By Paul Salfen, Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
The young star Calista Craig, fresh off her recurring role as Mary in the explosive final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, sat down with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen for a candid chat that captures the whirlwind of stepping into Hawkins’ upside-down world at just 14 years old. With Season 5 now streaming and fans dissecting every twist, Calista finally gets to spill the secrets she’s guarded for years—while eyeing an even brighter future in film.
In the interview, conducted amid whispers of an incoming winter storm (classic Texas timing), Calista radiates the kind of unfiltered excitement that makes her instantly likable. “It’s like a weight really off my shoulders,” she says of the embargo lift. “I can finally say everything.” The pressure of secrecy was real: during filming, she dodged school friends’ questions by claiming vague “projects” or “vacations.” Even after Volume 1 dropped, she stayed mum on what Volume 2—and the finale—held. “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, what’s going to happen?’ And I just couldn’t say anything.”
Landing on the set of one of TV’s biggest phenomena was surreal. Calista describes the experience as “chill and fun,” with the core cast of kids proving welcoming from day one. Her first scenes paired her with Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna himself) in the iconic Creel House—filmed across two trips to Atlanta in summer and fall. “Those were just really fun and casual scenes,” she recalls. “Working with Jamie and all the other kids… I’ll remember it literally forever.”
The jaw-drop moments came during big set pieces. Watching practical effects unfold—like explosions and a character literally set ablaze—left her stunned. “The magazine shoots… it was insane,” she says, referencing elaborate VFX-heavy sequences that blended real pyrotechnics with digital magic. “I was like, ‘I can’t believe I get paid for this.'”
A lifelong performer, Calista traces her passion back to dance recitals and voice lessons that led to musical theater and on-camera work. “Ever since an early age, I just loved performing,” she explains. That energy shines through—she’s bubbly, authentic, and quick to credit her family’s support for keeping her grounded. Her advice to aspiring actors? Simple and spot-on: “Always just be yourself no matter what… That will guide you to so many things in life and open so many doors.”
She’s already putting that philosophy into action. Beyond Stranger Things, Calista teases two major 2026 releases. First up is the family comedy The Breadwinner, where she plays Jane in a role-switching romp starring Nate Bargatze and Mandy Moore. She calls it “the perfect family comedy movie” and raves about filming with the deadpan-funny Bargatze: “He’s just so funny… straight face funny. It was so fun working with him.”
Then there’s a yet-untitled horror project slated for spring (likely April or May), which she hints will hit theaters. “I want to share more… definitely look for that in the future.” Fans of scares, take note.
For now, it’s back to normal life—school in Georgia, dodging the occasional fan frenzy, and figuring out social media with mom’s help (“She’s going crazy about everything”). But Calista’s goals are clear: more TV and film roles that blend her loves of acting, dancing, and singing. “I hope to work on a fun job that I can do and be on set every day,” she says. “Acting doesn’t feel like a job. It just feels like fun.”
In a world where child stars often burn out, Calista Craig feels like the real deal: talented, grounded, and genuinely thrilled by the ride. With Stranger Things behind her and big-screen doors swinging open, this rising star from Forsyth County is just getting started. Keep an eye on her—because if the past few years are any indication, she’s about to turn everything upside down again.
Calista Craig was interviewed by Paul Salfen for AMFM Magazine. Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix.
