After many name-checks in previous seasons, Tina Turnbow, the mysterious best friend of Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson), made her first appearance in Stranger Things 5 — and she left no crumbs.
Played by 16-year-old Caroline Elle Abrams, Tina finds herself going head-to-head with Erica in Episode 3 (“The Turnbow Trap”) over a spiked piece of pie. Erica baked the drugged treat for a good cause — she needs to knock out the Turnbow family to save Tina’s brother, Derek (Jake Connelly), from Vecna! — but there’s a complication. Tina refuses to eat her slice. Already on the outs over Tina’s crush on Josh, the duo’s tensions reach a breaking point. “I told you to eat your damn pie,” Erica says, before sticking a syringe in her pal’s neck.
“I could not contain myself,” Abrams tells Tudum of filming that viral scene. “The second they called ‘cut,’ I would just die laughing because everything Priah does is so iconic — the way she delivers it is so funny and spot on.”
And yes, the South Florida native has seen the many memes and TikToks that have come out of the moment. “All the edits on TikTok make me laugh every time I see them,” she says. “I can’t see it enough times because I’m like, ‘There’s no way that’s me.’ ”
Below, Abrams dives into nabbing the role of the elusive Tina Turnbow, perfecting her horror scream, and bringing the pie scene to life.
What was the audition process like for Tina?
Caroline Elle Abrams: I actually auditioned for Stranger Things, funnily enough, a number of times. I think this was my third audition for Stranger Things, and obviously I was super excited. I received the phone call that I got the part when I was driving home from school, and I’d just gotten my permit. I was driving with my dad, and I was not the best driver yet. He said to me, “Eyes on the road. Don’t get too excited!” But I was so excited that I couldn’t focus. We had to hang up, and I called back when I got home.
What’s your take on Tina and her relationship with Erica?
Abrams: I think it’s so funny because, obviously, I’m a teenage girl, and I’ve gone through middle school. I’ve had those really stupid friendship fights. I remembered my 13-year-old self and how dramatic she was at times and pulled from that. I really wanted to make sure that it wasn’t played too over-the-top because, at the end of the day, when you’re that age, you really do believe these things are the end of the world. I think that’s what made the fight so funny because it was very authentic.
How did it feel stepping onto the Stranger Things set for the first time?
Abrams: My first scene we shot was in the bedroom with Derek (Jake Connelly). The house was packed with so many people, the second I walked in, I thought, “This is a set like I’ve never seen before.” I think it’s such an intricate process to get everything done for such a big show. I was honestly fascinated to see all the different things that were happening in the house.
I remember at the bottom of the stairs, there was this ginormous camera and no one could touch it because they had literally built a caution area around it. Outside, there was a tent with 20 people in there with all sorts of props and equipment. It was insane, it was so cool.
What was it like filming that scene at the dining room table with Priah and Jake?
Abrams: I think the funny scenes really hit on Stranger Things because they’re written so, so well. Priah is amazing with them — I think that’s why a lot of the funny scenes surround her.
What killed me was Jake’s laugh after his parents collapsed. When he actually did it on set, it was so hard to contain myself. I was off-camera at that point, and I was covering my mouth because I couldn’t breathe. The whole room started laughing the second they called “cut.” He’s genuinely one of the sweetest kids. I had known him for a little bit longer than I’d worked with Priah because we had done school together for a week or so. He’s such a great actor. Even in real life, he’s so funny with different things he says. I don’t even know if he means to be funny.
Were there any notes from the episode’s director, Frank Darabont, to help lock in the comedy and tone of that scene?
Abrams: I was doing [the scene] a few times, and Frank came up to me and said, “Let’s try it really serious.” I think that might’ve been the take he used. It was such a good point because Tina would take this so seriously. She’s 13 — it’s really serious to her.
He was very, very hands-on, and I think that was so helpful. I love receiving pointers from directors, and he was so nice about it. He made sure to talk to us a lot before to explain how he saw the scene, how we see it, and how he thinks it would come across best on camera.
Tell me about bringing that “I told you to eat your damn pie” moment to life.
Abrams: I love that scene so much. When we were filming, Frank said, “I want you to pretend like you’re in a horror film. Give me the best horror scream you can do.” I’m good at screaming. I have two sisters, so I’ve been there … when we steal each other’s clothes, that’s where I pulled from. It was great because I had Priah to work off of. Even though she wasn’t onscreen, she was holding the needle to really get me … she really was looking very scary.
[When Priah delivered her “pie” line], I was squished in this tiny little corner so that she could have an eyeline. They didn’t tell me to be in character, but she had done that for me — she had kept it serious, wasn’t laughing or anything. I tried to do the same for her and stay in character so she could get into the scene.
You mentioned seeing TikTok edits of this scene! Do you have a favorite video or meme from that moment?
Abrams: What really gets me is the meme that they made of me and Priah, where she’s stabbing me, and they crossed out my face. We both look so funny, and it’s posted everywhere online. It just kills me every time I see it.
[Priah and I] have been texting a little bit. She told me how happy she is for me with all the reactions, and I told her the same with her. I told her, honestly, it was because of her — I think anything that’s associated with Erica, the fans just love because she’s such a funny character.
What has it meant to you to be a part of the Stranger Things universe?
Abrams: Going into it, it was a little overwhelming because I’m a fan of the show. It’s so special and so unique. The Duffers are incredible. They’ve literally created a masterpiece that I don’t know if — at least my generation — will see something this special and this loved again. I’m so excited to see the rest of the show … I’m excited to see how it all turns out.
The first four episodes of Stranger Things 5 are streaming now on Netflix. Vol. 2 arrives with three new episodes on Christmas Day, followed by The Finale on New Year’s Eve. Each volume releases at 5 p.m. PT. Find out when they premiere in your part of the world here. Take our superfan quiz, and keep checking Tudum for more Stranger Things updates.
