Calista Craig jumped into one of television’s biggest hits when she was cast in Stranger Things Season 5. She recurred in the Netflix show’s final season as Mary, the close friend of Holly Wheeler. It led to a whole new level of exposure—and excitement.

Yet after Season 5 was finished, Calista went in the completely opposite direction with a role in the comedy movie The Breadwinner. In an interview with TVBrittanyF.com, she spoke about the transition from playing in a dark horror world to something much lighter, and why she was “blown away” by the opportunity to join Stranger Things.

Brittany Frederick: What was your initial hook into the world of acting? Is it something you always wanted to do, or was there a specific event or influence that made it a career choice?

Calista Craig: From a very young age, I had always loved dancing and performing for anyone who would watch me. I loved singing, so I started taking voice lessons when I was about nine. My voice coach—who was also an acting coach—recommended that I should get into acting. I started taking acting lessons and loved it.

Also, I loved watching Disney shows, sitcoms and movies from a young age and always wanted to be a part of something like that. My parents said that I used to “sitcom” at the dinner table after watching Disney sitcoms during the day. My parents and my brother had to remind me that we were not on a sitcom. [Laughs.]

You get from that to being on Stranger Things, which is a massive phenomenon. How did you approach being part of a series that big relatively early in your career?

To honest, I didn’t really know what to expect or how big my character was going to be in the show. When I booked it, I knew how a huge of a show it was, and was so excited and blown away to start working on it.

What did you learn from your Stranger Things experience that you can carry forward into the future?

I have learned so much. It was really cool to watch people that I worked with—like Noah [Schnapp], Finn [Wolfhard], Jamie [Campbell Bower], Millie [Bobby Brown] and Nell [Fisher]—get into their character. Especially working with Nell; seeing the way she approaches scenes was really cool. [Stranger Things creators] The Duffers always were super-open and asked for any ideas I had, so I also learned how to ask questions and take my character in the direction that felt comfortable.

What will you remember most about those seven episodes? Was there a favorite scene to work on, or a favorite memory from off-camera that sticks with you?

My favorite scene was at the Creel House, when Holly woke up and Mary tried to convince her she was wrong. [Mary] got hit with the boom box and then fought with her on the stairs. That was so much fun. I got to work with Jamie for the first time in a big scene there. He had dropped off the book A Wrinkle in Time in all the kids’ trailers and it had a handwritten note with his autograph in it!

I also got to miss a lot of school since [filming] was outside of Atlanta, so it was really fun and like being on a trip with the other kids! I have so many other good memories behind the scenes—doing dances with the crew, the kids and Millie and Noah. We really had so much fun together.

You went from that to working on The Breadwinner, which is incredibly different. Did it take some time to go from serious drama to comedy?

It for sure took a second to switch gears from running from Demogorgons to a family comedy role. Stranger Things is a very dramatic show, and the scenes I had to film were especially very intense. Going straight into a fun family comedy movie, the scenes were so fun and lighthearted.

Working with Nate [Bargatze] was hilarious. He is so funny in person, so it just made the whole vibe super-fun. But as a person I am very bubbly and energetic, so working on The Breadwinner was very much my type of role. Stranger Things was a whole different ballgame and it was really emotionally challenging. I loved it, and it kept me on my toes!

As your career continues to develop, what kinds of goals have you set for yourself? Is there anything you’d particularly be interested in doing in the future, or anyone you’re a particular fan of?

I’d really like a lead role and am open to any type of role. I could see myself in a girlie-girl type of role, but I also think I’d love working on dramatic roles, or maybe even an action hero Marvel role. Someone that I would really love to work with? Definitely this [Stranger Things] crew of kids again in a spinoff—or working with Millie again. I actually told her I’d like to play her little sister in a movie someday.

I’m obsessed with the show Gossip Girl. Leighton Meester, who plays Blair Waldorf, is phenomenal. I feel like [Blair] is really similar to me and a role that I would love to play, so I am a huge fan of that show!

What’s something that you want audiences to know about you?

Be kind to everyone and always be yourself! I realized the hard way in middle school that you are not going to please everyone, no matter how hard you try, and that some people just aren’t nice. You can’t fit in no matter how hard you try—so my rule was to just be kind, no matter what.

When I was younger, the saying was always “dance like no one is watching,” but I like a different version: “Dance like everyone is watching and show them how it’s done!” Being kind to others and being the best version of myself is how I approach life. I think that once you realize to live for yourself and not worry about what other people think, doors will open.

For more on Calista Craig, follow her on Instagram and TikTok. Photo Credit: Charley Gallay/Courtesy of Netflix.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.