Skip to main content
Young Hollywood
The Scene

Millie Bobby Brown on Eleven, Producing, and Stardom

From breakout sci-fi phenomenon to franchise producer, the star looks back at her Hollywood trajectory.

By The YH Wire3 min read
Share
Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown sat down with Young Hollywood to share candid memories about Eleven, stepping behind the camera, and navigating massive franchises.

Millie Bobby Brown stepped into the global spotlight in 2016 when the first season of Stranger Things introduced audiences to Eleven, an enigmatic kid with telekinetic powers and an appetite for waffles. Over the course of subsequent seasons, that breakout television performance launched a multifaceted career spanning feature films, producing credits, and an expanding business portfolio. When she sat down with Young Hollywood in our studio, Brown offered an honest, funny look at what it actually felt like to grow up inside television's biggest juggernaut.

Young Hollywood has tracked that rise across 66 stories since 2014, watching her transition from a promising newcomer to a creative force who commands both sides of the camera. When discussing the grim realities awaiting Hawkins in the third installment of the sci-fi hit, she broke down the inevitable hurdles her character faced with refreshing humor and total candor. Watch our full sit-down with Millie Bobby Brown below.

Navigating the Upside Down and Eleven's Heavy Burden

For audiences watching from home, Hawkins offered pure eighties nostalgia, synth soundtracks, and pulse-pounding monster chases. For Brown, playing the psychic linchpin of the group meant inhabiting heavy emotional terrain while spending long hours on set covered in stage blood and prosthetic goo. When asked during her studio visit about what viewers could expect from Eleven's future storylines, she did not sugarcoat the ongoing stakes for the town or its heroes.

"Bad things. Bad things. I'm sure. I mean, that the show can't have good things," Millie Bobby Brown told Young Hollywood during our exclusive studio chat. She knew that Hawkins relied on constant conflict to sustain its suspense, meaning her character rarely received an extended break from mortal peril or supernatural dread.

That balance between high-stakes storytelling and emotional growth remained central to how Brown approached Eleven across multiple production cycles. Reflecting on whether the character could ever find true peace after years of government experiments and monster showdowns, she remained realistic about the narrative demands. "11 will never be happy until like, really, if something really good happens, but I think it's, you know, I don't think it's going to be great, you know?" she explained.

Taking Control of the Narrative with Enola Holmes

Rather than waiting for Hollywood to hand her next steps, Brown took deliberate control of her screen trajectory by stepping behind the camera as a producer on Netflix's Enola Holmes. Developing the mystery project allowed her to bring a fresh perspective to Victorian London, reinterpreting the famous detective lineage through a clever, fourth-wall-breaking teenager who refused to fit conventional period expectations.

The project marked a major shift in how young female leads were framed on screen. Instead of falling into the one-dimensional traps common in modern action stories, Enola was allowed to make mistakes, show genuine vulnerability, and outwit opponents using intellect rather than sheer brute force. Producing the film alongside veteran industry figures proved that Brown's creative ambitions extended far beyond simply delivering lines on a call sheet.

Comfort, Wardrobe Choices, and Everyday Realities

Even while managing international press junkets, high-fashion red carpet arrivals, and major studio meetings, Brown has always maintained a grounded approach to personal style. Gen-Z fashion has embraced nostalgic revivals like low-rise denim and oversized streetwear, but Brown's personal favorite loungewear remains refreshingly simple.

"Onesies. It's just always my answer to everything," Brown joked during our sit-down, pointing out that maximum comfort beats elaborate styling when relaxing away from film sets. That unpretentious attitude carried over directly into the launch of her clean beauty brand, Florence by Mills, which focuses on accessible, easy-to-use skincare and makeup tailored specifically for younger consumers who prioritize practical routines over heavy glamour.

Animal Advocacy and Long-Term Creative Focus

Away from film sets and business boardrooms, Brown dedicates significant energy to animal welfare, regularly championing foster care and rescue initiatives. Her candid social updates frequently feature her rescue dogs, farm animals, and behind-the-scenes downtime that highlights life outside the entertainment bubble. Connecting with co-stars like Caleb McLaughlin and maintaining long-standing industry friendships have kept her anchored throughout a demanding decade in the public eye.

Brown has built a sustainable career by taking ownership of her creative choices, balancing major franchise obligations with personal passion projects that reflect her own tastes. By combining self-awareness, producing ambition, and a willingness to laugh at the absurdities of fame, she continues to map out a distinct path across modern Hollywood on her own terms.

ShareXFacebookReddit

On This Topic

UP NEXT ON CALEB MCLAUGHLIN