Joyce Byers
| Joyce Byers | |
|---|---|
| Stranger Things character | |
Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in season 4 (2022) | |
| First appearance | "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" (2016) |
| Created by | The Duffer Brothers |
| Portrayed by | Winona Ryder Isabella Pappas (West End) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Melvald's General Store employee Telemarketer |
| Spouse |
|
| Significant other |
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| Children |
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| Home | Hawkins, Indiana, United States (seasons 1-3) Lenora, California, United States (seasons 3-4) |
| Nationality | American |
Joyce Byers (née Maldonado) is a fictional character from the Netflix science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things and is played by Winona Ryder. She is portrayed as a resilient and fiercely protective mother to her son Will, who mysteriously disappears in the town of Hawkins, Indiana in season one. Joyce is characterized as a determined, resourceful, and deeply emotional person, willing to go to great lengths to find her son, even if it means confronting supernatural forces. Throughout the series, she demonstrates immense strength in the face of adversity, making her a beloved and memorable character.
Ryder's performance and the character itself have been well-received by critics.