Home / Arts and Entertainment / Model Birdy stuns as young Joyce in Stranger Things
Model Birdy stuns as young Joyce in Stranger Things
2 Dec
Summary
- A model named Birdy portrays young Joyce Maldonado, not AI Winona Ryder.
- Birdy's resemblance to Winona Ryder sparked fan surprise and admiration.
- The scene features a flyer for a 1959 Hawkins High play with many characters.

In its upcoming final season, Stranger Things surprises viewers by casting model Birdy as a young Joyce Maldonado, not a de-aged Winona Ryder or AI-generated performance. Birdy herself confirmed her role on social media, sharing behind-the-scenes images and expressing her gratitude.
Fans were astounded by Birdy's uncanny resemblance to Ryder from her breakout years in the 1980s and 1990s. Many took to social media to express their shock and admiration for the striking physical similarities between the two performers.
The brief scene, set in 1959, depicts young Joyce handing out flyers for a school play, 'Oklahoma,' which lists several familiar names from the series' lore. The Duffer Brothers have hinted at potential overlaps between the final season and the stage play 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow.'




