CALEB

IN CONVERSATION WITH ALEXANDRA WEISS Unless you've been living under a rock these last few years (or on a self-imposed cleanse), then you know the name Caleb McLaughlin. The 17-year-old New York-native burst onto our screens as the always skeptical camo-clad member of the world’s most famous D&D party. As Lucas on , McLaughlin has battled Demogorgons, fallen in love and saved the world — or at least the town of Hawkins, Indiana — more than a few times. Over the show’s three seasons, we’ve binged as Lucas has defeated monsters from the ‘Upside Down’, Russian spies and the US Government. Sorry, spoiler alert. In real life, McLaughlin hasn’t slayed evil doctors or shirtless ‘80s dreamboats possessed by otherworldly demons, but he has taken on trolls — the PHOTOGRAPHS QUIL LEMONS kind you find on the internet. Through his #BeYourBiggestFan and #EmbraceYourFace social STYLING AND PRODUCTION BRITT MCCAMEY media campaigns, the actor encourages his fans to fight for self-love. Wearing Lucas’ Rambo MAKE UP CLARA RAE Jacket, gloves, trousers UNDERCOVER Trainers COMME DES GARÇONS bandana while doing so is optional. HAIR GENYII SCOTT Chain JOHN HARDY STYLING ASSISTANTS JASMINE MORALES, ZACH CATRON

212 GARÇON 213 Top FENG CHEN WANG Jacket and trousers CRAIG GREEN Top and trainers UNDERCOVER Chain JOHN HARDY Trousers LRS 214 GARÇON 215 Top and bag CRAIG GREEN Trousers GIVENCHY Chain JOHN HARDY Top COACH Cable ties Stylists own 216 GARÇON 217 Alexandra Weiss: What have you been AW: Back to Lucas — what do you think gain self-confidence. My parents always told me working on since Stranger Things season 3 are your biggest similarities? Your differenc- to be my biggest fan and love myself, but some- came out? es? times, being in school environments can be hard. Caleb McLaughlin: I was in Philly for the month of CM: We both believe in friendship — that's at the So, I felt with the platform that I have, I needed to August filming a movie called Concrete Cowboys. top of our list, for sure. And we're both very loyal. speak out and let people know that sometimes It's about urban cowboys in Philadelphia and I But he's a little bit more high strung than I am — you can't rely on others — that you have to rely play one of the main characters alongside Idris not a little bit, a lot more. He's also very sarcastic on yourself and you have to know for yourself Elba, Method Man, Jharel Jerome and Lorraine — I'm sarcastic too, but in a different way. And he’s that you are beautiful. Toussant. I can't tell you too much about it, but really nerdy. I'm not as nerdy. I don't really wear people don't realize there are actual cowboys in like, tight clothing and short shorts. AW: Is it hard for you to stay positive all the Philly — like, there's people that ride horses time — especially with social media? Do through the streets of Philadelphia. It’s pretty AW: Well, it was the '80s. So, you never you have to remind yourself of your own awesome. know. Has the experience of playing the message? same character over the last three years CM: Oh yeah, for sure. You're never going to have AW: How has it been moving from being on taught you anything about yourself? only great days. Sometimes you're going to be a show like Stranger Things to working in CM: Oh yes, for sure. I’ve also been able to learn a your own worst critic. But even on a really bad film? lot from the other actors. Being on set and watch- day, I've never gotten to a point where I hated my- CM: It's a much quicker pace when you’re filming ing … I really admire his work. He's self. Still, there will always be doubts, and some- a movie. With Stranger Things, we have at least just so good, and watching him get into character times you just need to pick yourself back up and eight months to get it done. With this film, we only is even better. Then, when I go to award shows, I do the things that put you in good spirits. What had a month. So, there was no — 'Well, we didn't meet actors that I look up to and they give me ad- helps me is being there for other people. It didn't get that shot.' We had to really be on top of our vice. just occur to me, like, 'Oh, now I'm a celebrity, so stuff. let me just do this.' No. I’ve always been this way. AW: What's the best advice you’ve gotten? AW: How have things changed over the last CM: Just to be myself and try to stay a kid as long AW: Having already had so many great three years? Did you expect the show to take as possible. And never doubt myself, and to just moments so early on in your career, what's off like it did? keep going. next for you? CM: It's just been surreal, man. And with Lucas, it’s CM: Well, right now I'm actually working on some been really cool to see him grow up. I look back at AW: Do you think you've been able to really music that I’ll be putting out soon. the first season and I'm like, 'Wow I've grown up so stay a kid? much,' and so has Lucas — he went from being CM: As much as possible, yeah. I'm actually really AW: What inspired you to do that? this really skeptical, angry kid to this romantic, happy where I am right now, just being able to CM: I've always loved music, and I’ve been per- poised teenager. And outside of filming, the fan- hang out with my friends, and my parents never forming my whole life. I just figured I should use dom of Stranger Things is just getting bigger and pressure me to work. They make sure I do what I everything God has given me — all my talents. bigger. need to do, but they let me have fun and be a kid. I I've been working on stuff for the past three years, know I have a different life, and when I'm filming I and I'm just excited for people to hear what I've AW: Is it ever hard for you to separate your- can’t do too much playing sometimes, like bas- been doing. self from Lucas when the season is over? ketball or other things that I want to do, because CM: As much as I’m able to get into my character, I my parents try to prevent me from getting hurt. AW: Are you nervous at all about sharing don’t get caught up playing Lucas. I feel like he’s a That kind of sucks because I love the outdoors it? part of me in a way. But I can't even get a haircut and playing rough, like wrestling and just having CM: More than anything, I'm just really excited. Of for eight months during filming. So, it does feel ex- fun. But I’m able to do those things when I get the course, it's a little nerve-wracking, but I've just got citing when we’re finished, because I can be chance. to be confident in myself — I've got to be my big- Caleb again. A lot of times, people are really sur- gest fan. prised when they meet me — like, 'Oh my god, AW: One thing that’s different for all kids you're nothing like your character!’ Exactly. I'm an now — not just actors — is social media. actor. It's created a space where you can really have a voice. Something you've done to use AW: Are there any characters you really yours are your #EmbraceYourFace and want to play? #BeYourBiggestFan campaigns. What’s the CM: I've always said I want to be a part of a Marvel goal behind them? movie in the Marvel universe. I really want to be CM: #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggest- Miles Morales, actually — that would be pretty Fan are hashtags I started to just encourage peo- cool. But any Marvel character would be dope. ple all around the world to love themselves and

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