- Oh, Sadie Sink is here.
- Oh, hello. - [Clayton] How are you today? - I'm good, how are you? (Clayton sighs) - I was just sitting around here and I was thinking to myself, "What's Sadie Sink been up to?" Because you've had quite a year that included a little independent show called "Stranger Things," and then an independent
film called "The Whale," both of which are very,
very popular at the moment. How have you been enjoying this ride? - Yeah, it's kind of been
a whirlwind of a year and I think I just reached
a lot of cool milestones, but it's been really fun. It's a little chaotic, but with a show like "Stranger Things," and then with "The Whale," I really enjoyed my time on both of them. So, traveling around and talking about it makes me very happy, yeah. - Who has been, well, I guess, describe these three directors. You have the Duffer Brothers, then you have Darren Aronofski, and then you also worked
with Taylor Swift. So you've been directed by quite a few different people here. - I've got a good lineup.
- I know. - I mean, I think you set
a standard for yourself. What was it like and what's the difference
between those three entities? - Oh, wow, I mean, those three projects were very, very different. "Stranger Things," it's very fast paced, there's lots of visual effects
and everything like that. And this is also our fourth
season, so certain parts of it, you kind of feel like there's
like a certain formula that we've really mastered and we're sticking to it. And then with "All Too
Well" with Taylor Swift, that was something that, it was just kind of thrown together and she reached out to my team and- - Wait, she reached out to, she pitched to you?
- Yes, yes. - I didn't know her. I was a huge fan, but she reached out to my team and I remember not
thinking that it was her. I really needed to check that like her, it wasn't someone trying
to scam me or something. But it was her and she pitched me the idea for "All Too Well," and I was like, "Why me?" But that was like a four day shoot and I don't think I'd ever done a project that was so, like, there was no script. You could kind of just
do whatever you wanted. So it was like a four day
acting workshop or something. You just kind of got to improvise a bit. And then with "The Whale"
that was so focused. And with someone like
Darren, every last movement, it's all calculated,
everything's so intentional. And we had three weeks of just rehearsals to really nail down these
characters and the blocking. And Sam Hunter, who was the writer, I mean, these characters are so complex. So I was really glad that we had that time to really just break it all down. So, yeah, and three
very different projects, that all happened within the last year, so yeah, it's been kind of crazy. - So we have to go back a second 'cause hearing that Taylor Swift just reaches out to you.
- Right, yeah. I mean, you're 20 years
old putting me to shame that when I was 20, I've done
nothing with my life yet. - Oh, come on.
- I can tell now. - Because that is crazy. So you get that call and at
that point it's last year that you get this call around that time. So what does that feel like for you? Because you obviously set
out to become an actor and you are an actor. But then when it starts blending over and crossing over into
different entities of art that Taylor Swift now is like, "Come, come, come, lemme
get you on something." - Yeah, I never thought
that there would be a world where that would happen for me. And I remember when we heard
that, "Taylor Swift has an idea and she's gonna pitch it to you, like, be expecting a phone call." I was like, "Oh, it'll just
be like a little bit part in like a big ensemble." - You knew you were gonna say yes already by that point.
- For a second I was like, "Yeah, of course it would do it," but I thought it'd be really tiny. - And then I think it was my brother who was like, "Oh, you know what, what if she's making like an
"All Too Well" music video and you are like the girl in it." And I was like, "Mitchell, shut up. It's not happening, there's no way." But he was right. And yeah, she's someone that
I was a huge fan of before. But it is interesting
when like these industries kind of like blend into each other. And I think she's a really,
really good filmmaker and a very smart director. It was funny, I was watching behind the scenes footage that she sent over to me from when we were making it
and she gets in the zone. She knows what she wants
and she's really quick too. She doesn't overshoot
or anything like that. So yeah, I'm excited to kind of see where she goes next with it. - Going now to "The Whale" and "The Whale" by the time
people are listening to this and watching this is out in theaters limited and then it's gonna open wide. And it's a beautiful harrowing story that is a difficult watch
for a lot of people. And your character in the film, very different from Sadie Sink that I've met over the last few years. That is, she's tough. Not saying you're not tough. She's hardened and has a
lot of anger that is built and I guess we all have our own baggage. But how did you find her
when you were going to set and Darren was directing you? - I mean, I think when I
read this part in the script for the first time, I never really thought she was unlikeable because I'm just thinking about
things from her perspective. And in her mind, all of this
anger, this rage that she has, it's completely justified and it all just comes
from a real place of pain. Her father left her when
she was eight years old to go start a new life,
to be with his great love and left her. And that hurt her, that pain had no other outlet. Sometimes violence, violent
words, violent actions. And it's become kind of this self-destructive coping mechanisms that you really see in each and every one of
the characters in this film. But I think the important
part for me and to Darren was to really just kind of approach her with as much empathy as possible because I think with
a character like this, it is easy for her to, I think fall into the angsty teen trope.
- Yeah. But she's so much more than that. She's kind of twisted
but also wicked smart and I think capable of good things. But that's kind of like the
big question at the end of it. Like is she good?
- Is she good? I know well, when my brother
saw it for the first time at the premiere in New York and he like was really challenging me. He was like, "Your
character is pure evil." And I was like, "No, she's really hurt. Like you just gotta see
it from her perspective." He's like, "No, she's a dirt bag." And I was trying to sell him 'cause I'm very defensive of her, but she is very, very trying. - Do you get nervous to show your films and TV shows to your family? Is that more nerve-wracking than fans? - Maybe a little bit, yeah. I was definitely kind of
nervous for them to see this. 'Cause with "Stranger Things"
they know the character and they are huge fans of
the show at this point. This was the first time I've really done something of this scale that's entirely separate
from "Stranger Things." And they had no idea what to expect or what it was really about. They just kind of showed up and watched it and they were all crying at the end of it. So I took it as a success. - When "Stranger Things
Volume II" was dropping and we were all waiting very patiently to learn many of those questions. How much does your family know? Do you tell them a lot? Or are you just afraid of
just being that Tom Holland of Stranger Things that leaks things?
- No, yeah. - I tell them everything. I honestly let a few of
them read the scripts too, which is, I think it's fine. It's not gonna go anywhere. And yeah, I don't feel bad about that. But no, they're very involved with what's going on in this season because they're super fans and luckily they have someone
who can give them a few hints as to what's going to be
happening in the next season. - You'll let me read
the script too, right? We're family too, right?
- No, no. - Yeah, I think that crosses a line. I can't do that.
- Okay. - So, let me just ask now, get this outta the way nice and early. It's what the people want. What can you tell us
about Stranger Things 5 that obviously you know everything about? - Right, I know so much about it. - Do you get very nervous
when the question comes? Are you just like,
"Okay, I have to remember that I just gotta plant my feet."
- No, honestly. - Right now it's okay because I genuinely have nothing to spoil.
- Don't know. So I'm like, "No, I
can't tell you anything." But I am very excited. I don't know what exactly they
plan to do with my character considering where we left off in Season 4, but I'm anxiously
awaiting answers to that. - We can talk spoilers here for a second. - Yeah. - If you were writing an episode. Yes. - Netflix, if anyone's listening, we can let you pen something. Where would you wanna see Max go in this next season or not go? - Oh, I feel like after
everything Max went through, if she ever wakes up, then I think she would just flee. I think she's gonna get out of Hawkins. She's too smart to stay there. But she's also a very
loyal friend, so who knows? And it'll be conflicting. - Do you hope that you and Caleb end up together in the end? - Yeah, yeah, I think so. I mean they're really cute, aren't they? - Yeah. - And the little like note exchange, that was really sweet. I think we gotta see something. There's definitely room to grow there. - When we thought Max was about to go out. - Which time? - Which one, yeah. In the room when Caleb's just like... - Oh, yeah, that one. - Well, his face is
leaking with our faces. It was heartbreaking scene. Can you recall just like shooting that and just were you and Caleb
actually in the same room when you were doing that? - Yeah, we were. I was levitating for a bit
and when I come to the ground I just remember like,
I had these contacts in 'cause my eyes were
supposed to be clouded. And I think my line was
like, "I can't see anything." And genuinely, I couldn't see anything. So I really couldn't make
out any faces around me and it was very dark. That's kind of the main thing
I remember about that scene. But no, especially with someone like Caleb who I've known since I was 14 and he's like family at this point to have like a really sad, like spoiler like deathish kind of scene. It's very emotional but
also like really fun and then we're like laughing and like making fun of
each other afterwards. - What do you say to some of
the fan theories regarding Max? That in "Stranger Things," they're really afraid to commit to death. They're really afraid to
commit to a main char. I mean, unless you're a beeline character, we just know you're out this season. - Right. - But with the main characters, they feel like that "Stranger
Things" hasn't committed and you were gonna be a big commitment. - I was, I almost fell victim. I didn't know this until like
I read it in an interview, but I think Matt and Ross like
were planning to kill me off, like completely kill me off. And that was kind of in the
original plan for the season, but then they did change it. What I do know is that the
Duffers are very smart, they're very calculated and they'd only choose
to kill a character off if it was good for the plot or would come in handy later. And they'd only keep a character if it was going to serve
the plot later as well. Everything is very calculated. They know what they're doing. But I understand, I think
if Max did completely die then it would've had a
bigger impact for sure. But I'm personally happy
she's still around. - Okay, very good. Looking at going back to
"The Whale" now for a moment. You're working with some of the
greatest actors in the game. Brendan Frazier, Samantha
Morton, Hong Chow. Was there any intimidation, any just like being nervous to go toe to toe with some of these? - Oh yeah, I was really
nervous headed it into this especially just because, I
mean, it's Darren Aronofsky and it's A24, and it's Brendan Frazier. And it just was such a big project and I'd never done
anything like it before. And also the character as
well was just very confusing and I just really wanted to get it right. But I think immediately after just kind of doing rehearsals and stuff, it was very focused, very intense. And especially coming
from like a fun TV show, it was weirdly like nice to just have like three
weeks of like very intense kind of bootcamp like rehearsal. But I think that
intimidation kind of like, or the nerves slowly fizzled away. Especially once I just
got more comfortable with everyone I was working with and there was a lot of
trust between all of us. Which is so important
when you're having to be this vulnerable, this open. - When seeing this, we're
calling it the renaissance. This renaissance take over Hollywood, take over the world, beloved figure. I know you have shared that
you hadn't seen very many or any of Brendan's movies
prior to, which is fine. You're 20, you know
cinematic blind spots exist. I hope you get to "Bedazzled"
over the Christmas break. - I still haven't gotten to "Bedazzled." I did watch "School Ties" though. - Oh my god, what a one to start with. - I loved "School Ties." That was the one Darren
told me to start with. So I did. And that was wonderful. And then I watched "George
of the Jungle" too, 'cause I hadn't seen it. - So you haven't gotten
to any "Mummies" yet? - No.
- All right. - Yeah.
- We're gonna get there. - Yeah, eventually, yes. - But seeing this Brendan, I don't know how familiar
you were with his story. He was big star in 90s and early 2000s. Went away for a while
and now he's returning. And there's a lot of our revered actors that we always get weary,
not weary, but nervous for. We don't know how long
we're gonna have them. 'Cause sometimes Hollywood gets
finished at whatever moment. You started this industry very young. I mean, as thinking of in a human sense, do you ever get nervous
that like this adoration, this love that came for
you this year especially, that it's ever gonna fizzle out and then you're just waiting
for the shoe to drop? Or are you just trying
to focus on the work? - I guess I just focus on the work and not really pay attention
to any of the other noise that comes with it. I think that's the only way
to just keep moving forward. But yeah, it is, especially having these kind of crazy young, my teenage years, I'm coming of age and I'm coming of age on a big TV show. There's parts of it
that just aren't normal. And it is interesting to think like a while ago I was really nervous. I was like, "Well, what
happens when the show ends? What's next, who are we without the show?" But what I am so grateful
for "Stranger Things" for is just like allowing
me kind of this platform to like continue to just
get other opportunities to work on other projects. Darren saw me on "Stranger Things" and that's how he wanted me for this. Yeah, I mean, I'm young. I think I'm just really looking forward to pushing myself as an actor and just taking on new challenges. There's so many different types of genres and roles that I've yet to do. So I'm just excited to get more experience 'cause I love doing this. - What's the role that you really wanna do or a type of role that
you would love to do that maybe you didn't think
you were ready at one point? Or maybe you're not ready for it yet and you would like to do
something like that in the future? - Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I see like Brendan's
transformation and stuff, like maybe something like
a transformation role would be cool, but probably later down
the line or something. I'm interested to know like how long I'll still be able to play like a teenager or someone younger and when I
can kind of step out of that. But I think I'll- - Are you eager to step out of that? - I think so, I think-
- I'm an adult. - Yeah, I mean, I still feel like a kid, but like you always kind of, you wanna play roles that
just also kind of resonate with where you are in your own life. I won't be a teenager forever. So yeah, I guess I'm
looking forward to playing a little bit of, yeah,
as I step into adulthood, more mature rules. - Kate Bush. - Yeah. - Very big chart topper again. I've always wanted to know, how much can Sadie Sink actually sing? And is there a future live performance of your interpretation? - Of "Running Up That Hill?" Oh no, that would be so embarrassing. I mean, I can sing. I grew up like doing Broadway,
like musical theater. That's where it all started. So, I definitely still
have that buried very deep. - Did you push it down or? - I pushed it down, yeah. But I don't know know. - Can get very method about it and bring it back up and let it take you somewhere musically. - Yeah, I mean, we'll see. If the right project comes along, maybe I would sing for something, but right now it's just
my little hidden talent. My little secret. - You didn't sing with
Taylor at all on set? - No, oh my God, no. That's so intimidating. - You didn't sing at all, not even like a? - No, no, no, no. I'm very nervous with singing. Yeah, I don't like to sing a lot. - Okay, all right, I'll accept that. - Eventually, we'll see, hopefully. We'll work on it. - I wanna go back to a particular scene in "The Whale" that I want
you to break down for me. And it's obviously the ending, which for I didn't think was
really open to interpretation the movie version that is. I've never seen the stage play and they said it's a lot more concrete, but the end of "The Whale" seems to be what happens to Charlie in that scene and where
your character goes. Did you have an interpretation
that was different than? I'm walking a line of trying
not to spoil "The Whale." 'Cause we can't spoil "The Whale." - Yeah, I mean, I think basically Darren was describing her in a really brilliant way the other day, but Ellie's always like five
steps ahead of everyone else in any kind of interaction. She's never really present. She's so much smarter than you. She's so much quicker than you. And in this last scene, she's kind of finally
put into this corner. Charlie has her in a corner and she's forced to kind of
let all of her walls down. And for the first time in the film you maybe get glimpses
of it in earlier scenes, but really for the first time in the film you get to see her true self I think. And she's fully accepted
the version of herself that Charlie sees so
clearly that is in her. So I do think it's a
hopeful message at the end. I think Ellie is capable of changing, if that's what she wanted. But I guess it kind of
is up for interpretation how you interpret this character. Do you think Ellie truly is a good person or is Charlie just kind of projecting the best version of his
daughter that he wants to see? Is he lying to himself? - Is she in Sadie's
brother's words, a dirt bag? - Is she a dirt bag? - A dirt bag. - It's a strong.
- Strong description. - I felt it. When you said it too, I was
like, "Oh my god, dirt bag." - Dirt bag. But yeah, I mean, that's the thing that like every time I see
this movie or a friend sees it, they bring a different opinion
to it about the characters or hidden meanings. And that's why it's a
fun one to, well not fun, like very emotional, but an
interesting film to watch because you can interpret
it in so many different ways and it gets you talking. - We are going to bring the TikTok trend of "Teenage Dirtbag" going. - The ultimate Teenage Dirtbag. - Exactly, so I have a question regarding everything that happens in "The Whale" is 99% in one location, in the apartment. 'Cause I'm including
the porch as of that 1%. But it's still there. Did you film anything outside? Was there any other scenes that were filmed outside of the house that didn't make it in the
final cut that were tried? - No, there was nothing. We stayed in that apartment. There was one like little
shots on the beach, which I think are in the teaser trailer, which that's my little sister actually. - No way. - Yeah, that's my little sister. It was added like a year after we wrapped and Darren was like, "Your little sister
looks like you, right?" And I'm like, "Yeah, she does." And he wanted to use
her as like the young me in a flashback or something.
- First rule of Hollywood, you say yes to everything. - Yeah, I said, "Yes, she will be there." So I took my sister to the beach and we did that scene. - How many of you are there by the way? - Oh, there's so many. There's five of us in total. Three older brothers, little sister. - Three boys older and
then the two little girls. - Yeah, yeah, but back to the apartment. I think it could have been so easy when taking it from a play to the screen to just add scenes and expand the world and go beyond the apartment. But we kept it there. Darren and Sam kept it in the apartment and I think that's so important because it's such a huge
part of who Charlie is. That's his entire world. And it was really fun, kind of blocking every scene out because we had to get creative with what space we were using so it didn't look repetitive. And I think for Ellie, the
apartment is like her playground. And it was really fun just figuring out different bits and pieces. I love the one scene
that she has with Thomas where she's never met this kid and she's welcoming him into the apartment that she does not own and is making him a drink while also insulting his entire religion and everything that he believes in. So, it was really fun
to kind of get creative with stuff like that. But it also holds a lot of
darkness for her as well because ultimately that's the
life that he left her dor. - You are sitting with Variety with the awards editor at Variety. - Yes. - And Clayton Davis was so hopeful that you were gonna get an Emmy nomination for "Stranger Things." And now we've arrived at Oscar time where you are in the discussion for supporting actress nomination. Whether it happens or not, we all think and dream of that moment. We've all given the speech in the shower of what we would say
with the shampoo bottle. What does recognition like that, major recognition like that. 'Cause we also know a Tony
could be coming down your way for a musical, which, we'll
get back, we'll get there. What does this recognition mean? You don't seek out to do
it, but it feels good. - Yeah, for sure. I think I just never really thought that I would ever be in
this discussion really. And especially with the whole
"Stranger Things" thing. I was really shocked when
that specific episode, episode four, like and the Kate Bush song, I was really shocked
that it was blowing up in the way that it was. But yeah, it's definitely
a huge compliment I guess. And I'm very unfamiliar with
the side of the industry, so I'm kind of just
rolling with the punches. - It's a dark side. It's a warm side. - Yeah. - It's crazy, the last
bit is always something I always think is important 'cause a lot of younger
children look up to you and even older people, like,
I'm so impressed by you. I'm so impressed by what you're doing and it's always curious. I'm always curious to know what makes you tick cinematically. What is the movie that brought
Sadie Sink to Hollywood? What is your favorite movie? What is that thing that
that did it for you? - Oh, I think when I was younger I like strictly only
watched movie musicals 'cause I was very much in the
musical theater world still. - We're coming back to this musical thing. - It all goes back to that. But that's how it all began. So, it's always gonna lead to that road. But "The Sound of Music" was
like my favorite thing ever. And I think it still is. Beyond that, I mean, I
think that's number one. I first saw that and I was
like, "Ah, I wanna do that. I wanna be a Von Trap kid or whatever." And then since then, as I've grown up and kind of like, you know, moved, not moved on from musical theater, but ventured into other paths, there's just more performances
that I'm inspired by. More careers that I'm inspired by. Kate Blanchett I think is
like my ultimate like idol. Her role choice is everything. I've really study her career. - Sadie Sink's Tar might
be pretty, pretty amazing. - Oh my God, I'm so excited to see that. That's like my most anticipated film. - Some good stuff. Does Sadie have a yearning question? Feeling to get into superhero land at all? - You know. - I feel like everyone asks that. - Yeah, I mean I guess
like that would be fun. I never really pictured
myself as a superhero, but if the right superhero
comes along, then maybe so. - All right, well, listen again, we're big fans of you here and big fans of your career. Very, very impressed with everything. Congratulations on "The Whale." - Thank you. - [Clayton] And "All Too
Well," and "Stranger Things." - Thank you.
- And everything else. - What are you working on next? Anything you wanna unplug for us? - Ooh. - You know, anything you wanna break? What'd you get cast in? - My next pro, I'm not saying that yet, but my next project is, I've gotta figure out
what cookie I'm decorating for our annual Christmas cookie bake off. - Such a cheap shot.
- Yeah. - I don't know what to do. I mean, I need to start
like my Pinterest board. I gotta figure it out. - I'll accept it. Thank you Sadie Sink. - Thank you.
