‘Stranger Things’: How old is Nell Fisher, the new Holly Wheeler? Why were Tinsley and Anniston Price replaced?
Stranger Things Season 5 brings back most of the Netflix show’s core ensemble cast, but one character might look a little different this time around. Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) — the baby sister of Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) — has been recast for the fifth and final season of the blockbuster hit. Not only that, but it seems that the Duffer Brothers might have purposely aged Holly up so she can play a far more important role in Stranger Things 5.
**Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1, now streaming on Netflix**
When Netflix released the episode titles for Stranger Things 5, they kept just one full title a mystery for their legions of fans. We can now confirm that Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 2 is titled “The Disappearance of Holly Wheeler” and that the little pigtailed girl who once followed the twinkle lights in Joyce Byer’s (Winona Ryder) house is now officially old enough to be part of the action. She is kidnapped by a demogorgon in Stranger Things Season 5, forcing our heroes to scramble to save her.
So who is the new Holly Wheeler? How old is Holly Wheeler? And how important is Mike and Nancy’s kid sister to Stranger Things 5? Here’s everything you need to know about the new Holly Wheeler, aka “Holly the Heroic.”
Photo: Netflix
Who Plays Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things 5? Why Did Stranger Things Replace Tinsley and Anniston Price with Nell Fisher?
If little Holly Wheeler looks a little different to you in Stranger Things 5, that’s not your mind — or Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) — playing tricks on you. Stranger Things recast the role for the fifth and final season.
Twin child actors Tinsley and Anniston Price played Holly in Stranger Things Seasons 1-4, which made sense because Holly was preschool-aged when we met her all the way back in Season 1. Because of child labor laws designed to protect super young performers, television shows often cast twins to play toddlers and kindergarteners to maximize the time they can shoot the “characters” on set. (Think how the Olsen twins shared the role of Michelle Tanner on Full House.) The drawback to this approach is it’s harder for twins to maintain long-term continuity in their performance. The two kids will simply approach the character differently.
So now that the character of Holly is older and more vital to the storyline, it was time to replace the Price twins with one single actress, Nell Fisher.
In a very sweet move, Fisher recently shared a video honoring the Price sisters’ performance in the earlier seasons: “This kid. These girls. So lucky to take on this role. Annie. Tinsley. Nell. Holly.” The Price twins replied: “We loved this scene! 😍😍 Can’t wait to see where you take our girl, Holly. We know it’s going to be amazing!”
Photo: Getty Images
How Old is Nell Fisher? All About the New Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things:
Nell Fisher is a 14-year-old actress who now is playing Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things. According to her official talent bio, Fisher has a British mother and a New Zealander father and has spent her childhood living all over the world, including South Africa. She currently, per her Instagram, resides in London.
Nell Fisher has previously starred in the films Bookworm, Evil Dead Rise, Northspur, and Choose Love. You might also know her from My Life is Murder Season 2.
You can follow Nell on Instagram @nellfisher_.
Photo: Netflix
How Old is Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things 5?
There’s a fun meta joke in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 1 where Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) tells her aloof husband Ted (Joe Chrest) that he probably doesn’t even know how old Holly is. It’s funny because the show definitely doesn’t know how old Holly Wheeler is supposed to be.
In Stranger Things Season 1, we learn that Holly Wheeler is three-years-old. Because that season is set in November 1983 and Season 5 is set in November 1987, you might assume Holly is now seven years old. But she’s clearly not! She’s clearly way older than that!
The real Nell Fisher turned fourteen earlier this month, but would have been twelve during the bulk of Stranger Things Season 5’s 2024 production schedule. So is Holly suddenly twelve years old? Nope!
In Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4, we hear that Holly and her classmates are all aged between nine and ten years old. Meaning that is canonically now the character’s age.
So Holly Wheeler technically should be seven years old, but she is actually, per the story, nine or ten. Oh, and she was played by a twelve-year-old who is now fourteen.
Ted Wheeler innocent. Who could possibly keep track of Holly’s real age?
Photo: Netflix
Does Holly Wheeler Die in Stranger Things 5?
We don’t yet know any of the main characters’ fates in Stranger Things Season 5 because we’ve only seen Part 1 so far. However, we can confirm where Holly ends Season 5 Part 1 and if she’s in mortal danger.
***MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR STRANGER THINGS SEASON 5 PART 1 AHEAD!!!!***
By the end of Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4, Holly Wheeler is not only in the Upside Down, but trapped in the prison of Vecna’s mind. There, she’s dressed up in a very cute blue pinafore dress, yellow riding hood, and Boy Scouts ascot to emulate the “Holly the Heroic” D&D miniature that her brother Mike gifted her in a tender moment. (Note: Mike has established that “Holly the Heroic” has some cool “cleric” powers, namely the ability to open doors to other dimensions.)
Holly has also teamed up with Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), who has also been trapped in Vecna’s memories. While Holly wants to stay with Max in her secret hiding spot, Max implores the girl to return to the Creel House to lay in wait so they can make their big escape. And that’s where we leave Holly at the end of Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1!
Stranger Things Season 5 Part 2 comes out on Christmas Day, December 25, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
