Nobody was sure what to make of it for a while. When viewers rewatched the first few episodes of What We Do in the Shadows Season 6, they noticed things like Nadja standing at slightly odd angles that didn’t fully fit the scene, clutching a box with both hands for no apparent narrative reason, and lingering behind a fruit bowl. Quirky blocking was the explanation given by some. Some immediately went to Reddit and began typing.
According to most accounts, the rumors that followed Natasia Demetriou’s altered appearance were not very pleasant. Online forums analyzed her body, circulated pregnancy rumors, and occasionally descended into outright cruelty. It’s the kind of attention that no performer requests, and it reveals something unsettling about how easily a woman’s physical appearance can be turned into content for discussion on the internet. For months, Demetriou, who has always kept her personal life well out of the public eye, remained silent.
The actual events taking place on the set were far more fascinating than the rumors suggested. The production team behind one of the most inventive comedies on television had discreetly turned into a small logistical operation to conceal Demetriou’s pregnancy. The unofficial toolkit included clever camera angles, oversized period costumes, and prop shields. In order to properly stay out of frame, she herself talked about carrying pillows, buckets, and boxes. It was almost appropriate for a show that was already based on intricate visual gags.
It’s difficult not to be impressed by the coordination required. With dozens of crew members, set shooting schedules, and continuity requirements throughout months of filming, television productions are large undertakings. It takes a kind of silent, group problem-solving that is rarely recognized to conceal a pregnancy for an entire final season without upsetting the internal logic of the narrative. The costume department deserves special recognition because Nadja’s fluffy, somewhat medieval silhouettes worked to their advantage in ways that a contemporary wardrobe just wouldn’t.
The difference between how the production handled it and how some parts of the internet handled it is also worth considering. The crew of the show understood, adjusted, and went on. No one leaked it, and no one exaggerated the story beyond what was necessary. In the meantime, strangers on the internet were posting pregnancy theories and body commentary as though Demetriou’s physical form was a riddle that needed to be solved. Fans who valued her work felt compelled to post defenses of her appearance because the cruelty was persistent enough, even though it wasn’t explosive—it rarely is in these situations.
When the People interview surfaced in October 2024, around Season 6’s premiere, Demetriou’s pregnancy was finally confirmed, giving the behind-the-scenes story a permanent home. By then, the season had already begun to air, the baby bump had already been concealed in every shot, and the only thing left to talk about was how well everything had been handled. It was handled very well, according to the majority of reasonable evaluations.
In the end, the episode highlights—and it’s important to state clearly—how little room is given to women in entertainment when their bodies undergo noticeable changes. It is always assumed that the change is open to analysis, theory, and judgment. None of that was ever invited by Demetriou. While she was working and performing a physically demanding comedic role while pregnant, the topic of conversation around her quickly shifted from anything she was actually creating on screen to conjecture about her waist size.
Critics agreed that What We Do in the Shadows’ last season was one of its best. Nadja, played by Demetriou, continued to be one of its most perceptive and consistently humorous characters. If the pregnancy had been known from the beginning, the discussion about her performance might have changed in ways she didn’t want, with a greater emphasis on situation than artistry. That was precisely preserved by keeping it quiet. In hindsight, the fruit bowl was probably a better prop anyhow.
FAQs
1. Why did Natasia Demetriou appear to gain weight during Season 6?
She was pregnant while filming the final season of What We Do in the Shadows.
2. How did the production hide her pregnancy on screen?
The crew used props, oversized costumes, and clever camera angles to conceal her bump.
3. Did fans react kindly to her changing appearance?
No — many online comments were cruel, with widespread body shaming and speculation.
4. When did Natasia Demetriou officially confirm her pregnancy?
She confirmed it in October 2024, around the Season 6 premiere.
5. Did her pregnancy affect Nadja’s storyline in the show?
No — the character was never written as pregnant in the series.
