Amybeth McNulty Reflects on Her Journey in the Stranger Things Universe

Irish actress Amybeth McNulty is navigating her inner world while starring in the popular Stranger Things series. The Donegal native describes the past few years as “strange” since her arrival in the Netflix sci-fi horror series and admits that sometimes the magnitude of the show feels surreal.

“It’s insane. I feel like a small cog in this very large machine,” McNulty mentioned. At just 24 years old, she joined Stranger Things in its fourth season, portraying Vicki, a student at Hawkins High School who becomes the girlfriend of Robin Buckley, played by Maya Hawke.

Recently, McNulty appeared on The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty, where she shared that her long-time fandom for the show was a tremendous asset during the audition process. “I know what I like about the show and the pacing,” she said, adding, “but I never thought I would be cast in this world.” The moment she learned she had landed the role was overwhelming; “I was screaming and crying on the other end of the phone,” she recalled.

This role also holds personal significance for her. McNulty revealed it was the last thing her parents did together before they passed away. “They said they got a good feeling about it, and they were right,” she shared. Raised in Letterkenny with an Irish father and a Canadian mother, McNulty moved to Canada at 14 to star in Anne of E. She expressed gratitude for her parents’ support in making that move possible. “I’m always grateful,” she said.

Before her rise to international fame, McNulty trained in ballet and was involved in local theater productions at the Ann Grinnan Theatre. She fondly reflected on her hometown, emphasizing the importance of community: “There’s a real sense of family there. That was everything.”

McNulty made her first television appearance in 2014 as Jenny Lane in the RTÉ One series Clean Break. She also spoke honestly about representation in media and what it means for her to portray a queer character in a globally recognized show. Growing up as a “queer kid in Donegal,” she came out as bisexual online at around 16 or 17. “People back home would say to my parents, ‘I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, I have nothing to apologize for,’” she reflected. Playing roles that resonate personally encourages her even more.

For McNulty, acting as Vicki is not just a milestone but a personal mission. “I wanted to do it fairly and right for kids like me,” she explained. “It’s important, especially with these weird storylines battling monsters in the ’80s. It doesn’t have to be the focal point; it’s just a part of the narrative. I believe that’s ideal.”