'm rooting it now but no everyone's wrong during the break I'm like oh why am I not at the theater right now we just moved in yesterday oh that's a big

transition point so it's super exciting yeah okay we'll get there but congratulations on Odessa thank you I want to start by egregious name-dropping, but it's for a good cause. Okay. I texted Winona yesterday and I said I was going to talk to you. There were a lot of exclamation points. There was a lot of big hearts. She loves you.

I love her. She's the best. You also did, like, yeah, that was a big flex. Well, you know. It's my proudest achievement, honestly, in my career that I know Winona Ryder. She's so awesome. So what does it mean to have someone like Winona

in your corner? She wrote an amazing, do you want to be embarrassed and have me read the Time Magazine things she wrote about you? Okay. Okay. Let's just get it out of the way. Yes. Blush if you have to. I will.

This is Winona on Sadie Sink. I distinctly remember the first time I saw Sadie Sink, it was on The Great Show the Americans. Although brief, it was a stunning moment and a rare one, I wrote her name down in my notebook. I knew that this was someone extraordinary, someone to watch. So when the planet's aligned and she came on to Stranger Things, it felt like a little secret victory. for Max is full of such exquisite detail, fierce, complicated, and so incredibly strong. At the root of that strength is her absolute willingness to be completely vulnerable. It's very sweet. Yeah, that's, it's so surreal to, I mean, she's like a hero of mine.

So to have a relationship with her and also to have her say such kind things. Like that's, yeah, it's very surreal. But I don't remember, she never told me that she had seen me on the Americans when I was little. So I think, I remember reading. that being like, what is she talking about? She's watching closely. Yeah, she is. You registered. And now you have an unusual kind of connection in that you are doing this play very soon.

Yes. That has a connection to The Crucible, that she, of course, the wonderful film adaptation. Did you talk to her about that at all? Have you compared notes? I didn't get the chance to talk to her about that, but I recently rewatched her as Abigail in The Crucible, such a great movie. And she's so amazing in it. But yeah, no, I wish I would have gotten to tell her a little bit about it.

But hopefully she'll come and see it. I think she did say she's excited to come see you. Okay, good. Are you going to be nervous? Do you like to know who's in the audience? I don't really know yet. I guess we'll have a trial and error and see if like... But you've done this before, but this is...

I was so young, though. Yeah. Maybe I would. I don't know. It depends who's coming, I guess. Fair enough. All right. So let's get into a little Odessa.

And then we'll circle around to a lot of other things. So you just came from South by? First South by? First South by, yeah. How was the experience? You were in and out, but that's a cool festival. There's a lot of good vibes. That's really cool.

There's a lot going on because it's music too and film. Yeah, it's really cool. I was born in Texas too, so grew up going to Austin. Right. So it was good to be back in that city. Yeah. Is friends and family come out? Texas is a rather large state, so I don't know where you were born is pretty far from Austin or not.

Yeah, it's like two hours away. Okay. So, and I wasn't there for long. long enough to see anyone. But my mom came with me, which was so nice because she hasn't really gotten to come to a lot of events with me since I turned 18. But yeah, it was good to have her there.

Do you get nervous seeing your own work when you know friends or family are in the theater? Yes. Yeah, she had seen the movie before. I took her to see it. She was super excited about this one because she loves it when I sing. So this is like her ultimate dream. dream. But yeah, I sat through it with her again at South by because she wanted to see it again.

Amazing. So, okay, talk to me. This is, okay, this is a hard one to explain because no one makes movies like this. This is a crazy movie in the best possible way. Congratulations for just like getting this done, making this thing. Yeah. It's a big swing. I always love big swings. Did you first encounter this just reading it? And like, how does it read because it is such a visual oral experience? I'm curious. Yeah. Well, I was familiar with Jeremy's because I love patty cakes so much. Yeah, yeah. And then the script was sent to me.

And I read the script before I listened to some of the demos that somehow I got my hands on. I wasn't supposed to be sent to demos, but I was and got like a sneak peek at them. But I read the script and it is so ambitious and wild, but for some reason when I was reading it, I saw it and like seeing the mood board and everything and just kind of getting into Jeremy's head. Jeremy's head. Yeah, something clicked for me. Or even just the tagline itself being like post-apocalyptic rock opera. Yeah. You're either going to go for that or are you going to run away from it. You're all going to run to it or run away. Let's do it. Like they're actually making this like, okay. Yeah. So what are the kind of inspirations or things you talk to Jeremy or

in the mood board? I'm curious. Like do you, I don't know, are other forms referenced or other media referenced or? Yeah. I mean, a little, there wasn't actually any specific thing reference that I can remember, but I remember, like, looking at it and I'm like, oh, this is very, like, Mad Max, um, like, Blade Runner meets Romeo and Juliette, stuff like that. So this is, this is very interesting. Rocky horror thrown in. Exactly. Yeah. And she sings and I don't know. Um, but yeah, once I talk to Jeremy a little bit more, he kind of gave me some of his musical references. And we kind of started to craft Odessa. Um, and so we looked at a lot of, like old Bob Dylan interviews or Tom Waits interviews and PJ Harvey performing and just like

pulled bits and pieces from them and yeah how it came Odessa it became Odessa so where were you at give me the timeline of where you were at like in terms of the stranger things of which obviously takes up a lot of time yeah um somehow I mean it's it's kind of a miracle all you guys have found so many great opportunities in between Stranger Things because it's a time suck in the best possible way. So was this between four and five or? This was between four and five. Right before the strike too. It was like that summer leading up to that. And I think it was always the plan that I would go straight from Odessa to Stranger Things, but then, yeah, the strike happened. So, yeah. And coming off of four, obviously, I mean, four huge season for you.

And not only that, but I would imagine gives you more standing in, in terms of kind of the parts that you're presented with. So was this kind of like a, this does seem like a transition point where like you get to be the lead. Like this movie doesn't happen, frankly, without you in the lead. Maybe they can find someone else. But it's a short list of young actors that can get something like this green lit. Yeah. I guess, yeah, having season four definitely helped. but it was like a huge learning curve for me

to just be on set every day and lead a film and how do you do that as a 22-year-old young actress. But I definitely was like willing to take that on, especially for something like this where it's just, it's so fun. So, yeah, I think it was good timing, and it felt like the right move to do the right challenge to accept. And you're shooting this in Croatia,

by the way. Yes. So I would imagine family isn't necessarily with you. No family now. So like in a way, and I remember we talked about the whale at the time and you talked a little bit about like, in some ways the advantage of the whale too was kind of like being on your own. It kind of like helped with the character.

Right. And I would imagine in a different way of this, this like this focuses you up. You're there for a reason. Like you don't have distractions. You're like on your own. Oh yeah. You had to kind of lock in, which was good. Yeah.

And we weren't like when they said Currie. like when they said Croatia, it was kind of imagining like a beautiful coastline and like summer in Croatia, but we were in Zagreb, which is not the coast. You've learned your lesson. It's like, oh, okay. But that was good because it was, that's what the, this universe that we were building kind of needed that because it was like, where am I? Right. But yeah, definitely isolating, but I think I also work best under that kind of isolation. Yeah. So obviously one of the most exciting aspects of this is to hear you sing

and sing so well. You like nail this. It's amazing. Thank you. And I found this really interesting in going back like again, you have a lot of history on stage, singing as a much younger person, Annie on Broadway, and you had you had some interesting things to say in another interview about singing way back when because you talked about having panic attacks when you were a kid and saying that i think the quote was singing became the worst thing ever i was terrified by it and that you essentially kind of gave it up yeah as a kid so i mean for a number of reasons then this is a huge moment i would imagine had you been i don't know like how did you get to the place where you were ready to kind of like go back and really jump at first in this end of this

i was really nervous and apprehensive about it at first um but something about the songs and it being completely original, I think that was intriguing to me and like felt safer that I would really be able to just kind of like find Odessa's voice and do it through that and disassociate a little bit. Sure. But so I think my first like audition for it was I was kind of unprompted, but I just like took a video of myself playing one of the songs and singing it and sent it to just. Jeremy. And I remember sending that and being like, God, why did I do that? Like, I don't know if I'm

actually ready to do this or ready to take this on. But I think like it being, like I said, it being new, having time in the studio beforehand in time with my vocal coach. He's amazing. His name's Chris York. He really helped me become comfortable in my voice. And it, Yeah, I got to like shift gears a little bit in terms of my relationship with singing. I'm not ready to perform live anytime soon. I have no desire to do that. Under the right circumstances, the right prep. Yeah.

And through a character too, I think that just like freed me up. It's like it's not really me. It's my voice, but it's, yeah, I don't know if you'll see me singing again anytime soon. I'm like, all right, there you go. We're not going to be greedy. That's what you get. On your own time. I mean, not to go back to what was a difficult time, but that's really telling.

I mean, that must have been a moment when you're a kid in this wonderful. huge moment to go through that. Like did panic attacks? Was that kind of like a one-off? Or did that kind of continue in different ways throughout your life after that experience? It really was kind of like just with singing. And after that happened, like the first couple of times,

it just became every single time I would sing in public. It felt really horrible and that panic would rise up again. And so as like a young kid, naturally I'm just going to avoid that situation at all costs. So I would sing, like, if I was with groups of people or around my family, but I really just kind of, like, wrote that off as part of, like, my skill set because it wasn't something I wanted to share anymore, but it continued to be, like, such a huge part of my life. And I love to sing sharing it is another story, but I'm happy that I was able to do it for this, at least once. You did pop up. I had a great conversation with mine. Hawke recently. She loves you also. Love Maya. And you obviously ended up on her album,

singing some backup vocals. Oh, yeah, I did. Wow. So how did that happen? Is that just like friends hanging out being like, hey, you want to help out? Yeah. Maya and I, like, we were roommates for like most of stranger things. So we're very close. And she's one of the few people that had heard me sing a little bit. And when she was recording her album, she was like, are you in the city? like come stop by the studio and do harmonies if you want and I was like all right I'll do that and I had also been recording for Odessa too like so I was used to that you were in that space yeah yeah yeah so that was that was awesome I love listening to those songs and I love singing with Maya not a backup yet on the Taylor Swift records though no just an actor for hire for Taylor as now

right right yeah since that relationship do you at least get like VIP treatment at the concerts. Did you go see her last tour? Oh, I got to see her at, um, her last stop in LA, like for the first leg of her tour. Yeah. But it was before her last album came out. Um, so I didn't get to see all the new stuff she added. But I mean, what, did you get to see it? I did it. I'm not in person. You didn't get to see it? No, if you left out of the pop culture Zika. I mean, I've seen the film and everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, it's, it's intense. It's amazing. Yeah. I couldn't believe it was three hours. Yeah.

She's insane. Yeah, she's amazing. She's next level. Hey, Michael. Hey, Tom. Well, big news to share it, right? Yes, huge, monumental, earth-shaking. Heartbeat, sound effect, big.

Mink is back. That's right. After a brief snack, nap. We're coming back. We're picking snacks. We're eating snacks. We're raiding snacks. Like the snackologist, we were born to be.

Mates is back. Mike and Tom, eat snacks. Wherever you get your podcasts. Unless you get them from a snack machine, in which case, call us. I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the L.A. Times. And I'm Paul Shear, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from the league, Veep, or my non-eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters. We come together to host Unspooled, a podcast.

where you talk about good movies, critical hits. Fan favorites, musts season, and in case you missed them. We're talking Parasite the Home Alone. From Greece to the Dark Night. So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic adventure. Listen to Unschooled wherever you get your podcast. And don't forget to hit the follow button. Okay, so since we have time, let's go back even further back before the Annie years, et cetera.

Growing up in Texas. So is there, it sounds like. one of your brothers you share like a love of the arts with right did you were your parents surprised by like these two kids that seemed kind of like different than the rest different than them in terms of love of the arts like did you fit in or yeah if they were surprised they didn't show it they just kind of like they went with the flow yeah they went with the flow and i mean our house was always so crazy we i'm one of five kids right um so everyone was always doing something different and for mitchell and i it was just like creating characters

and skits and stuff and doing what, like, playing make-believe as all kids do, but just kind of taking it to, like, another level at some points. It's interesting because you don't read to me as, like, big theater kid energy. I've talked to a lot of actors that were theater kids that, like, it never goes away, and it's like, they are on. And, girl, you have that side of you, but you're suppressing it for me and most of the world. It sounds like you did have theater kid energy as a kid. Oh, big time, big time.

insufferable um but yeah just like always singing and just obsessed with musical theater and yeah that that didn't go anywhere um but now i'm just very selective with who i show like my theater kids side too so it's there it comes out in certain situations yeah and how does it manifest what does that mean is that just like getting up and it could be a it could be an impromptu performance sure it could be a time step here and there okay um Yeah, practicing a dance move when you walked in, a new one you just learned. Wow, you just exposed me. Sorry.

No, that's okay. I was practicing a dance move about 15 minutes ago. Was Wicked a big one? I mean, Wicked is now the world's, but... Wicked is everything. It was, it is. It was, it is, it always will be. That was kind of like what Mitchell and I would obsess over when we still lived in Texas.

We would just watch, like, Tony performances and all the different bootlegs. Like, we loved, like, Ali Mazzies Glenda and Megan Hilty's Glenda. We'll just compare all of them and like... Debate the pros and cons of each... Jackie Burns, Alphabet, yeah. How many times have you seen the film? I've seen the film three times. Okay. No.

Three times. Won't be the last, though. No, no, no. There will be more. Yeah, yeah. I'm obsessed. I love it. Oh, my gosh. Were you more of a Gwenda or Alphabet? Did you ever perform a version? As a child, I was an Alphaba.

Well, we kind of like went back and forth, Mitchell and I, between, like, who would play. It's like True West, you switched parts every few weeks. Yeah, it depended on his mood. Like, if he was, he was like, okay, no, you need to be Glenda for this song. Or for like, if it was, what is this feeling? I think he was Glenda, I was Alphabet. And then also with Defying Gravity. But then other times, I don't know, just change.

Somewhere in the Sink Family Vault, there is footage, I would have. imagine. Oh, there's footage. There's footage. Yeah. Not of wicked. I couldn't find any wicked. But there's definitely, definitely some footage. You're like, after this, I need to make sure it is locked up. Yeah. I'm like, where is it? It needs to be secured. It's your facility. Okay, so when does, when do you move and does the family come with you as a kid? Like, because that's a big moment to like come to, I think Jersey, right? You guys moved to Jersey at first. Yes. Well, basically like when Mitchell and I, We had booked Broadway shows.

He was in Matilda, I was in Annie. He also did Elf the musical. So we both were just kind of working. And the contracts kept on extending. So my mom and my little sister, who was probably like two at the time, they were always with us. And we did that for like a year where my family, the rest of my family was in Texas and would come and visit,

but like we were just in New York. And then after that year or so, it was decided that we would just move and my dad just kind of like looked around for jobs he's a teacher found one at this this town in new jersey and we kind of settled down there and now my family's still there so I would imagine like in retrospect maybe as a kid it does or doesn't register but like I mean the sacrifice and the big leap that your family as a whole took for you and Mitchell yeah it's kind of amazing it's huge and it was never with the intention of like like oh this is going to go somewhere and they're going to be like bought like it was just kind of like I guess this is what

we do and I think I come from a big sports family too right so it was like that kind of mentality of like oh like yeah your child is doing well then like yeah you support them and want them on like the best team possible like the best fit right I'm like really embarrassed that I made like the sports analogy it's in your blood you can't help it you can't there were some Friday night lights vibes or something I felt in the childhood I would have matched Totally. That was it. Yeah. Okay, so jumping ahead a little bit, so we're going to jump all the Stranger Things,

but I guess before Stranger Things happens, like, where were you at? Like, so you're coming off of theater, what were you, I don't know, were you going for a certain kind of role repeatedly in television and film? No, I mean, I just kind of remember, like, auditioning here and there after I finished the second Broadway show that I did. It was like 13, I think. So I went to eighth grade and then pretty much all of eighth grade and would just audition for things here and there, but honestly just loved being in school and having that experience because I hadn't had that in a while. But then, yeah, I would send in self tapes for things and like do like commercials here and there, like a movie or whatever.

And then stranger things came along. I was like, okay. Like, yeah, it feels right. Do you remember the moment you got it? Like they actually officially told you a quote, and that's a moment. Yeah, that was a huge moment. It was just like complete shock. Phone call, Zoom.

Phone call from Matt and Ross. Yeah. Yeah. Crying, mom, everybody, like. No crying from me, just like a big smile and, yeah. But my brother did cry, Mitchell did cry. I mean, knowing your life is changing, but even in retrospect, you probably didn't even,

couldn't intellectualize how much your life was going to change. much your life was going to change. No, no. I knew it was a big deal, but I was mostly just kind of excited to, like, be able to work on something for that long and, like, know that, like, oh, I get to act with these people, these, this cast, like, they all seem so amazing. And that was the most exciting part. But, and then obviously, like, whoa, I get to act more. Like, this is really good for my career. But definitely a big realization to have it 14. And how quickly does, because you join season two, the excitement of joining, and then the first couple days, I would imagine, or weeks or months, I don't even know how long it takes the kind of like, this is new. This is like a different, this is a, the scale is gigantic. These folks know each other. They're lovely, but they do know each other. They have that vibe. I don't know. Like, when do you kind of like feel part of the family? I mean, I immediately felt like so welcome by the cast. I worked mostly with like the boys in season two. And they just, like, yeah, they made me feel so at home, and, like, they genuinely, like, wanted me there.

Still, I think there was that, like, new kid mentality that I would always have, but never in regards to, like, my friendships with them. Like, that was always so solid and, like, one of the best parts of being on stranger things. And then, yeah, but just kind of, like, finding, like, my character's place in the show. wondering like, oh, do people like her or is this going to be received well? Am I going to be like welcome by the fandom? That was kind of maybe the trickier area to navigate. And then, I mean, a wonderful shock by time season four happens and you have this amazing season. Like that doesn't happen as you well know for it's a huge ensemble and what the duffers are able to do to serve all of them so well. It's amazing. But again,

again, a newish character coming in season two. I mean, did they kind of like sit you down and talk about season four? Like, did you realize kind of like how special that season could potentially be for Max and you? I was like, yeah. I had gotten some hints as to where season four was going from the Duffers. And I was just like really like, yeah, this game for it, I guess. And then never really realized like the full scope of. of it until seeing it and seeing how people responded to it.

At the time, it was just like, oh, awesome. Like, this is such a great plot line. And yeah, this is, I don't know. Do you remember the first time you saw, like, for instance, episode four, and see the music, seeing running up that hill and seeing the effects and seeing it all together was, that's a goosebumps moment for anybody that's already become like an all-time or television moments,

see that episode of television? Do you distinctly remember seeing like that and registering like, oh, whether I'm in it or not, this is really well done. This is good. It was so well done. Yeah, I remember finally seeing it. I watched it with my family just at home.

And everyone was kind of just like, my whole family was just like, speechless. And they were like, whoa. And for me, I was like, whoa, too. Like, this is so cool. But also everything in that sequence was shot like months apart, like and so scattered throughout the years. So seeing it all.

all come together in that one episode, it was like, oh, I don't know how, like, I don't even remember filming that part or that looks like this. And that's always the exciting part about Stranger Things, too, is like when all the pieces come together, you're like, oh, right, this is the show that we're doing. This is what it looks like. So does life change after that in combination with the whale? Because, again, this also coincides, obviously, timeline-wise with a very strange time in history where, like, a lot of this is lockdown COVID era.

So, like, you're kind of like a scent through celebrity kind of coincides with, you know, a lot of times where people aren't out and about too much. Yeah. So kind of, I don't know, like when, when was the transition point for you that you kind of felt like, oh, there's a lot more, I feel eyes on me more in day-to-day life? I don't know. I mean, ever since I was on, like, got on stranger things, there was always that element to it. But I guess it was when, like, the world.

whale happened and season four it felt like oh maybe there's like there's stuff beyond the show too yeah um but i don't know if i really felt like that much of a shift or if i did it just wasn't right i don't know it happened slowly and like yeah it wasn't ever scared in the game you're yeah yeah i mean do you do you have like a so i had a really interesting again of maya this interesting conversation that kind of it went everywhere because i think it really resonated with people where we where she talked very openly about how, like, casting, for instance, sadly, is often influenced by someone's Instagram followers. And, like, right?

And I think that caught people off the guard, but that's, like, a reality. And I would imagine for you, as, you know, a young woman, like, there must be a push poll in terms of, like, social media. Like, every peer of yours lives and breeze on Instagram and TikTok. Right. And for you, though, it's a little bit, there's something different about interacting and engaging with social media. Yeah.

I guess just give me a sense of sort of like, I don't know, where you sit with navigating that world. I would say, like, I'm pretty proud of, like, the balance that I have with it. Yeah. And it took a while to figure out. But, yeah, having kind of, I don't know, that influx of attention and, like, followers at that young age, it was maybe like a bit jarring for me. So I kind of like had a bit of a wall up with social media, which I think is like a healthy place to be.

And then now I'm at a point where it's like I won't have the app on my phone. Right. But then when I need to post something or see what like fans are saying and yeah, then I will do, then I'll download it. But it's not like an everyday thing, which we think is good. Does that feel like, I mean, again, it's like, I don't know. I'm not advocating that you get on the app. Don't get on the app.

I don't know anyone said. If I could get off of it, I would too. But like, I don't know, like, again, in your peer group, I would imagine everybody you know is kind of more in their phones than you are then. I don't know. Or no, give me hope. Are they not? That's great. No, not like, I'm thinking about the people I'm around now. Yeah.

No, I don't think so. Okay. But I also don't know. I can't say like, because I can't, I don't know what they're posting. Right. So I don't. And have you felt like what Maya's felt like, do you even hear that about kind of like, oh, a certain number of followers equates this in the, in this. Like, is there that unspoken or spoken thing that you are aware of?

Of advancing a career through? Honestly, no, I, yeah. Good. No. I'm not, I think it definitely is a thing. I'm not denying that. Yeah, yeah. But, like, it's just not something I find important,

because I don't think it should be important. I don't give it the space, no, I hear you. Okay, back to Stranger Things. Here's the uncomfortable part where we talk about season five, and you say nothing, but just overall experiences, I mean, because now that you guys have wrapped and we're starting to talk to all the actors we're hearing a little bit of sort of just what it was.

I mean, again, it's a long shoot. Yeah. So, like, did it kind of, did emotion build throughout? Because I remember talking to Millie, like, early on, and she's like, I'm not emotional yet. I know I'll get there. Yeah. Was that kind of the vibe that kind of, like,

the emotion kind of built into the last couple weeks? It did, it did. I think it was a really, it was a hard season to shoot. Yeah. And, like, our crew just worked so, hard every single day us as actors like we're not there every day but the crew was for that entire year and like um with that and with the material that we're working with it's such a big show it's like yeah you go up and down between your emotions just kind of shift a lot but definitely

we were all on the same page in that like final push in the last month where it's like this is hard this has been a tough year but oh my god I don't want it to end so like what are the emotional points for you because I would imagine there's like it's the final table read it's the final day it's Sadie getting wrapped it's the rap party it's like you have these series of goodbyes and then you're going to have another four months of press when we see each other yes yes exactly um I mean I think there was I was definitely just like very numb to it at first and then the table read hit and I was just like I was crying after that crying that morning with Maya in the car and like we're like what's going on what's happening

Why is it just hitting in this moment, but I think something about, like, knowing what the end was and seeing, like, end series on the script was so, so much. But then we were fine after, because we had, like, months to go. Right. And then the final day happened. And it was like, oh, this feels so, yeah. So, yeah. It's difficult, for sure. Is there anybody you're excited for in terms of, like, again, we're not going to say specifics, but, like, a fellow actor.

that we're going to get to see shine in this season. Oh, I mean, honestly, just, it's hard to, like, I think everyone did such an incredible job, like, truly. And I think the overall thing I'll say is just, I think this is the season where you really get to see all of the, you know, former child actors as adult actors. And the deafers have always done a great job of, like, meeting us. where we're at and with the material and just how much everyone has grown as performers on this in this cast there's some really like amazing um performances and arcs and i'm just like yeah i'm so proud of everyone i do hope they show they show like the last episode or two on the big screen

so we can see it me too right i mean i can only imagine the last couple seasons it's just the production value goes up and up and it's it's in film quality so they should at least do like some screenings of it or something. Yes. Come on. It's been 10 years. With Amex Platinum, $400 in annual credits for travel and dining means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too.

That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-epard. episode Hulu Original Limited series that blends gripping pacing with emotional complexity, offering a dramatized look as it revisits the wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox for the tragic murder of Meredith Kircher and the relentless media storm that followed. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming only on Disney Plus. We talked a little bit about this, but let's come back to the play because that's where

25% of your brain is right now. Yes. And I'm gonna release the other 75% soon, I promise. John Proctor is the villain. This is, so it's a new play. It's not been mounted on Broadway at least, yes? Not on Broadway, yeah. Right. So was this just kind of like on the list like, okay, it's time.

I want to get back on the stage and then you found this or this material came? Like, what was, how did this one come around? Yeah, I mean, I'd always like talked about wanting to do a play after the fifth season ended. But I wasn't sure which one, and it wasn't like I was, like, actively on the hunt for a play. But this one just kind of was sent to me by my agents, and Kimberly Bellflower is the playwright, who's incredible. And I tore through it. I felt like I'd never really read a play like it before that, like, so accurately depicted teenagers or, you know, Gen Z. and while also just like integrating these amazing like really profound themes and it just felt right like the character felt right and I was so excited but that was like two years ago when I read it and so there was definitely moments of like is this ever going to happen like we did a workshop of it and it went amazing and hearing it out loud it just kind of solidified that that need to do it again and bring it to Broadway hopefully

or wherever. But yeah, it takes a lot to get a Broadway show up. So we're here. Yeah. But we found a home at the booth theater, which is insane. Amazing. And, yeah, like I was saying, we just moved in yesterday. So funny.

It's a comedy? Yes. Yeah, it is funny. That's going to be fun to experience that kind of energy on a stage. Yeah. I've never, yeah, I've never really had to tap into that before. It's a comedy, but then, you know, it's many other things as well. But it is very funny.

So it takes place in the wake of the Me Too movement, as I understand it, and students that are kind of like recontextualizing, oh, wait, is the Crucible? Is John Proctor necessarily a good guy? Which I'm a little sad because I do love The Crucible. It might be my favorite play. I love The Crucible, too. I love The Crucible, too. No, not ruining it, though. Just, like, encouraging people to dig deeper and see something beyond the traditional, I don't know, idea of the show or what, you know, is traditionally.

taught in schools. So it'll make you love it even more. Okay, perfect, perfect. And so yeah, the last time you were on stage, I think, was that the play with Helen Mirren way back then? So back then they were coming to see Helen, not to get you too anxiety-ridden. A lot of people are going to be coming to see you, Sadie. Which is crazy. It's insane. Like the theater, we were at the show and felt for the audience, which is like two doors down from the booth theater. Yeah. So it's just insane to see, like, my name on a marquee. Like that's been like the biggest pinch me moment that I've had. like my whole career honestly totally okay so I do want to mention a little bit more of

the whale before we wrap up because I that movie wrecks me if you have a heart or soul it wrecks you um did that feel I mean also just like the end sequence which I know you shot I think over three days yeah right like do you run out of tears at a certain point like that is such an emotional sequence as an emotional sequence as I can recall in the last 10 years of cinema. How do you kind of like stay in that moment for as long as you have to? It was a lot. It really was a lot. I was definitely like leading up to it. I was questioning whether I could even do that. Like I'd never had to sustain that kind of emotion over so many days. But at that point, like it felt so earned for the character.

Yeah. Did you shoot rather than sequence? Like were you kind of like, or was that? Yeah, we shot in sequence, but we just kind of, like, moved through the angles, moved through the scene. And, yeah, that emotional stamina from Brendan, also seeing that. He was super, like, encouraging and, like, just feeding off of that was so helpful. And he gave such an incredible performance. It must have been also moving to go through that whole experience in the wake of it, like, to sit at Venice next to him. Yeah. when the world kind of is like, we love you, Brendan, we've always loved you.

It's the best, yeah. He's like, he's, he's so amazing, so kind, and just genuinely that, you know, which is so rare to see. And I just, yeah, working with him, it's, like, going to be one of the highlights of my career for forever. All right, so looking ahead after John Proctor, if the internet is to be believed you are already Gene. gray in X-Men. I'm sure people have been asking you about this. Yes. If I'm a betting man, should I put any money on this? Where are we at, Sadie? I mean, this is, this is news to me. Is it news to you? This is news to me. Really? Yes. You've never met, you never talked to a Kevin Feigey or a Marvel person about this character. No, I can't, I know. I have nothing to say

about this. The rumors are really cool, though. It's a nice rumor. It's an awesome rumor. Do you know the, I mean, you've, I assume, know that character. Yeah, I know the character, yeah. It's a good character. It's a great character, so that's cool to read. Does the idea, if something like that or something similar to that, I mean, that's a commitment also. Like, you sign on the meet Jean Grey and X-Men, you're on and off the next 10 years of your life. You're doing that.

Exactly. Is that a consideration? Is that something that's intriguing, exciting for you at this juncture in your career? Yeah, I think that's super exciting. Yeah. Yeah. We were so, we had a vibe going and then suddenly it's interesting. I don't know.

It's just interesting. All I'm going to say is I'm going to go back to this tape and then I'm going to decide if we're friends or not based on it. We're friends. We are friends. Okay. So in terms of just general criteria going forward, what are you looking for? Like, okay, you're going to be committed to this for a while on stage. That's where your head's out.

Yeah. But like, again, you're spoiled by the duffers. over a series of years, you're spoiled by Darren Aronofsky, something like Odessa, this kind of audacious piece of filmmaking. I don't know, like, are you looking for filmmakers, for actors, for genre?

Like, what's your team sync looking at and around? Ooh, I just, I think what's interesting to me is kind of like building something from the ground up, whether that's like a series or a movie. I think that's interesting to me, like starting at like the very early stages of something. But I'm very, like, story character-driven and love working with new filmmakers, but as long as it's like a story that I love and, yeah, a character that I resonate with or a character that's different than what I've tried before, I think that's the way to go. Because also, like, I'm so young, I still have so much to learn. And the more I can kind of, like, stretch and find new, like, great.

ground to cover as a performer. I think it's the better. Were there any films or performances in the last year or two that really like inspired you that kind of? Um, oof. Kate Blanchett and tar, like, yeah. That's maybe, yeah. I just love her. I think like she's, a movie sticks with you. It's mesmerizing. But as far as like that, it's just like a strong female performance. Like, yeah. Yeah. I was really shared space with Kate Blanchett. I have shared space. I have shared space. Are you able to suppress or kind of Fangirl? Like, what's your, what's... I think I just have such, like, respect for her.

Yeah. So, yeah. I just thought she's in the new Steven Soderberg movie. X-Nized her, Michael Fastbender, come on, black bag, put it on your list. Okay. They're both very good. I mean, anything Kate does. Sign me up. Okay, we're gonna wrap with this.

It's the happy, say, I confused, profoundly random questions, Sadie. Are you ready for this? This is the tough stuff. Okay. I thought the X-Men thing was tough. This is much tougher. Okay.

Okay. Dogs or cats? No. You don't have to get rid of one species. Okay, dogs. Dogs. Do you have both? I know you have a large dog.

Yes, my family dog. Yeah, but I raised her. But yeah, Nora. She's great. What kind of dog is she? She's in Newfoundland. My dog is down the block. I'll bring her over.

She's amazing. Lucy, she's the sweetest thing. What do you collect? What do I collect? Yeah. What are you hoarding secretly? What are you ashamed of? No, you don't be ashamed of.

Notebooks. Okay. Notebooks that I don't even write in. But anytime I see a cute notebook, I will buy it. And so yeah, I collect a lot of notebooks. Are you a journal or? Do you have? I do journal a lot.

Yeah. But I'm buying so much, like, I can't keep up. The volume of the shit. Not enough is happening in my life. I know, more stuff needs to happen. Are they tied to you, like, experiences? Like, is there like the, Odessa volumes?

Yeah. Yeah. It depends. Like there's a different notebook for like every year or, yeah, a chapter in my life. And then whenever like the winds shift, then I'll like get a new notebook, I guess. But yeah, I do have an Odessa one. I have it like dates back to like season three of Stranger Things, I think. Wow.

And now you're in the John Proctor one, I assume. I am. It's striped. Making a bold choice. He's got stripes on it. Okay. That's an exclusive. Thank you.

Do you have a favorite video? game of all time oh um okay i like uh i'm going between like um mario cart for the record this is the longest you've taken to answer question this is the most important one no no i don't i'm gonna go with um smash bros yep that's a popular one okay okay which is you know classic Yeah. What's the wallpaper on your phone? It's a picture of me and my brother when we were like very little. Yeah.

Performing or just? No, just like, just chilling. Just chilling. Last actor you were mistaken for? Oh, this is really funny. My cast went to go see the outsiders because Donia Tameur directed it. And then as we were leaving the theater, someone stopped me and like wanted a picture. I was like, oh, yeah, so you took a picture.

And then goes, you were so good. So I don't know who she thought I was in the Outsiders cast, but I was like, thank you. Just accept the compliment. I was flattered down. I'm like, yeah. Yeah, that was good. That was really great. Killed it, right?

Yeah. What's the worst note of director has ever given you? Oh, anytime it's like, can you just like be like more sad or something? Like anything like really generic like that or like maybe. But not even that it's a bad note, it's just like, eh, okay. All right, amp up the sadness. But like when you give a note like that too, you know it's like bad, but it's like, yeah.

Okay, in the spirit of happy second fuse, an actor who always makes you happy, you see them on screen, you're immediately in a better mood. Kristen Whig? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Anything she does, yeah. It's like her comedy is, it gets me. Yeah, I'm with you. movie that makes you sad? Oh, I watched Lion on a plane recently. And I cried a lot. I cried a lot. But that's the most recent movie that made me very, very sad.

Planes also. The plane, it's the plane that really got me. I mean, it's a sad movie. It's a good movie, a sad movie. But yeah, I've said this before when asking this question. In terms of endearment, I made the mistake of watching on a plane. And it was just like, You knew what you were signing up for with that.

I almost brought down the plane with my tears. That's, like, almost too sad for me. It's a lot. Every time the music kicks it, it's too much. And finally, a food that makes you confused. Food that makes me confused? You don't get it. Certain kinds of, you know what?

This is really specific. I've never tried it. Buffaloed, like, chicken pizza. Do you know what I'm talking about? Of course, yeah, yeah. I don't know what that's about. So is it the combo? It's like, have you had buffalo chicken?

and just not on a pizza. No, see, so if you have a buffalo chicken problem. We'll buffalo, like, cauliflower. Okay. Yeah. So I know, so I know what that flavor is, but, like, on a pizza, it's too many things. It's a lot of things. Anything that's, yeah.

Keep it simple. Exactly. That's Sadie Sink's advice for the day. Okay, that's the task for the fans of Sadi Sink. See Odessa, get your tickets to John Proctor's the room. And enjoy your pizza. Just don't muck it up with buffalo chicken. Yeah, responsibly.

You should get response. Oh, your pizza responsive. Yeah, yeah. That's our PSA for the day. And drink responsibly. He said while we're at it. Yeah, might as well. Yeah, exactly.

Okay, I'm very excited for this film on the 20th. I think the same day you start to previews. You're right. It just hit you? It just hit me. Big day. March 20th. Choose one.

See both. It's a busy day. It's a lot of Sadie in one day. Do double screening. Yeah, that's how I'm going to celebrate. I am going to come to your play. I'm very excited for you. Thank you.

Congratulations on the film and the play and everything going on. Thank you so much. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressure to do this by Josh. The Old West is an iconic period of American history

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