Max Mayfield

Grew Up… in sunny California. But after Max’s parents divorced and her mom remarried, Max was dragged away to Hawkins, Indiana, to get a fresh start—a decision she isn’t too fond of. 

Living… as the new girl in town. Max lives with her mom, stepdad, and abusive older stepbrother, Billy. She navigates settling into Hawkins, while having to rely on Billy to get around, always giving him the finger as he drives off. 

Profession… student at Hawkins Middle School. Quite standoffish at first, Max doesn’t seem to want to make friends. Granted, Lucas, Dustin, Will, and Mike do come off as creepy as they sneak around to try to confirm whether she’s the mysterious MADMAX from the arcade. However, things take a turn for the better when she meets up with the boys trick-or-treating. She’s been friends with Dustin and Lucas since then.

Interests… playing videogames and skateboarding. Max initially captures the interest of the boys when she beats Dustin’s high score on Dig Dug at their local arcade. Then, as she’s trying to integrate into the friend group and notices Mike’s dislike of her, Max offers to be the “zoomer” of their party (although it's not a real class in D&D) due to her skateboarding skills.

Relationship Status… single. Dustin and Lucas are both infatuated with Max. But soon enough Max is spending more and more time with Lucas, teasing him with the nickname “Stalker” and trying to pry the secrets of Hawkin’s mysteries from him.

Challenges… dealing with Billy while learning more about the horrors of the Upside Down. Constantly having to tiptoe around her racist older brother, Max struggles to become closer to her new friends. On top of that, her curiosity about Will’s mysterious episodes brings her further into a world of monsters and alternate dimensions.

Personality… headstrong and sarcastic. Max is a force for awkward middle school boys to contend with. She’s quick to see through their lies and prods them, mainly Lucas, for more information. However, as she begins to trust the boys, and vice versa, it becomes apparent that her assertive nature also makes her a fiercely loyal friend, equipped with quippy one-liners.