When Netflix added Stranger Things last year, not many people knew too much about what to expect - just that Winona Ryder had an important role it so it was sure to be good. Then it turned out to be better than just good - it was freakin' awesome. The show (which is best described as a The Goonies/Twin Peaks mash-up) landed 14 million viewers in just 35 days online and became one of the most successful shows in Netflix history. Well deserved, too.
Just when we thought this cult hit show could not get any cooler, there was something else that caught our eye and that was the emerging romance between cast members Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton, who play Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers. Everyone was left feeling as if they were stranded in the Upside Down, confused and just questioning: "Are they or aren't they?!"
However, pictures don't lie and either there is no further need to deny that are dating because according to these PDA moments - the two are clearly smitten with each other.
15 Their First Public Hand Holding Was Just Everything
Following months of rumors, the loved-up couple finally confirmed their romance when they were caught holding hands whilst walking through the streets in New York City. They both appeared relaxed, dressed down and happy in each other's company as they headed out for an afternoon stroll. Only three months earlier, Charlie had tried to squash the rumors by telling TMZ, "Some people like to read into certain things."
It's unsure what took them both so long to show off this level of PDA - maybe they didn't want the media hounding them as they will now rocket to Hot New Celeb Couple status. Or they have busy schedules, just like Natalia's character, Nancy, she knows dating is the last thing on her mind, as she told Cosmopolitan, "My thing is Nancy’s got a lot more on her plate by the end of the show than just worrying about who to date. "
14 The Subtle Signs Were There From The Start
Anyone who has had their eyes open this year has realized that these two have been dropping subtle hints that they are truly mad for each other. During a red carpet walk at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG Awards), they appeared friendly and posed for pictures. However, they were not lending any of this affection to their fellow co-stars so beady-eyed fans could tell straight away they weren't letting us in on the full picture.
Taking the time out to speak with the press, one of their co-stars, David Harbour who plays Jim Hopper, spoke about the return of Stranger Things. He revealed, "(The characters) start out a year later, and they're totally sort of new people as a result of this experience that happened last year." All we want is the love triangle between their characters to continue with plenty of screentime for us to swoon over.
13 That Protective Arm Makes Us Melt
When these pictures emerged of the two stars heading through an airport together, with Charlie's arm around her, many were quick to ask if they were an official item - or just flying to another comic con together? Natalia dismissed the rumors, as she told TMZ, "Whether people are dating or hanging out, I think that our cast just is cool with each other. I mean, I won't speak for anybody else but it's been you know … We're all one big family."
Natalia has confessed before to Cosmopolitan that she does get scared easily, which makes these pictures even cuter as he appears to be protecting her. She confessed, "I’m really not one for the horror genre in my own life! I’m not. Good luck dragging me into a horror movie! I get so scared. It’s an overactive imagination or something."
12 She Just Won't Stop Staring At Him
Fooling around with their co-star Joe Kreery, who plays Nancy's love interest Steve on the show, whilst the threesome walked the red carpet, many noticed that Natalia just could not take her eyes off Charlie. Body language experts have often drilled home the importance of eye contact and this is a perfect example of exactly where Natalia's real focus is.
They also include Joe in on the joke, it's well-known that the cast of Stranger Things is incredibly close after bonding on set and Natalia revealed to Harper's Bazaar that they all read the full script for the show together. She said, "They doled out scripts to us as we were filming. We all got together and read them together. It was really fun to basically read this book together and have this mystery, and get to think about how fun it was going to be, and what we got to do."
11 When They Didn't Invite Any Other Cast Members To Lunch
Although the cast is very close, it's sweet to see that Charlie and Natalia decided to skip the group invite for lunch and instead chose to eat as just a two-some. Natalia had confessed to Harper's Bazaar that she was closer to the older cast members (the teenagers) rather than the kids of the set. She said, "(The teens) spent a lot of time together off-set as well. None of us are from Atlanta or really knew Atlanta, so we explored together and got really close. It's funny, I think in general, the generations you see on the show kind of correlated in real life."
So we are missing a few of the teens at the lunch spot but when you're a new couple everyone knows it's nice to get some time alone. Since the show has blown up and become a huge hit, they are never too far away from a sneaky fan picture being snapped like this one. Busted.
10 Their Shared Love Of Food Keeps Them Close
Couples who enjoyed sweet treats together stay together. At least that's the outcome we want for these two young sweethearts. They were caught out together and by the look of Charlie's face, he's more interested in Natalia than he is in taking a huge bite out of her dessert.
When Harper's Bazaar asked if Natalia was "Team Steve" or "Team Jonathan", she replied, "I don't know! They're both so dreamy. You know, it's hard to say, because it'd be very different directions for Nancy. They'd be very different boys for her, very different relationships. It's hard to say. I'm excited to find out where this goes. If she ends up with no one, that's fine, too. Nancy's a strong girl." Just say Team Jonathan so we can all go home happy.
9 We Just Want To Squeeze In With Them
There's something about this couple that just works. Maybe it's their awkwardness, quirkiness or the fact that co-star on the cult hit show of the decade - the reasons are endless and we can't get enough. Since the popularity explosion of Stranger Things, they have made star appearances at Comic Cons around the world and the internet has gone crazy with fan articles penned about them.
Although all the extra attention is not something Natalia is 100% comfortable with, she told Teen Vogue, "I worry about the Internet sometimes and all of that attention. You never get used to it. It was very much an overnight kind of thing. One day, you're just walking down the street and you're just like, you, and then the next day, after Stranger Things comes out, it was like, 'Oh, you're Nancy.' I don't know if you ever get used to that really, being recognized, being known by strangers."
8 Their Matching Instagram Ice Cone Pics Were Just Too Much
Nobody can deny the obvious chemistry between their characters - Nancy and Jonathan - on screen but when that starts flooding over into reality, it's enough to make any fan of the show squeal. They both treated the world to these adorable matching snaps featuring the other holding an ice cream cone in front of their face - judging by the look in both of their eyes, they really are mad for each other.
The snap was one of the first they had both shared online and as famously private people it was a big step for them to start sharing intimate moments online. Natalia told Teen Vogue, "I'm normally a really cautious, keep-to-myself person with social media, but you do want to reach out to fans. I just try to be careful with it and not take it too seriously." Well, don't stop sharing now - as we love watching this romance unfold.
7 When They Co-Ordinated Their Halloween Costumes
Last Halloween, the stakes were high for the "cutest couple costume" when Natalia and Charlie dressed up as the Lion and the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. Just the way they hooked their arms together off to storm down the yellow brick road made everyone melt. Charlie posted the above snap on his Instagram account with the caption: "Happy Halloween Guys!"
Natalie has already confessed to being a huge fan of dressing up, especially as on set they got to wear vintage 80s dress. " I loved it so much!" she told Harper's Bazaar. "I really don't dress at all like Nancy in real life but it was really fun to play with. What I came to understand is there is a big difference between the late '80s and early '80s, and because we're set in 1983, 1984, that's still a borderline '70s kind of vibe, which I actually dig a lot." Now we wait in anticipation to find out what costume they are going to pull off this year.
6 The Mirrored Body Language Is Too Cute
Mirroring each other's body language is one of the most common signs of flirting and we're sure if the cameras weren't around then these two would be sitting on each other's laps. They are so close, Natalia's hand is almost grabbing at his leg and he is leaning into her. How long did they really believe they could keep such a blossoming romance quiet for?
Charlie already subtly hinted at his affection for Natalia during an interview with Paper magazine, when he spoke about his disappointed that the two didn't properly hook up on screen. He said, " I was also really bummed that they didn't get together. And I think a lot of people are, but it's kind of good for building (character)." Adding, "He's finding himself and through Nancy he's able to open up a little bit and kind of be himself, or at least find some social connection with someone his own age, which is nice." Sounds like fiction is slowly becoming a reality.
5 When Stranger Things Won An Award And They Gave Each Other This Look
When the Stranger Things cast attended the SAG Awards at the beginning of this year, they went on to win big. They took home the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series over The Crown, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones and Westworld. The entire cast appeared on stage and that's when this adorable moment was captured between the both as they both flash huge grins, clearly delighted by their win. Once again, no matter how many people are in the room - they only have eyes for each other.
Following their epic sweep up during awards season, the cast is now more recognizable than ever. Charlie told Paper magazine, "I mean it's been crazy. I never thought I'd be stopped by anyone. I'm (filming in this) tiny, little Spanish-speaking town and I went out on Saturday and I got stopped so much. (But this one time) I was having a pee, you know, just minding my own business, and this guy - who's also having a pee - stands up next to me and turns his head and is like, 'WAIT, ARE YOU?'" Gone are the days of being anonymous.
4 It's Like They've Known Each Other For Years
Charlie and Natalia first met during the summer of 2015 after they were both successfully cast in their roles. It took just two months for the directors, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, to decide on the cast and we could not have picked better ourselves. During screen tests, it was obvious the pair complemented each other and they always appear so natural together.
Charlie was first attracted to the role of Jonathan because of the character's dark undertones. He told i-D magazine, "I tend to get drawn to dark roles. When I'm looking for a role, I always have to find something true that's in myself that I can put into the role. I'm not saying I'm really dark or anything, but it's about finding that vulnerability. Everyone has vulnerabilities that they maybe don't want to share. You find yourself being drawn to characters that are somehow similar to yourself or have gone through things that you're going through or you can relate to them somehow."
3 When He Couldn't Get Close Enough To Her
Fans doubling up as the paparazzi always get the best secret snaps on their phones. No celebrity is safe from an under-the-table shot and that also applies to Natalia and Charlie. When the two took a quick break at this lunch spot, they were both sat so close it was hard to tell where she ended and he begins. His hand also appears to be affectionately stroking her leg - something we should not have been allowed to see if it wasn't for this undercover photographer.
Charlie clearly has a lot of affection for his girlfriend and he likely gets this from his admiration for his own mother. He told i-D magazine, "I was brought up by my mum on a council estate. My mum worked really hard, we had a fine upbringing, but there was always this sense of having to get on with things and not complain about anything. I think you learn a lot of life lessons when you grow up in slightly difficult circumstances, where you don't necessarily have everything and you have to make your own way." Aww - if they ever break up can we have him next, please?
2 When Natalia Made It Instagram Official
The most exciting part of any fresh celebrity hookup is when they go all out to make it Instagram official. So, if we rewind back to September last year, long after filming on Stranger Things had wrapped, this was the first hint from Natalia that she was carrying on with Charlie even after the cameras had stopped rolling. We didn't read too much into it at the time but now it could be assumed this is when they first started officially dating.
She captured this moment when Charlie was bombarded with brightly dyed pigeons in a town square and captioned the picture: "Wow congrats Charlie Heaton on his new one-man show Stranger Wings! Sure going to miss you s2 but happy you're doing what you love." Of course, she was joking and Charlie will definitely back next season - although a 'Stranger Wings' spin-off series would be interesting to see.
1 Admit It - They Are Just Perfect Together
There are so many celebrity couples popping up all the time that not many give us quite the same warm buzz as Natalia and Charlie. When the hand holding picture went public, fans were quick on Twitter to share their approval. One fan wrote, "Natalia Dyer and CharlieHeatonn are so cute don't look at me" and another added, "Yesssssssssssssssss."
Natalia will have to keep her eyes on wannabe girlfriends coming up through the ranks, as Charlie told Paper magazine, "(I get a) lot of personal messages on Instagram from all over the world - a lot of nice things, a lot of really nice compliments, a lot of girls who need me to write to them for whatever reason." We're sure she has nothing to worry about really, as these snaps prove that he only has eyes for her.
Sources: harpersbazaar.com, TMZ.com, dailymail.co.uk
