Stranger Things’ Jamie Campbell Bower Did Not Hold Back While Explaining Why Using The Bathroom In The Vecna Costume Is ‘A F—ing Nightmare’

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As Stranger Things prepares for its last season, Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna, has given fans a detailed – and somewhat alarming – look behind the scenes. He explained just how difficult it is to even use the bathroom while wearing the elaborate Vecna costume. It sounds incredibly challenging!

Creature performer Bart Bower recently shared a surprisingly detailed explanation – captured in a TikTok video by The Radio Hagg – of the challenges of staying hydrated and using the restroom while completely covered in latex and prosthetic makeup. He described how something as simple as a bathroom break becomes a complicated production issue when you’re essentially sealed inside a costume.

It’s incredibly frustrating. I’m dealing with a really big hand on one side, and to make things worse, I have fake nails stuck on the other. It’s a terrible combination.

That large prosthetic hand isn’t just a visual aid – it actually adjusts its grip and allows for precise movements. However, adding fake nails can make it surprisingly difficult to manage everyday tasks, like using the bathroom.

Costume designers usually prepare for potential rips and tears with features like hidden seams, snaps, and cleverly placed flaps. However, even the best designs aren’t perfect, particularly when the costume needs to appear flawless on camera. The performer explained further:

It’s a real struggle just getting dressed. There’s a tricky clasp I can’t manage on my own, so I always need help with it. Honestly, it’s quite difficult and unpleasant – I’m constantly worried I’ll have an accident or break a nail trying to do it myself.

It honestly sounds incredibly difficult! I’m always amazed by creature performers like Doug Jones – and now someone like Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein – and how they manage to act while covered in so much makeup and prosthetics. It’s not just the weight, but the fact they need a whole team to help with even the simplest things, like using the restroom. Everything is so time-sensitive on a film set, and even a small mishap – like a seam ripping because someone got a little nervous – can throw everything off. Those extra minutes really add up over a long shooting day!

Even with all the visual effects, Vecna’s suit is still a huge part of the performance. It actually limits how the actor can move, which is a good thing! Those restrictions force him to find a unique way of moving that the camera really picks up on. Having a physical suit gives the actor something real to react against, and honestly, you can see that effort and resistance in the final performance – it makes it so much more believable.

Vecna is the main villain in Stranger Things. Originally a human named Henry Creel (and later known as test subject One), he was banished to the Upside Down and transformed into a powerful, psychic monster. Jamie Campbell Bower gives a fantastic performance as Vecna, even while dealing with a difficult physical challenge during filming. He hunts his victims by inflicting terrifying visions and is ultimately revealed to be the one behind all the previous dangers in Hawkins.

As the show nears its finale, it’s amazing to think even quick moments, like bathroom breaks, turn into planning sessions with such a large production. If the director calls the experience challenging, it’s easy to see why—and that tension will probably make the final appearance of one of television’s most frightening villains even more impactful when the story returns to Hawkins for the last time.

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will be released on Netflix in three parts. Volume 1 will be available starting November 26, 2025, followed by Volume 2 on December 25, 2025, and the series conclusion on December 31, 2025.

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2025-11-14 16:08