Dacre Montgomery, who portrayed Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things, has opened up about why he quit Hollywood after starring in the series.
The 30-year-old Perth-born actor told The Australian that his decision to disappear from the spotlight for the last five years was rooted in a desire for privacy and creative control.
“I think things have changed,” he said. “Traditional Hollywood stars existed because there was mystery... Social media has done away with that. That’s a large part of why I dropped off the map for the last five years.”
He added, “I’m not trying to compete with anyone else, I’m living my truth — and hopefully being able to pay the rent while I'm doing it.”
Montgomery joined Stranger Things in 2017’s second season, holding his own alongside stars like Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, and Finn Wolfhard. But after his character’s dramatic exit in season three, the actor decided to take a step back.
“I’ve given a piece of myself to every role I’ve played and that’s largely why I’ve taken time off,” he explained. “Lately, there’s been a lot of personal reflection about what I want in my career. I’m trying to gain a bit more control over where and what I’m working on.”
That means he won’t be in the upcoming fifth and final season of Stranger Things — though he’s eager to see it wrap for the sake of the show’s creators.
“I'm more excited than anything for it to be over for the Duffer Brothers, because I know they have so many other awesome stories that, years ago, they were telling me about,” he told ScreenRant.
“I'm like, ‘Guys, you haven't had the bandwidth to make this project.’ So, that's my most exciting thing.”
Montgomery is equally enthusiastic about the future of his on-screen sister, Sadie Sink. “She's such a talented actress that's had some amazing opportunities over the last few years,” he said.
“I really, more than anything, just want her to continue to do so many cool performances outside of Stranger Things, because I just think that she's so talented, so professional, so driven — all those sorts of things.”
Fans won’t have to wait long to see Montgomery back on screen. He stars in the psychological thriller Went Up The Hill, hitting theaters August 15, and he’s also preparing for his directorial debut with The Engagement Party.
Announced in September 2024, the film is described as a tightly focused, one-location drama involving four characters over the course of one night.
“I could not be more honoured to be directing The Engagement Party, a film with an extremely important and timely message,” Montgomery said in a statement to Deadline in May. “I’m equally thrilled to have such a wonderful team of collaborators to help bring this story to life.”