Stranger Things is one of the most popular television series that has taken the world by storm since its debut on Netflix, captivating audiences with its unique blend of horror, science fiction, and 1980s nostalgia.
The show’s main cast, which includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink, has always received widespread praise for their performances.
Season 4 promo shot of the main cast of Stranger Things (Credit: Netflix)
However, the supporting cast often steals the show.
Such is the case for the Stranger Things newcomers, including Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna/Henry/001, Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson, Eduardo Franco as Argyle, Grace Van Dien as Chrissy Cunningham, and Tom Wlaschiha as Enzo.
One such rising star is Elodie Grace Orkin, who portrayed Angela in the fourth season, the nemesis of Eleven, portrayed by British actress Millie Bobby Brown.
Elodie Grace Orkin as Angela in the science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things (Credit: Netflix)
Let’s look closer at Elodie’s journey to fame, exploring her early years, how she got cast as Angela in Stranger Things, and her plans for the future.
Who Is Elodie Grace Orkin?
Elodie Grace Orkin is an English-American actress born on June 11, 2004. She is half-American on her father’s side and half-English on her mother’s side. Elodie spent much time in London while growing up in Los Angeles, California.
The 18-year-old budding actress continued schooling at the John D’Aquino Acting School and Young Actors Studio. She studied music at UCLA Vocal/Open Professor and the Royal School of Music.
Elodie, who is still very new to acting, has been a theater group member since 2014 and has garnered five accolades for her performances. She previously appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live as a young child singer.
Pretty in pink, Elodie Grace Orkin attended the 2022 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London, England on November 8, 2022 (Credit: Suzan Moore / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
The young newcomer also starred with Pressley Hosbach, Sophie Michelle, Tahani Anderson, Skyler Guthrie, Kimberly Girkim, and Adam Leiva in the BRAT TV series Stage Fright as Kyle. Brat is a YouTube digital media network that debuted in 2017 and offered shows targeted at young people.
She also portrayed a young Charlie in Saving Paradise and Penny in an episode of We Hunt Together. In addition, Elodie starred in television ads for companies like the NFL Playoffs, Invisalign, and Irn-Bru.
How Elodie Grace Orkin Was Cast as Angela in Stranger Things
Elodie has yet to start her professional career but will probably portray many significant roles. Although she has been in several films, TV episodes, and advertisements as a child, her big part in Stranger Things has given her a lot of recognition.
After being “inspired” by the television show Stranger Things to explore a full-time acting career, Elodie is now a part of the worldwide sensation.
In an exclusive interview with Hollywood Life, Elodie said, “I’ve been acting my whole life in musical theater and stuff, but I decided that I wanted an agent, and I wanted to start professionally acting after I saw Stranger Things because I’m the same age as Millie [Bobby Brown].”
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She continued, “And to see another girl my age doing this dramatic acting, I really wanted to be a part of that. So it was a really crazy full-circle moment that I never imagined could happen that I ended up being on the same show that inspired me to start.”
Two years before Elodie ever set foot on a set, she had already secured the part of Angela. Elodie referred to the launch of Stranger Things 4, Volume 1, as “honestly feels surreal” when it aired.
Elodie said that working on the set of Stranger Things was an “insane experience” and that she had “learned a lot” from her co-workers there.
From taking up technical aspects of the show to “fully immersing yourself in the character,” Stranger Things was the ideal environment for Elodie to grow as an actress.
Elodie Grace Orkin attending the Stranger Things Season 4 world premiere in Brooklyn, New York, on May 14, 2022 (Credit: JOHN NACION / Startraksphoto)
What Elodie Thinks of Her Villainous Character Angela
Elodie had to put on a wig to portray Angela.
The actress made fun of her relationship with the wig, telling Hollywood Life, “Honestly, me and that wig, we had a little romance. I loved her, but I also hated her. Oh my god, I’m referring to the wig as a she. Anyways, I loved my wigs so much. It was so extreme and so 80s. I loved all the clothes. Everything was just over the top and so much fun.”
However, she knew she was signing up for a complex character filled with vicious remarks and one notably gory moment when she accepted the role of Eleven’s high school bully.
But she more than delivered, causing the web to explode with jokes wanting something worse for the evil villain after she’d been so cruel to Eleven.
Elodie Grace Orkin as Angela in the science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things (Credit: Netflix)
In an exclusive interview with Elite Daily in June 2022, the actress recognized the hate as evidence of a job well done. She said, “Honestly, I was expecting a lot more hate because Angela is such a terrible person. I’ve gotten a little bit on social media, but mostly it’s been ‘I hated your character so much, which means you did a good job,’ so I’ve taken that as a compliment.”
While the public’s reaction to Angela wasn’t very adverse, Elodie changed her stance when one person responded to all the bullying.
The actress revealed, “I saw an interview recently where Millie said that it was hard for her to be bullied, and I felt so horribly bad about it. I tried to be as lovely as possible to her outside of filming, apologizing and saying, ‘I swear to God, I’m not like this in real life.’”
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When Eleven Smacked Angela With a Roller Skate
Eleven’s breaking point during Angela’s brutality resulted in an oversized roller skate being sent between Angela’s eyes, becoming a trending online topic.
Fans worldwide rejoiced at the smack scene, but even with special effects, being hit in the face with a roller skate was a horrific experience for Elodie.
Elodie shared, “Millie’s stunt double threw the skate so close to my face to make it look real, like an inch away, which honestly was really scary because I was sure at some point she was actually going to hit my face.”
Elodie Grace Orkin as Angela in the science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things (Credit: Netflix)
She continued, “Obviously, there was a stunt double who actually hit the ground because it was such an intense physical scene, so they had to help us out with that.”
The makeup artists went all out on Elodie, using shocking artificial blood to simulate Angela’s horrific head trauma. Still, the results were a bit too convincing for the actress.
Elodie revealed, “I felt sick to my stomach at some points because it looked so real. I almost felt the pain, like my mind was tricking itself, saying, ‘Do I actually have a head gash?’ I got a little squeamish.”
Where Will We See Elodie Grace Orkin Next?
Elodie was last seen in Stranger Things when Angela suffered a skate to her forehead. Hence, a season 5 return is unlikely – especially given that this is the Netflix sensation’s fifth and final season.
The actress, however, didn’t take any breaks when she was cast in a different role.
Elodie Grace Orkin will star in The Burning Girls with several other actors, including The Walking Dead‘s Samantha Morton and Bridgerton‘s Ruby Stokes. Rupert Graves, Jane Lapotaire, and John Macmillian will also have an appearance.
The upcoming series is founded on CJ Tudor’s best-selling 2021 novel with the same title, which you can find on Amazon. It is centered on a village haunted by its turbulent and sinister past.
It chronicles Reverend Jack Brooks, a single mum who killed her husband and is haunted by terror from her previous church. Her daughter Flo, an ordinary teenager who chooses her path, moves with her to Chapel Croft.
Although a release date has not yet been made official, we do know that the series has just begun production and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Stranger Things opened up the gates for Elodie Grace Orkin, and she is on her way to becoming a superstar in her own right (Credit: Suzan Moore / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Elodie Grace Orkin’s journey to fame is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. Her breakout role as Angela in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things has catapulted her into the spotlight and opened up numerous opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Despite being relatively new to acting, Elodie has already made a name for herself and is set to have a bright future ahead.
With her talent, dedication, and passion for the craft, it’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing more of her on our screens in the years to come.