Netflix
Not every Stranger Things relationship has been as public (or as publicly unravelling) as David Harbour and Lily Allen, which had the whole world asking, ‘Who the f**k is Madeline?’ However, the other cast’s love lives have definitely kept fans watching just as closely as anything happening in the Upside Down.
From long-term relationships to new romances, here’s where things stand, and stood, with the beloved show’s most famous faces. Starting off with probably the most iconic real-life couple to emerge from the show- Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton.
Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton: 2016- Present
Similarly to their on-screen characters Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, the pair’s relationship evolved from friendship to love, and continued to do so even when the cameras weren’t rolling. As the couple navigated their relationship in 1984 Hawkins, they continued to do so during set breaks in Atlanta, Georgia.
In the beginning of their relationship in 2016, the Stranger Things stars did their best to keep their romance hidden, a decision that Charlie later spoke about during an interview with GQ.
“We didn’t really know what the relationship was,” he told the outlet. “The caginess, anyway, might have been unnecessary.”
Confirming that their relationship transcended just “colleagues,” Charlie posted a shot of Natalia and another girl on Instagram from their trip to Menorca in September 2016.
Speaking about their relationship in 2018, Natalia told Us Weekly what she loves most about Charlie, and joked: “He’s alright, I guess. He doesn’t mess up our scenes too much!”
David Harbour and Lily Allen: 2019- 2025
It’s safe to assume that everyone knows about David Harbour and Lily Allen’s drama-filled marriage, but just in case you’re out of the loop- the pair tied the knot in Vegas in 2020, and subsequently announced their split in early 2025 following rumours surrounding the Stranger Things star’s infidelity.
David, who plays Jim Hopper on the hit series, was allegedly caught cheating on the ‘Not Fair’ singer, something she heavily alludes to in her latest album, West End Girl.
Speaking to British Vogue, Lily revealed that although the album is heavily inspired by her failed marriage, it is not all “gospel.”
In one of the hit songs, ‘Sleepwalking’, the mum-of-two references the lack of intimacy since they said “I Do”, singing: “been no romance since we wed/ ‘Why aren’t we f***ing, baby? Yeah, that’s what you said./ But you let me think it was me in my head, and nothing to do with them girls in your bed.”
Lily also unveiled David’s alleged affair with this mysterious “Madeline” character in the song by the same name, painfully sharing: “We had an arrangement / Be discrete and don’t be blatant / There had to be payment / It had to be with strangers / But you’re not a stranger, Madeline.”
And although their relationship may not have gone the distance, it will definitley stand out as one of, if not the most talked about relationship in the Stranger Things realm.
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi: 2021- Present
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi can be best described as a modern-day love story with an old-school set of values. The couple, who met in early 2021 via Instagram, began publicly dating in November of the same year and got engaged just two years later in April 2023.
The 21-year-old actress, who plays Eleven on Stranger Things, went on to tie the knot with the son of Jon Bongiovi in May 2024 and even adopted a child with him in August 2025.
Millie and Jakes’ relationship proves to be an exception in today’s society, however, it seems the couple have been going from strength to strength since their first dm exchange in 2021!
Joe Keery and Maika Monroe: 2017- 2023
Stranger Things star Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington on the show, began dating fellow actor Maika Monroe in 2017 after filming After Everything together.
Although the couple dated for nearly six years, the news of their breakup didn’t come in the form of a written statement, but in images obtained by TMZ of the actress kissing Dalton Gomez in October 2023. Yes, as in Ariana Grande’s ex Dalton Gomez… Hollywood is too small!
In a 2024 interview with Variety, Joe spoke about the break-up for the first time saying: “I had also gone through a big breakup, right as I was leaving Rome, so I was really isolated and focused on my work, my social life pretty much revolved around the show; my work life revolved around the show. We weren’t really leaving due to COVID-19.”
Finn Wolfhard and Elsie Richter: 2021- Unknown
Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things was first linked to Elsie Richter, who is the daughter of British actress Dolly Wells and Mischa Richter in 2021.
In April 2021, the pair seemingly had their first public date at an NBA basketball game between Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, and the following month, Elsie shared a photo of the actor scaling a wall during an indoor rock climbing date.
In June 2021, the couple officially confirmed their relationship by posting a blurry photo of themselves together alongside a little heart emoji on Instagram. However, Finn has since revealed that his fans threatened to release his personal information to get his attention. So much so that some threatened to expose his girlfriend’s address unless he confirmed their relationship.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Finn explained: “They’re like, ‘Oh, okay, I’m so sorry. We love her. It all fades literally once you’re like, ‘Hey, calm down. It’s cool. I’m a real person.’ It’s almost like a trance or something. Maybe it’s a power thing.”
As a result of this, Finn only uses social media for work now and Elsie deleted her social media account altogether. It is unknown whether the couple is still dating, and after the trauma they have been through with fans we can understand why.
Gaten Matarazzo and Lizzy Yu: 2018- Present
Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things is no stranger to love and has been in a relationship with fellow actress Elizabeth “Lizzy” Yu since March 2018.
The couple first met on July 4, 2017, and have been dating since March 4, 2018… when they were just 15, babies! The pair have grown up together and attended many events, from prom to the 75th Tony Awards where Gaten was a host.
The adorable couple currently live in Gaten’s house alongside their cats!
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