If you watched the fourth season of Netflix’s inescapable hit series, Stranger Things, you’ll agree that Franco-American actor Raphael Luce’s debut as a troubled young Henry Creel (who grew up to be gnarly villain Vecna), stole the show. Since then, the 16-year-old’s jump into fame has become a tricky balance between schoolwork, scripts, stunt work, and juggling (quite literally) being a circus performer.

Luce grew up acting along with his siblings, Gabriel Sky and Jophielle Love, and has racked up screen time as the young James Roosevelt in Showtime drama The First Lady and as French Boy in Disney+’s Loki. We caught up with him to talk about how his life has been flipped Upside Down.

Parka jacket,& top **Miu Miu**, shorts and boots **Celine Homme**

So, we must talk about your role as young Henry Creel in the inescapable hit series, Stranger Things. How did you get the part and what was your reaction when you first found out?

When you audition for the number one TV show in the world, you know that the chance of you getting the part is pretty small. My audition was for a random scene not from the show, where I had to be scared of a monster, screaming and shaking, so you would actually think it was for a role playing one of Vecna’s victim rather, than the villain himself! That’s ironic.

Obviously, casting also was looking for someone who looked very much like Jamie, and on that part, I think we can all agree that they did a good job. It was when I finally met the cast members on my first day at the studios that it hit me. I was finally there, getting ready to step onto the set of Stranger Things as Henry Creel. That was already exciting enough for me. Little did I know, Henry Creel was not just any boy!

To put it mildly! He was a little troubled, using psychokinetic powers for evil and, killing his mother and sister and framing his father for the murders. Were you ever freaked out on set while filming any scenes and how did it feel to play a character with all of that repressed feeling?

Fun fact, I am not a fan of scary movies! I had watched the first season of Stranger Things, but that was the full extent of my dark side experience. So, when I finally got on set, I just had to calm my energy and let myself be led by the directors. The Duffer Brothers have experience with kid actors, obviously, and they know exactly what they want from you and how to take you there. Also, I have a good stare, don’t you think? Haha! Joking aside, it was actually quite exciting and fascinating to play a dark villain at heart. I had to put myself into the shoes of this boy, Henry Creel, and imagine the life he had to be that evil, so I could find the right emotion in the scenes. Imagination came into it a lot too, because the reality was that on set it was never scary, other than the spooky decor. I remember walking onto the hospital set, with walls covered with blood, and thinking, “Wow, someone really threw a good tantrum here!”

How did you prepare for the role?

The show tried very hard to keep everything secret until it aired, so very few people actually got to read the whole script, or even some of the main characters. I was only handed sides (script excerpts), on the day, and had to figure out who my character really was. It’s only when they tattooed 001 on my wrist toward the end of the shoot that it became clear. Also, I never met Jamie (Campbell Bower) on set, so I really had nothing to work with as far as playing the young Henry. Luckily, we were a good match as our facial expressions were similar.

I also had so many costumes for my character and fittings, which became a bit of a headache after we had to pause shooting for a whole year during the COVID pandemic. When we came back, I had grown a foot, so we had to change all my costumes!

**“My dream role would be *Spiderman*. I think he is my favourite superhero, a relatable and funny super teenager, what’s not to like?!”**

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Did you have any idea how your life might change following your season debut? I imagine it’s been pretty wild in terms of your fanbase surging overnight?

I had no idea that my part in Stranger Things was going to be so relevant to the season, so I had no expectations. It was very hard to keep the secret for three long years that I was going to be in the show. At the end of the initial trailer, my character looks pretty dead and unimportant, so (spoiler alert) when the season came out and the twist was revealed that Henry Creel was not an innocent child after all, it blew everyone’s mind! It was such a good reveal. That’s when my social media exploded, and at my first fan convention in Paris, I was shocked that hundreds of fans knew my name. It was an incredible feeling, but also a bit scary!

Do you get recognised now, and do you mind it?

I get recognised here and there, but it’s not overwhelming and it’s still new, so it always feels nice. I get recognised in the most random places, like when I’m out nature in the South of France or hiking in Vermont. It always surprises me. I am very grateful that people support me. I am lucky to have had the honour to be part of such an iconic show. So, thank you to all the fans for the support!

Left Full **Celine Homme**
Right Cardigan, t-shirt & shorts **Celine Homme**, shoes **Versace**, ring **Tiffany & Co**

How do you manage schooling and acting, and do you plan to go on to college?

My siblings and I are all home schooled. There would be no way for us to do everything we do if we went to a public school because we travel too much. I don’t miss school, except for being with friends every day, and I don’t necessarily plan to go to college because I am already doing what I want to do in life. I could see myself going to film or drama school. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to.

What have been the ups and down so far in being a young actor?

The hard part about being a child actor really is that you are evolving in an adult world. You have to take it all very seriously. If you want to succeed as an actor, you have to be “all in.”

You can’t slack off or decide that today you don’t feel like going to “work” and would rather go to your friend’s party. A whole crew is there, ready and expecting you to be just as professional as the adults. Every minute on that set costs a lot of money to run.

At the same time, you don’t want to feel all that pressure because you are there to explore your character and be free, have fun and let loose. So, you have to find the right balance. On the upside, it has been amazing to see my social media explode overnight, like gaining millions of followers on TikTok. I enjoy talking to the fans through my gaming or live chats; I have my own Twitch channel that I hope to grow too.

Speaking of ups and downs… I read that you can walk the high wire and you do your own stunts and perform in the circus. So, what’s the dream role that could combine all of that?

Well, my favourite genre is action-comedy, and I am a big fan of Ryan Reynolds.

Deadpool cracks me up! My dream role would be Spiderman. I think he is my favourite superhero, a relatable and funny super teenager, what’s not to like?!

Polo-shirt, pants, belt and keychain **Versace**, boots **Prada**

You came to acting early along with your younger siblings, and your parents are both stunt performers and former Cirque du Soleil artists. Have they been very supportive of your career?

My parents are for sure the reason why we are all acting, they are really supportive because they are artists and stunt performers and always worked in that industry. But they never pushed us into it. My dad is a world renowned high-wire walker who taught us all to do it, and I think he was secretly dreaming that one of us would become a high-wire walker to keep the tradition going! My mom trained hard most of her life as a gymnast, so she knows what it takes to get to the top and she teaches us to work hard.

You’re a Hollywood director’s dream being bilingual in French and English. I find it interesting how language can completely change you—because of cultural context, like with humour etc. Would you ever do any French films, just to challenge your acting abilities?

That is funny you ask, because when people in France realised a Frenchie was part of the Stranger Things show I became quite popular there! So, it opened my mind to working there and I am now with an agency, (DS Talents), and I would love to act in a French movie for sure. I am still so young and have so much to learn, I am open to everything. It’s all a big adventure.

You’ve already appeared alongside some Hollywood heavyweights including Kiefer Sutherland, Gillian Anderson and Winona Ryder. What have you learnt so far from watching and absorbing their process, in shaping your own craft?

….and Owen Wilson on Loki. I mean all of them are incredible! They all impressed me, and I just quietly observe them working, that’s what you do on set as a young actor — listen, watch and learn from the pros.

Who would you love to work with?

Jim Carrey, Ryan Reynolds, Adam Sandler and too many others to name. I wouldn’t be too picky!

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong at Seen Artists

Fashion by Alexey Kazakov

EIC Michael Marson

Grooming by William Schaedler using Living Proof

Photographer’s assistants Yuxin & Myron Hernandez