What actress did Dustin say his girlfriend is hotter than in "Stranger Things"?

In Stranger Things, Dustin said his girlfriend Suzie was hotter than Phoebe Cates. The comparison appears in the third season, when Dustin proudly describes Suzie—whom he met at Camp Know Where—as exceptionally beautiful while talking with his friends in Hawkins.

Phoebe Cates was a major 1980s teen-film star, best known for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. Her appearance as Linda Barrett in Fast Times, particularly the famous pool scene, made her an enduring pop-culture beauty icon. That reputation is why Dustin’s claim sounds both bold and knowingly exaggerated.

The reference also connects to Stranger Things’ broader love of 1980s movies. Season 3 echoes Fast Times through Billy’s poolside scenes and later includes another Cates-related visual joke. Dustin’s declaration is therefore more than a random celebrity comparison: it is a period-specific gag that reveals his romantic idealism and enthusiasm for the era’s movie culture.

A common mix-up is assuming Dustin compares Suzie with a character from the show. He names the actress Phoebe Cates, whose fame comes from real films within the show’s fictional 1985 setting.