In the world of film and television, all it takes is a single performance to change an actor's career forever. For Sadie Sink, her breakthrough moment may have arrived in the fourth season of Stranger Things, with many viewers claiming that her recent work is nothing short of Emmy-worthy.

The Stranger Things star, who returns as Max Mayfield in the hit Netflix series, has received wide acclaim for her phenomenal acting in the latest season's fourth episode, titled Dear Billy. Max takes on a more central role this time around, and both critics and audiences alike have said that Sink truly outdid herself with her portrayal. The rave reviews stem from Sink's display of convincing emotion as her character grapples with an immensely perilous dilemma.

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This season, a new villain named Vecna is introduced to the story, and he is arguably the most terrifying creature to emerge from the Upside Down. Vecna's modus operandi is disturbing and sinister: he tortures people who are dealing with mental health struggles, showing them horrifying visions before possessing them and killing them limb for limb. At the end of the third episode, Max figures out that she is next on Vecna's hit list, and she finds herself teetering on a fragile line between life and death.

In portraying that delicate balance, Sink gives the performance of a lifetime, tapping into a range of emotions to show Max's struggle to survive while also accepting her fate. From her heartbreaking speech at Billy's grave to that chilling moment when she meets Vecna eye to eye, Sink's captivating performance keeps viewers invested at every second of the episode. Naturally, Stranger Things fans flooded social media with support for Sink, with many of them thanking her for her dedication to the craft.

They also kickstarted an unofficial Emmy campaign for her, hoping that her work this season will be enough to land her the first nomination and win of her career. If nominated, she could be up against other actors who have generated Emmy buzz this year, including Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney and The Dropout's Amanda Seyfried.

So far, among the Stranger Things cast, only David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), and season 1 guest actress Shannon Purser (Barb Holland) have been nominated for an Emmy. No cast member has taken home the golden statue. At least, not yet.

Stranger Things 4, Vol. 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

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Source: Ahmed Hathout/Twitter