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Gaten Matarazzo understands how to flip his surroundings. The Stranger Things actor disclosed that he and his co-star Finn Wolfhard shared a living space for about a year while shooting the fifth and concluding season of the Netflix sci-fi series, and it quickly became messy.
“It was somewhat of a college experience,” Gaten shared with Jesse Tyler Ferguson during the Nov. 18 episode of the Dinner’s on Me podcast. “I would take a look around three months into our cohabitation and feel like, ‘This place is filthy.’”
Although the 23-year-old emphasized his close relationship with Finn, 22, he stated that their connection was exactly the source of their cleanliness problems.
“We reflect each other’s energy to some extent,” he continued. "We had such a strong bond and had been so tight for such a long time that we didn't really expect much from each other." So we thought, ‘Oh well, forget it. Do what you want, dude. “We’ll address it later.’”
However, the pair received a “wake-up call” regarding social plans during breaks from shooting the show’s final episodes.
“We'd make plans to go out, and someone would say, ‘Okay, we'll meet at your place,’” Gaten remembered. “Neither of us would say, ‘No. “Stay [at least] 10 feet [away from] our residence.’”
Luckily, Gaten and Finn "improved" at maintaining their space clean "near the end" of their time as roommates—and equally important, their friendship stayed strong.
"When you start living with one of your closest friends, it's uncertain whether you'll coexist harmoniously," he stated. "That might damage relationships." It disrupts a flow. If you’re grown-up enough, you can say, ‘This isn’t working for us, so for the benefit of our friendship, we should end this.’ [But] it was great.”
Though production on the enduring series might have finished, the young cast members—including Gaten, Finn, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, and Caleb McLaughlin—continue to stay connected, thanks to their group chat.
“We're constantly just looking to spend time together,” Millie mentioned to E! News’ Will Marfuggi earlier this month. “Thus, it's perpetually us asking, ‘When are you available? Where are you located? “Where in the world are you?”
