Natalia Dyer says 'Stranger Things' kids are over-sexualized

Stranger Things star, Natalia Dyer, has condemned what she brands as the "over-sexualisation" of her young co-stars.

Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler on the hit Netflix television show, told the Independent that she feels "protective" over the children of the series.

"There are so many layers going on here," Dyer "cautiously," told the publication in a new interview. "I generally feel like, to me, it’s oversexualizing them."

"I feel protective over the younger kids even though they’re not kids anymore, they’re teens. They’re all great people and all having to grow up in very crazy circumstances. As a private person, I just feel like, leave people alone – unless you’re talking about their work or what they want to talk about. It’s a very tricky and complex issue," she continued.

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The 25-year-old added that sexualising young actors is a "cultural issue, there must be a bigger concept behind it as to why. Just let people be the people that they are, without any judgment."

Dyer's co-star, Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven in the series, has previously touched on the subject. In an Instagram post to mark her 16th birthday, she wrote:

"16 has felt like a long time coming. i feel like change needs to happen for not only this generation but the next. our world needs kindness and support in order for us children to grow and succeed,” Brown wrote in February. “The last few years haven't been easy, I'll admit that. there are moments i get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me. but not ever will i be defeated. ill continue doing what i love and spreading the message in order to make change [sic]."

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Finn Wolfhard, who is 17-years-old and also stars in Stranger Things, has received inappropriate messages from fans on social media throughout his time on the show.

27-year-old, model Ali Micheal, was slammed for a post asking the actor to "hit me up" when he's 18. Wolfhard was just 14 at the time.