TV
‘Stranger Things 5’ – Young Joyce Byers Actor Makes It Clear That Winona Ryder Wasn’t Digitally De-Aged
The fourth episode of “Stranger Things 5,” now streaming on Netflix, features a brief flashback appearance from a teenage Joyce Byers, with many fans convinced that Winona Ryder herself was digitally de-aged to cameo as a young version of herself. The season kicks off with a digitally de-aged Will Byers, after all, so it seemed logical that the same tech was used to turn Joyce Byers back into a teenager. But that wasn’t CGI and it wasn’t AI either, we’ve learned!
Teenage Joyce Byers was played by actress Birdy in “Stranger Things 5,” and Birdy has taken to social media to make it clear that she’s a real person and not a de-aged Winona Ryder.
“Not AI Winona,” Birdy writes in an Instagram post that includes a still image from the episode and a photo of herself on the set of “Stranger Things 5.” Check out the IG post below.
Birdy is indeed a dead ringer for a young Winona Ryder, and the actress can also be seen in Season 13, Episode 22 of “Chicago Fire” as well as the shorts Twin Flame and Escort.
The actress also shared some behind the scenes photos from the set of “Stranger Things” in another Instagram post, writing: “So incredibly grateful to be a part of S5.”
Teenage Joyce Byers (Maldonado at the time) was brought to the screen via Max traveling through Henry Creel’s memories, and it’s interesting to note that those very same events play a huge role in the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The play centers on a young Henry Creel in 1959, and in it Joyce puts on a production of Oklahoma! at Hawkins High School.
The stage play is clearly canon to the series, as the flashback in “Stranger Things 5” is set in 1959 and references the Oklahoma! stage play that’s being directed by Joyce Maldonado.
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Winona Ryder in ‘Heathers’ (1988)
Birdy in ‘Twin Flame’
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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