See what the 'Stranger Things' stars looked like when they first started acting

Millie Bobby Brown's first credited acting role was as "Young Alice "in ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" when she was about 8 years old.

Brown was cast as the younger version of the classic character for the first episode of ABC's series in 2013. She continued landing TV roles for programs like "Intruders" (BBC) and small, one-time roles on popular shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Modern Family."

Brown said she nearly quit acting after a casting director told her she was too mature at 10 years old, but her parents convinced her to try one more time. Her next audition was for "Stranger Things."

Two years before getting cast in "Stranger Things," Finn Wolfhard had a small role in The CW series "The 100" for one episode in season two.

Wolfhard played the role of a young child named Zoran in season two, episode four of "The 100" in 2014. He also appeared in some music videos in the years leading up to his role in Netflix's hit series, but "Stranger Things" was his first big break.

Caleb McLaughlin was a Broadway star before he moved to TV, notably playing Simba in "The Lion King" stage production.

The young superstar was a replacement for Young Simba in the Broadway production of "Lion King" from 2012 to 2014, shortly before he became known to the world as Lucas Sinclair in "Stranger Things."

Gaten Matarazzo also had his break on the Broadway stage, charming audiences as Gavroche in "Les Miserables" in 2014.

After appearing as an alternate in the 2011 play "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," Matarazzo got to be front and center for a year as Gavroche and Petit Gervais for the Broadway production of "Les Miserables." 

Matarazzo was able to bring his singing skills into "Stranger Things" for season three, when his character Dustin sings the "Neverending Story" song with his girlfriend Suzie.

Noah Schnapp played Tom Hanks' son in the 2015 movie "Bridge of Spies" before he went on to star in "Stranger Things."

Schnapp also had few credited roles before he became a household name with Netflix's sci-fi series. The year before "Stranger Things" premiered, Schnapp could be seen in the award-nominated drama "Bridge of Spies," acting opposite Hollywood legend Tom Hanks. 

Priah Ferguson appeared on an episode of "Atlanta" season one before joining "Stranger Things" as Erica Sinclair.

On season one, episode two of the FX series, Ferguson plays a young girl named Asia who is playing pretend with other kids imitating rapper Paper Boi. 

Ferguson also appeared on small TV projects, but "Stranger Things" has been the most prominent role she's landed so far in her young career.

Sadie Sink is another early-life Broadway star. In 2012, she played the eponymous orphan in "Annie".

Sink, like McLaughlin and Matarazzo, has impressive singing talents and was on Broadway around the same time as her future "Stranger Things" costars. 

Five years after taking on the role of Annie for the stage, she was cast as Max Mayfield and became an integral part of Netflix's hit series.

For his first TV role, David Harbour played Officer Shanks for several episodes on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" from 1999 to 2001.

As one of the more experienced stars on "Stranger Things," Harbour's credits date back to well before the young cast was even born. He's been acting on TV since the late '90s, and went on to appear in more movies and series before landing the breakout role of Chief Hopper in "Stranger Things."

Winona Ryder's debut role was in the 1986 film "Lucas."

Ryder's first role was as Rina in the David Seltzer-directed film "Lucas," which was released in 1986 when Ryder was 15 years old. In the following decade and a half, she became known for roles in films like "Heathers," the 1994 adaptation of "Little Women," and "Girl, Interrupted."

Ryder has played Joyce Byers, mother to Will and Jonathan, on "Stranger Things" since season one. 

Charlie Heaton's acting career started with a short film and some television appearances on series like "DCI Banks."

Heaton's first credited role was in the 2014 short film "Life Needs Courage," which was directed by Tobias Fueter. He also played Gary McCready on two episodes of the British crime drama "DCI Banks."

Heaton was cast in "Stranger Things" shortly after his first projects, and has played Jonathan Byers on the series since its first season in 2016.

Natalia Dyer's first role was a small part in "Hannah Montana: The Movie" in 2009.

Dyer had her on-screen debut in "Hannah Montana: The Movie." In the film, she played Clarissa Granger, a Hannah Montana fan and the daughter of a reporter attempting to uncover the pop star's true identity. 

Dyer later debuted as Nancy Wheeler, Mike's gun-toting older sister, in the first season of "Stranger Things" in 2016. 

Joe Keery's first roles were on television, in shows like "Sirens" and "Chicago Fire."

Keery had small parts on series including "Sirens" and "Empire." He appeared in two episodes of "Chicago Fire" in 2015 titled "Forgive You Anything" and "Red Rag the Bull" as the character Emmett. 

Shortly after, Keery was cast in "Stranger Things," in which he has played heartthrob-turned-babysitter Steve Harrington since its first season.

Maya Hawke got her start on-screen in a BBC "Little Women" miniseries.

Hawke started modeling as a teenager, and her first acting credit was in the BBC "Little Women" miniseries released in 2017. In the series, she played Jo March, the family's spirited second-eldest daughter. 

Hawke joined "Stranger Things" in its third season, which premiered in 2019, as Steve's coworker Robin.

Joseph Quinn made his on-screen debut in the 2011 CBBC series "Postcode."

Quinn's first television role was in the first episode of the Children's BBC (CBBC) series "Postcode" in 2011, credited as Tim. Later, in 2016, he starred in the BBC series "Dickensian" as Arthur Havisham.

Quinn joined "Stranger Things" in its fourth season, which premiered in 2022, as "Dungeons and Dragons" club leader Eddie Munson. 

Jamie Campbell Bower's first roles were in the TV movie "The Dinner Party" and "Sweeney Todd" in 2007.

Bower's first film and TV roles were in 2007, where he played Douglas in the television movie "The Dinner Party." Later that year, he played Anthony in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Fifteen years after he began acting, Bower debuted as the villainous Vecna in the fourth season of "Stranger Things."

Matthew Modine began acting on-screen in the 1980s, appearing on "ABC Afterschool Special" and in the film "Baby It's You."

Modine first appeared in a 1982 episode of the ABC program "ABC Afterschool Special" as Randy, and later played a character credited as Steve in the 1983 film "Baby It's You."

Modine has been with "Stranger Things" since its first season in 2016 as Dr. Brenner, the man in charge of Hawkins Lab's experiments and Eleven's early father figure.