For most classically trained actors, keeping it together during a take is a point of pride. But David Harbour felt differently when he watched his young ‘Stranger Things‘ co-stars break that big silent rule. He was honestly jealous, specifically because they had no problem passing gas on camera.
During a SAG-AFTRA Foundation conversation in Los Angeles on Thursday night, Harbour, 51, reunited with Natalia Dyer, Noah Schnapp, and Jamie Campbell Bower to look back on the Netflix show. They talked about its legacy and Harbour’s emotional return to the spotlight after some tough months in his personal life. But Harbour also shared something surprisingly heartfelt about how relaxed child actors can be.
David Harbour Jealous of Young Co-Stars
Harbour, who played the grumpy Sheriff Jim Hopper, said he was initially shocked by how his young co-stars behaved. Many of them were taking on their first big roles when the show started back in 2016.
“These kids were just enjoyable as hell,” Harbour said, according to Yahoo News. “A lot of kid actors that you work with are very actor-y, and part of the strength of the actors that they formed were that, at their essence, they were just kids. So, even during takes, they would fart and do things that you just couldn’t believe that you had the relaxation to do that in front of a camera.”
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Fans React As Duffer Brothers Tease A 20-Year Wait To Reveal Eleven’s Fate
Harbour has brought this up before at fan conventions, and it really shows how fun and chaotic the early days of filming were. He pointed out that while his character was dealing with the grief of losing a daughter, the real-life on-set was full of middle-school style humor. “I was like, I would dream of being able to do that and not being self-conscious in that way!” he joked.
His comments were a nice break from the heavy attention on the cast reunion that week. Thursday’s event was Harbour’s first big public appearance with the cast in months. He had skipped some promotional events for the final season amid online speculation about behind-the-scenes tensions, including unsubstantiated rumors about a harassment claim by co-star Millie Bobby Brown. Both Harbour and Brown have publicly denied those claims. Brown was also not present at Thursday’s events in Los Angeles.
Harbour Reflects on ‘Stranger Things’ First Season Magic
Even with all the recent news, Harbour felt mostly nostalgic on Thursday. He called the making of the first season a “miraculous time” in his life. He talked about how his character’s dark side was balanced by the real joy of working with kids who were not trained actors.
“These were real, beautiful human beings, and they were such a joy to work with; I had a blast,” Harbour said. “Hopper was a very depressed individual; it was really tough to go through the acting of that, but the family that we created and the story that we were telling, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that enriched by some work that I was doing.“
In case you missed it: ‘Stranger Things’ Creator Reveals David Harbour Wasn’t the Original Choice for Hopper
He said that kind of real relaxation is hard to find in Hollywood, where adults usually feel the pressure of the camera. However, the kids treated the expensive set like a playground, complete with sound effects and all.
Harbour’s respect for the younger cast goes beyond their comfort with bodily functions. He has said before that he showed up to set on his day off just to cry with the young cast on the last day of filming. He said it was like watching a child graduate from college. “I look back on that first season,” he concluded, “as being a really, really special thing—flatulence and all.“
You might also want to read: Netflix Drops First Look At ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoff And It Feels Too Familiar
