Caroline Elle Abrams Talks Stranger Things, Her Acting Journey, and Career Growth

Photography by Paul Smith

Raised in South Florida, Caroline Elle Abrams found her way to acting early, first through the creative outlets around her. Growing up, she explored dance, played several instruments, and became immersed in musical theater: an influence partly inspired by her sisters, who were also involved in theater. That early exposure sparked a curiosity about performing on screen, and by the time she was around five or six, Abrams began auditioning for commercials and television roles. What started as childhood exploration gradually turned into a deeper passion as she grew older, eventually leading to lead roles and the opportunity to audition for major productions, including her recent work as Tina Turnbow in Stranger Things.

Adar: When you started acting, what age was that?

Caroline: I started acting at five or six years old, I think.

Adar: Wow, you started acting at a really young age. How has your relationship with performing changed as you've grown up in front of the camera?

Caroline: That's a good question. I think maybe when I was little - like obviously it's still so fun - but I think I moreso saw it as this activity, right? And going to the auditions and just having so much fun with that.  Also, I loved doing commercials and super big things, like very loud, and theater, stuff like that. But I think, as I got older and developed a more real interest in it, rather than just seeing the fun in it, I loved exploring characters, and I think I've just grown in how I explore them and dive into different parts of that. And I think as I got older, it just kind of became something that I definitely wanted to pursue professionally.

​But I think also in a way, there becomes this somewhat, I wouldn't say difficulty, but change or evolution in how you are able to act because as you mature, obviously, the way you see kids act is a little different than adults or teenagers. So learning to really handle that, such as when I was a tween and then early teen, was a little challenging, but I think it was also helped me so much and really made me even more excited to act.

Adar: And you're currently playing Tina on "Stranger Things," which is a major moment for any actor...

Caroline: (smiles) Thank you.

Adar: You're welcome! What did stepping into that world teach you about yourself as a performer?

Caroline: I remember when going onto one of my first days of shooting, it was like there were so many different intricate parts moving. I'd never seen a set that large. I'm sure it's one of the largest sets, at least in Atlanta, but it's one of the largest sets in the TV film industry. Obviously, there are so many different aspects. And I truly thought it was fascinating because I've been on other sets, but I'd never seen this complex system before. And even with the cameras,  even just the camerawork, there were so many people, so many aspects. And so obviously, that can be a little overwhelming, but I think it also taught me so much, because it was so large-scale and we're working with such talented people who've been in the industry for so long.

So I think, you know, stepping into that world was very exciting. And it really taught me how to, I think, collaborate with my other actors even more so than I had before, collaborate with the director who was on my episode, Frank Darabont, and he was amazing. And just kind of being able to not only take what I see from the character, but also what they see, and kind of putting it all together because there's a difference between just reading the script and then actually being there. So yeah, I just think it brought like kind of a new, a bunch of new elements into playing a character.

Adar: Awesome. And with so much, what I would assume to be new attention coming your way from being on Stranger Things, how are you learning to stay focused on improving your craft rather than getting caught up in all the noise and the hype?

Caroline: I think, I mean, I'm so appreciative first of all, like for all the, you know, positive attention and everything like that, especially after the episode aired and stuff. I think I kind of let myself have fun with it in the moment and, you know, you love seeing the good stuff, but I think now I've kind of learned that it is important not to fixate on social media and stuff like that, and to obviously still be appreciative and interact with other fans. But I think focusing more on my craft and just continuing to audition and, you know, really focus on what I love is important. And it kind of makes me be able to differentiate my life on social media versus in real life because what's in real life is always the most important.

Adar: Tina enters a story that audiences already felt really protective of, as you can tell on social media, for example, right?

Caroline: Yeah.

Adar: So what helped you connect to her in a way that felt real and personal for you?

Caroline: I think what I loved about her character was how normal she was in this kind of very not normal universe (laughs). At the time when I was shooting, I was only a couple of years out of middle school, maybe it was a year out of middle school. So I think when just looking back, when I remembered how I was in middle school, and like little petty fights, not even just with me, but how petty fights I would see others, you know, partake in.

I think it kind of, and also how sensitive you are at that age, and like all those different things, I think it was fun to kind of reenact as my 13-year-old self because I do think that's so normal at that age. And I think that was the humor in it because they both were so serious about their side of the fight. So I just really tried to take whatever I was arguing about very seriously as a 13-year-old.

Adar: Okay, moving forward from Stranger Things, as you move into this new or this next chapter of your career, what kinds of roles are you most excited to explore and to learn from?

Caroline: Honestly, I mean, I truly- I know this is a little bit cliche, but I do love all like so many different genres of acting. I love comedy, and I'll definitely continue to do it. I love just like normal action stuff, but I think what I'm maybe excited to explore that I haven't yet, which I maybe got a glimpse of in Stranger Things with the streaming and all that, but like maybe something horror or super thriller vibes. I feel like that would be really fun to kind of get into, but yeah, as well as comedy and so on and so forth.

Adar: Well, it makes sense that you gave a really diverse answer because from what I understand, you've worked across theater, film, and television. How do each of those mediums, like theater, film, and television, for example, challenge you differently at this stage of your career or even different genres?

Caroline: I think theater, why it was so fun when I was really young was, I was very talkative as a kid, I still am, but I was really talkative and kind of dramatic all the time, super sarcastic. I was a third child, so I kind of have to be, you know, to survive (laughs), but I think that theater really allows you to tap into your most dramatic, most performative self.

I think that's a little bit, or very, actually, different from TV and film because I think in TV and film, it's more real, and in a way, actually, more fun with TV and film because I think it allows you to really delve into your character. So, you know, I'd also love to be on a show, maybe one that is longer or longer-standing, because I think you can really get into your character and see your character's evolution, which maybe you weren't able to do with theater or a shorter film. So yeah, I think there are a lot of differences between the two.

Adar: So right now you're like, what, 17?

Caroline: Yeah, it just turned 17.

Adar: Nice, well, happy birthday!

Caroline: In December, but I say that technically.

Adar: Ah, okay, so you've just turned 17 now - what does growth look like for you from this point? Whether it's as an actress or a collaborator on set, or even just a person navigating this new level of visibility, or just as a teenager who's gonna turn 18 and go to the next part of or next chapter of life?

Caroline: Yeah, I mean, I think it's weird because every year I get older and I'm like, I'm already older. But you know, I think 17 is also an interesting age because I still feel like a kid and everything, but it is daunting to me that I'm gonna be 18, only a year- a little less than a year from now.

But I think it's also, in a way, exciting because it means getting to explore more mature things, and, even acting-wise, maybe taking on new roles that are a little more mature and take a little more emotional maturity. And I think I've even seen that getting older in the past few years, just like even going from being kind of like that middle school age to being in high school, I think that has allowed me to really grow my acting skills and also just, even just my perception of the world. I think you mature every year until you’re like 30 (both laughing).

After the formal interview wrapped, Caroline and I hung out a bit, chatting it up for a few extra minutes, which gave me a better sense of the everyday balance behind her rising career. While she’s still deciding exactly what the future holds, she says college is definitely something she’s considering, ideally somewhere like New York or Los Angeles, where she could continue working while studying.

Reflecting on her time on set, she recalled memorable moments from filming, including sitting in the makeup chair for special effects while chatting with Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna, and later watching him transform into the character on set. Much of the experience, she said, was defined by camaraderie, especially with fellow young cast members Jake and Priya, with whom she shared school hours between scenes.

Abrams also revealed that music helped her settle into the world of Stranger Things, often listening to Joe Keery’s “End of Beginning” and exploring more ’80s tracks to capture the show’s era. As for what’s next, she smiled and kept things mysterious: while she can’t reveal details just yet, she hinted that there are already exciting projects in the works.