Who Kisses Sadie? An In-Depth Look at Sadie Sink‘s On-Screen First Kisses

When Sadie Sink scored the role of Max Mayfield on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, she had no idea how quickly she would have to grow up on screen. At just 15 years old, Sink experienced a right of passage for many young actors – her first kiss filmed for millions of viewers.

"It was with Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas," Sink revealed in an interview with W Magazine. "We were filming. You can see it on Netflix!"

For Sink, the experience was far from a fairytale. "It was definitely strange," she admitted. "[My first kiss] was awkward."

Let‘s take a deeper look at Sadie Sink‘s on-screen kisses, how she handled these intimate scenes at a young age, and the importance of age-appropriate filmmaking when it comes to child actors.

Sink Felt Uncomfortable About First Kiss Scene

Most teenage girls imagine their first kiss happening in a more romantic locale than a TV or movie set. For 15-year-old Sadie Sink, having her inaugural kiss captured on camera was "a little intimidating."

In an interview with People Magazine, Caleb McLaughlin confessed feeling nervous about their kissing scene in Stranger Things 2. "It was a little scary for me," said McLaughlin, who was also 15 at the time.

Sink agreed that filming the scene was "uncomfortable." However, she recognized that it served the story. "I mean, it’s not real. It’s acting. It’s something you have to do,” she remarked pragmatically in an interview with Cosmopolitan.

Still, Sink admitted she panicked after reading the script. “I literally blacked out! I doesn’t even compute. And then I was like, ‘Oh God, oh no, it’s happening,’” she toldinterview magazine about the anxiety she felt leading up to the kissing scene.

Unscripted Kiss Sparked Controversy

Sink was put in a difficult position during filming of Stranger Things 2 when a kiss between Max and Lucas was suggested on the spot – even though it was not in the script.

The show‘s co-creators, the Duffer Brothers, received backlash after revealing the kissing scene only happened because teenager Sink felt comfortable enough to go through with it.

Many fans criticized putting Sink on the spot to agree to an unscripted kiss, saying the adult producers unfairly placed the burden on the underage actress in the moment.

The controversy sparked wider debate around the ethics of filming intimate scenes with child actors without strict protocols in place. SAG-AFTRA has since required intimacy coordinators for scenes involving minors.

Importance of Intimacy Coordinators

Intimacy coordinators choreograph intimate scenes and advocate for actors. Their role became especially crucial following the #MeToo movement.

"When it comes to minors, so much care needs to be taken to make sure they feel safe, represented, and like collaborators in telling the story,” explains Jessica Steinrock, Managing Director at Intimacy Professionals Association.

"Having an intimacy coordinator on staff who can carefully choreograph intimate scenes while empowering the young actors through education is vital,” she says.

Stranger Things Cast‘s Ages vs. Average First Kiss

The young Stranger Things cast members had their first kisses earlier than most adolescents do in real life.

According to surveys, the average age most people experience their first kiss is around 15 years old. However, having this life milestone captured on camera comes with added pressures.

Awkward First Kisses Are Relatable

Sadie Sink is not alone in describing her first on-screen kiss as “awkward." For most people, their inaugural kiss off camera is not a graceful fairytale moment either.

According to a study published in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations, 66% of individuals reported feeling awkward during their first kiss. Common feelings included nervousness, embarrassment, and cluelessness about what to do.

“The reality is that first kisses are almost always awkward, no matter if they are on screen or off,” remarks body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass. “There is rarely smooth sailing as two people discover each other‘s rhythms.”

So Sink‘s awkward lip-lock with co-star Caleb McLaughlin felt authentic and relatable to many audience members.

Sadie and Finn Share Awkward Kiss Too

Sink also filmed an awkward kissing scene with her other Stranger Things co-star Finn Wolfhard in Season 3. With the cameras rolling, their characters Max and Mike share a brief smooch.

“It was, like, my first kiss, so it was really weird,” admitted Wolfhard, who also felt self-conscious having his first on-screen kiss broadcast to the world. “I’d never kissed anyone before.”

Millie Bobby Brown, who stars as Mike‘s girlfriend Eleven, agreed it was strange watching the kissing scene. “I sat there and I like freaked out!” she admitted.

But Brown ultimately supported Sink and Wolfhard‘s professionalism. “They did what they needed to do for their characters, and I understand,” she reflected.

More About Rising Star Sadie Sink

Born April 16, 2002, actress and model Sadie Sink spent her childhood doing local theater in Texas. Her breakthrough arrived when she joined Stranger Things at age 14.

Now 20 years old, Sink continues earning acclaim for mature acting roles that belie her youthful age. She delivered a raw performance starring alongside Taylor Russell in the A24 drama The Whale.

Sink has an estimated net worth of $1 million. She keeps her personal life private and is not known to be dating anyone currently. The down-to-earth star prefers spending time with family over the Hollywood social scene.

Looking ahead, Sink plans to attend college eventually and enjoys nurturing her creative side through painting. She hopes to develop her own scripts centered around complex female leads.

While Sadie Sink‘s teenage years played out unusually in front of the cameras, she has handled the pressures with grace. As she navigates more grownup roles, Sink‘s evident talent and grounded personality will surely continue resonating with audiences.