Millie Bobby Brown Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Growing up in the spotlight was far from ordinary for Millie Bobby Brown. The Stranger Things star recently shared how fame at a young age shaped her life and continues to impact her.
In a new Vanity Fair cover story, Brown reflected on her journey, having started Stranger Things at just 11 years old. She revealed that working on the show limited her social development. Since the cast had school on set, they were often isolated from other kids. The pandemic in 2020 further intensified this separation.
“I don’t have many friends because of who I am,” Brown admitted. “I didn’t attend school, so I lack social skills when it comes to people my own age. Friendships have been tough for me. I missed out on a lot, but I’m working through it.”
Despite the challenges, Brown has maintained a close friendship with her co-star Noah Schnapp. She also recalled how Finn Wolfhard, another co-star, stood up for her in 2017 when online trolls tried to spread false rumors. Wolfhard defended her in a post, urging people not to harass his friends or colleagues.
Growing up in the public eye also brought unwanted attention. Brown has faced online sexualization, body image struggles, and cyberbullying. In 2022, these issues pushed her to temporarily step away from social media. “It was making me feel awful about myself,” she shared. However, life has taken a positive turn. Now, she enjoys a peaceful life on a farm with her husband, Jake Bongiovi, whom she married last year.
As Stranger Things nears its end, Brown found inspiration from an unexpected source while filming her final scenes. According to co-creator Matt Duffer, she requested to play Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” while suspended in midair during a scene. “She loves the song, but she also knows it annoys us a little,” Duffer joked. “But the moment cameras start rolling, that playfulness disappears, and she completely transforms into Eleven.”
The final season wrapped filming in December, marking an emotional end to Brown’s journey with the show. “I was on set, realizing I had just one more day left. I started crying,” she admitted. “I don’t usually cry at work. I’m very emotional, but I try to stay strong. It felt uncomfortable, but I couldn’t hold back the tears.”
With Stranger Things coming to a close, Brown is stepping into a new chapter of her life. Fans can expect the much-anticipated fifth season to hit Netflix later this year.
