Sadie Sink is an American actress born April 16, 2002, in Brenham, Texas, who rose to prominence through her role as Max Mayfield in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” beginning in 2017. She began her career at age seven in Houston theater productions before starring as Annie in the 2012 Broadway revival and portraying young Queen Elizabeth II in “The Audience” alongside Helen Mirren. Her subsequent film credits include “Fear Street” and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well: The Short Film,” establishing her among Hollywood’s most promising young talents with recognition from Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
How does a seven-year-old from rural Texas transform into one of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses within a single decade? Sadie Elizabeth Sink‘s journey from community theater productions in Houston to starring roles on Netflix demonstrates the power of early dedication, Broadway training, and strategic career choices that have positioned her as one of her generation’s most compelling performers.
Born April 16, 2002, in Brenham, Texas, Sink began her acting career at age seven through local Houston theater productions, where she developed foundational skills in musical theater and community stage roles. Her early commitment to performing arts led to her first major theater performance in *White Christmas* in 2011, followed by her breakthrough role as Annie in the 2012 Broadway revival, where she performed eight shows per week for eighteen months.
Sink’s Broadway experience extended beyond the title role in *Annie*, as she portrayed young Queen Elizabeth II in *The Audience* alongside Helen Mirren, an experience she credits as greatly influencing her acting approach. These formative Broadway years refined her stage presence and acting skills, establishing the classical training foundation that would distinguish her later screen performances.
These formative Broadway years established the classical training foundation that would distinguish her later screen performances.
Her shift to television began with her debut in the acclaimed series *The Americans* in 2013, followed by guest appearances on *Blue Bloods* in 2014. Sink demonstrated early versatility across drama and comedy formats through her starring role as Suzanne Ballard in NBC’s *American Odyssey* in 2015 and her appearance in Netflix’s *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* the same year.
The role that catapulted Sink to widespread recognition came when she joined Netflix’s *Stranger Things* as Max Mayfield in season two, premiering in 2017. Her emotionally resonant performance in this series, combined with her starring roles as Ziggy Berman in *Fear Street: Part Two – 1978* and *Fear Street: Part Three – 1666* in 2021, showcased her ability to handle complex, mature material across multiple genres. She learned to skateboard for the role and faced initial rejection before securing her place in the series through multiple auditions.
Sink’s filmography includes notable appearances in *Chuck* (2016), *The Glass Castle* (2017), and *Eli* (2019), while her lead role in Taylor Swift’s *All Too Well: The Short Film* in 2021 demonstrated her dramatic range beyond traditional commercial projects.
Her advocacy work includes narrating the documentary *Dominion* in 2018, reflecting her commitment to animal rights causes. Critics from *USA Today* and *The New York Times* have praised her performances, while Forbes recognized her achievements by including her in their 30 Under 30 list, cementing her status as a rising talent in contemporary cinema. Sink grew up in a close-knit family, raised by her parents Casey and Lori Sink alongside her four siblings Jacey, Caleb, Spencer, and Mitchell.
