Which actress plays Barb Holland, Nancy's friend, in season 1 of "Stranger Things"?

Shannon Purser plays Barb Holland, Nancy’s friend, in season 1 of Stranger Things.

Barbara Holland, usually called Barb, is Nancy Wheeler’s best friend when the series begins in 1983. Barb is more cautious and skeptical than Nancy, especially about Nancy’s new relationship with Steve Harrington. She worries that Nancy is changing herself to fit in with Steve and his popular classmates.

Barb disappears during a party at Steve’s house after Nancy leaves her alone near the swimming pool. The disappearance becomes one of season 1’s most memorable mysteries because Barb is taken by the Demogorgon and pulled into the Upside Down. Nancy later becomes increasingly determined to discover what happened to her friend, joining Jonathan Byers in investigating the supernatural events around Hawkins.

Purser’s performance made Barb an unexpectedly popular character despite her limited screen time. A common mix-up is confusing Barb’s actress with Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy, or with Sadie Sink, who joins the series later as Max Mayfield.