## Cara Buono on Karen Wheeler’s Defining Moments Actress Cara Buono, who portrays Karen Wheeler in *Stranger Things*, opened up about her pivotal moments in the upcoming fifth season, including a major action sequence and the emotional complexity behind her character. > "They wrote such an intense scene where Karen must act out of pure maternal instinct," Buono shared, describing what she called her character’s “mom ferocity.” ## A Deeper Look Into Karen’s Character Buono revealed that she created a private backstory for Karen, one that helps her connect deeply to the role. According to the actress, her vision of Karen is that of “a functioning alcoholic” who tries to hold her family together despite emotional exhaustion and denial. > “It helps me ground her — she’s trying to keep the illusion of control while everything around her falls apart,” she explained. She also reflected on how Karen’s restrained personality contrasts with the supernatural chaos surrounding Hawkins. “Karen represents the quiet struggle; she’s not fighting monsters, but she’s still surviving.” ## Reflecting on the Final Day of Filming As *Stranger Things* approaches its conclusion, Buono described her last day on set as deeply moving. “It was emotional for everyone,” she noted. “We’ve grown together as a family, both on and off screen. I’ll carry that with me.” *** *Author’s summary: Cara Buono discusses Karen Wheeler’s emotional depth, hidden struggles, and a major action scene as Stranger Things nears its final season.*

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Variety on MSN — 2025-11-28