Sadie Elizabeth Sink (born April 16, 2002) is an American actress. She started acting at age seven in local theater shows and played the main role in Annie (2012–14) and young Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience (2015) on Broadway. She made her film debut in 2016 in the biographical sports drama Chuck.
Sink became well-known for her role as Max Mayfield in the Netflix series Stranger Things (2017–present), receiving high praise for her performance in the fourth season. In 2021, she appeared in the horror film series Fear Street and starred in Taylor Swift’s short film All Too Well. She then starred in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological drama The Whale (2022), earning a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination.
Sadie Elizabeth Sink was born in Brenham, Texas, on April 16, 2002. Her mother is a math teacher, and her father is a football coach. She has three older brothers and a younger sister. While her family was into sports, she and her brother Mitchell loved performing arts, especially musical theater. They would recreate scenes from High School Musical and watch Broadway plays.
When Sink was seven, her mother enrolled her and Mitchell in acting classes in Houston. Sink began acting in community theater with a production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in Brenham. At eight, she played a lead role in a local production of The Secret Garden, which inspired her to pursue acting professionally. In 2012, her family moved to New Jersey to support her and Mitchell’s acting careers. Sink started homeschooling while in second grade and returned to regular school after performing in The Audience in 2015.
By age nine, Sink was regularly performing in plays at Theater Under the Stars, appearing in White Christmas (2011) and Annie (2012). At ten, she was cast in the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie, performing for 18 months. She alternated between roles and continued until the final show in January 2014. During this time, she made her television debut in 2013 on The Americans and appeared in a 2014 episode of Blue Bloods. In 2015, Sink starred in the NBC series American Odyssey and played young Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience on Broadway, earning praise for her performance. She made her film debut in Chuck (2016).
In 2016, Sink auditioned for the role of Maxine “Max” Mayfield in Stranger Things. Despite initial doubts due to her age, she impressed the casting directors and landed the role after several callbacks. Learning to skateboard for the role, she became a fan favorite. Critics praised her performance, and she and her co-stars were nominated for a SAG Award. In 2018, Sink made her modeling debut at Paris Fashion Week. She appeared in The Glass Castle (2017) and Eli (2019) and continued to receive acclaim for her role in Stranger Things. In 2021, she starred in Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666, receiving praise for her performance.
Sink starred opposite Dylan O’Brien in Taylor Swift’s short film All Too Well (2021). The film received critical acclaim, and her performance was highly praised. In Stranger Things’ fourth season, she delved deep into her character’s thoughts, earning widespread acclaim. She also starred in The Whale (2022), a role that required intense emotional work. Her performance received mixed reviews but highlighted her transition from child roles to adult acting. Sink is set to star in the thriller Berlin Nobody and Searchlight Pictures’ O’Dessa. In July 2023, she was named a global ambassador for Armani Beauty.
In 2022, Sink appeared on Forbes 30 Under 30 list and Time 100 Next. Described as a fashion icon, her red hair is a trademark feature. Vogue praised her style for its youthful yet sophisticated look. In 2023, she was featured on Maxim’s Hot 100.
Sink is a feminist and became vegetarian in 2015, later going vegan. She uses her social media to support local shelters and encourages her fans to adopt vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.