Millie Bobby Brown, the British actress who skyrocketed to fame as Eleven in Netflix’s sci-fi series Stranger Things, is preparing to bid adieu to the character that made her a household name. Leaving such a formative character behind would be tough for any actress, but Brown is apparently ready to move on.
At just 11 years old, Brown stepped into the shoes of Eleven – quite fitting, really – and over the years, she’s grown both on and off the screen. Now, as Stranger Things gears up for its fifth and final season, Brown, much like her co-stars, is ready to embrace new horizons.
In a recent interview with Glamour Magazine, Brown expressed her readiness to move on, stating, “When you’re ready, you’re like, ‘All right, let’s do this. Let’s tackle this last senior year. Let’s get out of here.’ Stranger Things takes up a lot of time to film and it’s preventing me from creating stories that I’m passionate about. So I’m ready to say, ‘Thank you, and goodbye.'”
While the series has been a major part of her teenage life, Brown certainly thinks it’s time to take a new step in her career, and we couldn’t agree more. That being said, her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Brown recalled facing criticism during Stranger Things press tours when she was just 13.
Accused of overshadowing her co-stars during group interviews, she was labeled by some as “an idiot,” “stupid,” and “a brat.” Reflecting on those times, she said, “We’re kids – we talk over each other. I was just penalized for over-talking and oversharing and being too loud.” Sadly, this experience taught her to be cautious, often choosing to remain silent during interviews (though in foresight, it might benefit her by keeping her personal life private).
Outside of Stranger Things, Brown’s personal life has been a bed of roses (pun very much intended). She recently got engaged to Jake Bongiovi, son of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi. The couple, who have been dating for two years, are in the midst of wedding preparations, though we doubt they’ll go the Chris Evans route and have two ceremonies.
Professionally, Brown is not slowing down either. Although the curtains on Stranger Things are coming to a close, she’s lined up with several projects. The 19-year-old actress was set to lead in the fantasy film Damsel on October 17, but due to the Hollywood strikes, its release was postponed to an unspecified date.
Besides that, fans can look forward to her performance on the Russo Brothers’ sci-fi film, The Electric State, where she’ll share the screen with Chris Pratt and Ke Huy Quan, both of whom are MCU headliners – maybe she’ll take aim at the comic movie scene?
Stranger Things has been a monumental series for Netflix, breaking streaming records and introducing a new generation of talent. As the series prepares for its final season, a bittersweet moment for its fans, for Brown, it’s a chance to say a heartfelt goodbye and step into the next chapter of her promising career.
