Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower spends 7 hours in makeup to become Vecna. He shares the inspiration behind his villainous role

As Stranger Things draws the curtain on its nearly decade-long journey, fans worldwide are preparing to say goodbye to Hawkins, the Upside Down, and its unforgettable characters. For actor Jamie Campbell Bower, the farewell is even more layered. Over the last two seasons, he didn’t just play one antagonist but embodied multiple versions of the same dark soul, each more unsettling than the last.

How Jamie Campbell Bower brings Stranger Things' Vecna to life?

Jamie Campbell Bower joined the Netflix series in Season 4 as Vecna, the terrifying villain who quickly became one of the most talked-about characters in the show’s history. According to Netflix official site, the Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, revealed that Vecna’s grotesque look was partly inspired by Pinhead from the Hellraiser franchise.

Transforming into Vecna was no small task for Bower, who spent nearly seven hours in the makeup chair each day to bring the monster to life.



A video went viral where it claimed that filming days begin extremely early, with the makeup process taking close to seven hours to complete. The effects team carefully applies detailed prosthetics across Jamie Campbell Bower’s face, scalp, shoulders and hands to create Vecna’s scarred, flesh-like appearance.

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Designed to look raw and damaged, the makeup includes textures resembling burned skin and exposed muscle. Each piece is tailor-made to fit Bower precisely, helping him move comfortably and perform with emotion despite the intense transformation.
However, Vecna was only one part of the puzzle. Before his transformation, Bower played Henry Creel, the first test subject at Hawkins Lab. Henry’s story revealed how trauma, isolation and rage shaped him into something far darker. His fate was sealed when Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) banished him to an alternate dimension, a space that later became deeply connected to the Upside Down.

Adding another chilling layer, Bower also portrayed Mr. Whatsit, a polite, 1950s-style gentleman who appeared harmless and friendly. On the surface, he seemed comforting, especially to children like Holly Wheeler. But beneath that calm exterior lay manipulation and menace, as Mr. Whatsit lured unsuspecting kids into helping carry out disturbing acts.

Speaking to Variety, Bower shared that his inspiration for the character came from an unexpected and disturbing source: cult leader Jim Jones. He explained that what fascinated him was the way such figures erase individuality. Bower said he often thought about whether his character should say “you” or “we,” noting that the language of togetherness can be deeply manipulative. According to him, this subtle shift removes personal autonomy, making the character far more unsettling.

Interestingly, Bower admitted that playing Mr. Whatsit was just as frightening as portraying Vecna, if not more. While Vecna’s horror is visible, Mr. Whatsit’s danger lies in what he hides. The actor explained that Season 5 required a very different approach compared to Season 4. Earlier, the focus was on revealing Henry’s past. This time, the challenge was to appear kind, gentle and trustworthy while burying dark intentions underneath.

Working opposite child actors made the experience even more intense. He described it as scary to perform such "real dishonesty," especially when the character’s warmth is entirely fake.

More about Jamie Campbell Bower

Outside Stranger Things, Jamie Campbell Bower has had a diverse career. Born in November 1988 and raised in Petersfield, Hampshire, he attended Bedales School, which counts Lily Allen and Daniel Day-Lewis among its alumni. He made his film debut in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street alongside Johnny Depp.

Beyond acting, Bower is also a musician. He began playing the violin as a child, later fronted the punk band Counterfeit, and continues to explore music through solo projects and his new band, Bloodmagic.

Even after the explosive Season 5 finale, fans are still piecing together the complex connections between Vecna, Henry Creel, Mr. Whatsit and the Mind Flayer.