In a revealing new interview, British actor Millie Bobby Brown has opened up about her journey as Eleven in the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, and her aspirations beyond the iconic role.

Since skyrocketing to fame at the age of 11 with her portrayal of Eleven, Millie has become a household name. However, with Stranger Things gearing up to shoot its fifth and final season after the actors’ strike resolution, the 19-year-old has candidly expressed her readiness to bid adieu to the series.

Speaking with Glamour, Millie admitted, "While [Stranger Things] has given me the tools and the resources to be a better actor, it’s taken up a lot of time to film and it’s preventing me from creating stories that I’m passionate about.”

She is eager to explore narratives she resonates with, suggesting her departure from Hawkins might be the beginning of another chapter in her career.

Despite the looming end of the series, Millie is optimistic about retaining her close-knit relationships with co-stars like Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo. “When it ends, I’m going to be able to still see these people,” she remarked.

But her meteoric rise wasn't without its challenges. Millie delved into the harsh criticisms she faced during her early years on the show. Reminiscing about group interviews with her fellow cast members, she said, “I was just penalised for overtalking and oversharing and being too loud…We’re kids – we talk over each other.”

It wasn't just the clamor of overlapping conversations that attracted scrutiny. Millie recalled instances when adult critics termed her “an idiot”, “stupid”, and “a brat” – a daunting experience for any 13-year-old.

“In interviews, I couldn’t help but think of all the comments. So I just remembered to stay silent and speak when I was spoken to, even though I was dying to join in. I just felt it wasn’t my turn,” she revealed.

Her early experience with fame has made Millie fiercely protective of other emerging young talents. Drawing from her personal journey, she emphasized the responsibility of the media and the public. "You cannot speak on children that are underage," the Enola Holmes actor stated, highlighting the impact of negative comments on young minds.

Amid her professional insights, Millie didn't shy away from shedding light on her personal life. Currently engaged to Jake Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi’s son, Millie is deep into wedding planning. While many find the process daunting, Millie finds solace in her partner's support. “Jake is very involved,” she mentioned in a September interview, “I’ve never felt alone in it.”

As the curtains gradually fall on Eleven's saga, the world watches eagerly. Millie's journey, filled with ups and downs, stands testament to her resilience and talent. As she transitions from the paranormal streets of Hawkins, fans worldwide anticipate her next compelling chapter.

Featured image credit: Jon Kopaloff / Getty

Millie Bobby Brown was shocked when she found out her character's true age in a recent interview for Stranger Things.

The 18-year-old actress plays the leading role of Eleven in Netflix's hit original television series, Stranger Things, which has just released its "volume two" of season four.

Brown was joined in an interview by fellow co-star Noah Schnapp, 17, who plays Will. She revealed to fans just how flabbergasted she was to find out Eleven's age in the show.

In the interview, the two teenage actors can be seen shouting in unison: "Eleven is 14?" With a dramatic pause and hesitation, Brown realized: "I was making out with Mike... at 13?"

During Brown's disbelief, Schnapp can be heard saying "she's so young", as his co-star lets out a final "what?!" to complete her stunned reaction.

As of this writing, the TikTok clip of the interview has amassed more than 4.2 million views and 637.4K likes on the social media platform. The video has also garnered thousands of comments from the tv show's fans being just as blown away as Brown.

One user wrote: "SO ELEVEN WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD IN SEASON ONE?"

Another user poked fun at Brown's reaction, saying: "SHES SO STRAIGHT FORWARD I CANT."

A third user exclaimed: "MAN SHES SAVING THE WORLD IN 14 YEARS OLD?!"

A fourth wrote: "Why did I think they were all 13 in season 1?"

For other users, it was a moment of realization as to why Eleven's adoptive father, Hopper, played by David Harbour, was so protective of her relationship with Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard.

One user joked: "I agree with hopper now."

Another commented: "Hopper wasn’t overprotective he was just age-appropriate."

A third jested at a particular scene in season 3 of the series: "No wonder why the doors were supposed to stay open."

The news follows the series setting an outstanding all-time streaming record. The long-awaited fourth season of the sci-fi show returned to Netflix on 27 May.

The recent release consists of just two episodes of Volume two of season four. The finale of the series is a whole two hours and 18 minutes long.

All episodes of Stranger Things season four are currently available to stream on Netflix now.

Featured image credit: PA Images / Alamy

“It was like a bug,” she said in an interview with Variety. “I know this sounds crazy, but once I find something I want to do, nobody’s stopping me."

However, she has had some problems along the way. The actress previously struggled to deal with partial hearing loss, which eventually lead to her having no hearing in one ear.

Martie Blair, the child actress who played young Eleven in Stranger Things season four’s flashback scenes, has labeled Millie Bobby Brown as an inspiration.

As fans of the hit TV series have seen, volume 1 of season four takes viewers back to the Hawkins National Laboratory, where the character Eleven, played by 18-year-old Brown, was experimented on as a young girl.

After much speculation from viewers, the writers of the hit Netflix series revealed on May 31 that eight-year-old Eleven was played by Blair in this season's flashback scenes.

The writers shared a photo of Brown guiding Blair with the caption: "Shout-out to Martie Blair, who played young Eleven, and to Millie, who directed her every step of the way."  The tweet praising both actors amassed 30.5K retweets and 471.9K likes.

The child actress took to her own Instagram account to honor Brown and shared a photo of them on set, writing: "Thank you @milliebobbybrown for being such an inspiration to me, when I showed up on set, you came right up to me. You made me feel so comfortable and welcomed. Thanks for spending time with me and helping me make my scenes awesome!"

Blair posted another snap of her co-star, with the caption: "Cheeky ladies!!!! MBB + MMB #milliebobbybrown #martiemarieblair #011 #youngeleven Thank you @milliebobbybrown for being such a great role model, I will be forever grateful."

Fans shared their thoughts online after discovering that the directors of the show, the Duffer Brothers, didn't just use special effects in the flashback scenes, but also had Blair play young Eleven.

One user thought the directors "de-aged" Brown: "Not gonna lie I thought they just de-aged Millie. I did not realize this was a completely different person."

Another user chimed in and presumed the filmmakers shot the flashback scenes years ago: "Not me thinking they filmed all that with younger Millie."

WRBL News anchor Karyssa D'Agostino also commented and said: "I quite literally just said OUT LOUD 'how did they shrink her?' so clearly the directing and casting paid off lol."

Per Cosmopolitan, in May it was reported that this season of Stranger Things had a per-episode cost of $30 million. The streaming service went all out with the budget, and perhaps this explains why some viewers assumed young Eleven was played by Brown with just the use of CGI.

As reported by Forbes, Volume 1 of Stranger Things season four had the biggest opening weekend for an English-language show on Netflix. Volume 2 will be released on July 1 and is predicted to break the show's record.

Featured image credit: Erik Pendzich / Alamy.

​Millie Bobby Brown, renowned for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things, has publicly addressed recent criticisms concerning her appearance, labeling such scrutiny as "bullying" and asserting her right to mature without public disparagement. ​

The 21-year-old actress, who entered the entertainment industry at the tender age of 10, has grown up under the watchful eyes of the public.

This prolonged exposure has subjected her to ongoing commentary about her evolving look. In a candid video shared on her Instagram account, Brown expressed her frustration over the relentless focus on her physical transformation.

She stated, "I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on 'Stranger Things' Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target." ​

Brown highlighted specific headlines that have scrutinized her appearance, including, "Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown aging so badly?" and "What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?"

Millie Bobby Brown hit back after claims she looked “old” at the Electric State premiere last week. Credit: JB Lacroix / Getty

She condemned these articles, stating, "This isn’t journalism. This is bullying." She further expressed her dismay that some of these critiques were penned by women, emphasizing the need for solidarity rather than tearing each other down. ​

The actress also addressed the unrealistic expectations placed upon young women in the spotlight, asserting her refusal to apologize for her natural progression into adulthood.

She declared, "I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman."

Brown called for a societal shift towards positivity, questioning why the default reaction is often negative criticism rather than supportive compliments. ​

Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown attend the world premiere of Netflix's The Electric State. Credit: JB Lacroix / Getty

This isn't the first time Brown has confronted public scrutiny. She has previously spoken out against the sexualization and inappropriate comments directed at her as she matured in the public eye.

On her 16th birthday, she shared her frustration over the "inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults" that have led to feelings of "pain and insecurity." ​

Brown's recent comments have garnered widespread support from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Many have praised her for addressing the issue head-on and advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach towards young women in the public sphere.

Her stance serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those growing up under constant public scrutiny and the importance of fostering a culture of empathy and respect.​

Featured image credit: Millie Bobby Brown / Instagram