Millie Bobby Brown | Biography, Acting Career, & Facts (2024)

British actress

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Print

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Written by

Nicholas Gisonna Nick Gisonna started writing online in 2010 on his own website writing reviews of burgers and diners in New Jersey. Since then, he has contributed to video game, movie, and heavy metal sites across the...

Nicholas Gisonna

Fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Article History

Millie Bobby Brown

See all media

Born:
February 19, 2004, Marbella, Spain (age 20)

See all related content →

Millie Bobby Brown (born February 19, 2004, Marbella, Spain) is a British actress best known for portraying Eleven in the hit science-fiction–horror television series Stranger Things (2016– ), a role for which she was twice nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.

Brown was born in Marbella, Spain, and raised by her parents, Kelly and Robert Brown. She was the third of four siblings. When Brown was just four years old, her family moved to Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Her family then moved to Orlando, Florida, in 2011, when Brown was about eight years old. Brown was born partially deaf in her left ear and later, after years of using tubes, lost all of her hearing in that ear. She has spoken about her hearing loss, emphasizing that it has not affected her acting or singing abilities.

While participating in a weekend acting workshop, Brown was discovered by a professional talent scout who told her parents that she had a natural talent for acting and might do well in Hollywood. Her parents ventured to Los Angeles with Brown to meet with talent agencies. Within a few months, Brown was offered her first professional role, a recurring part on the fantasy television series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. The show, a spin-off of the popular fantasy drama Once Upon a Time (2011–18), was based on Lewis Carroll’s literary classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Brown played the role of Alice’s younger self on two episodes of the show’s one-season run.

Brown continued her career in television when she was cast in a starring role on the British paranormal drama series Intruders, which aired on BBC Two in 2014. The show centres around a secret society whose members seek immortality by possessing the bodies of others. Brown played a nine-year-old who becomes possessed by one such intruder. Intruders ran for only one season, but Brown continued to find work in television. She had a guest spot on the crime drama NCIS that same year. In 2015 Brown appeared in the feel-good sitcom Modern Family and the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.

In 2016 Brown was cast in a main role on the Netflix series Stranger Things. The role popularized Brown as an actor among mainstream audiences, propelling her to stardom. On the show Brown played the part of Eleven, a young girl with psychokinetic powers who is experimented on by scientists who are trying to create a superhuman weapon.

Stranger Things was a colossal hit for Netflix, with its fourth season becoming one of the most watched seasons in the streaming service’s history. Many viewers found Brown’s enigmatic Eleven endearing, and the character became a fan favourite and somewhat of a poster child for the series. Brown was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series in both 2017 and 2018 for her performance.

Special 67% offer for students! Finish the semester strong with Britannica.

Learn More

With her career bolstered by her success on Stranger Things, Brown made her film debut in the 2019 blockbuster Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Brown portrayed Madison Russell, the daughter of the two leads, played by Vera Farmiga and Kyle Chandler. Brown reprised the part in the sequel, Godzilla vs. Kong (2021).

Brown starred as the titular character in the Netflix movie Enola Holmes in 2020. The movie is an adaptation of The Enola Holmes Mysteries, a young adult novel series by Nancy Springer. The film follows the story of teenage detective Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. The movie centres around Enola Holmes exploring the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. Brown returned in the sequel, Enola Holmes 2 (2022), in which her character, having opened her own detective agency, unravels a conspiracy that has been spread across London.

In 2021 Brown began dating Jacob Bongiovi, whose father, Jon Bon Jovi, is the leader and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi. In April 2023 Brown announced her engagement to Bongiovi.

Nicholas Gisonna

Millie Bobby Brown | Biography, Acting Career, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Millie Bobby Brown | Biography, Acting Career, & Facts? ›

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown (born 19 February 2004) is a British actress. She gained recognition for playing Eleven in the Netflix science fiction series Stranger Things (2016–present), for which she received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Millie_Bobby_Brown
(born 19 February 2004) is an English actress and model. She rose to prominence for her role as Eleven in the Netflix science fiction drama series Stranger Things (2016), for which she earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at age 13.

How did Millie Bobby Brown start her acting career? ›

First Roles and Acting Debut

Her first role came in 2013 when she appeared as Young Alice in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. This debut showcased her talent and opened doors for further opportunities.

What has Millie Bobby Brown done for the world? ›

Brown has supported UNICEF's work since 2016, hosting its 70th anniversary celebrations at the United Nations in 2016, and championing UNICEF's inaugural World Children's Day last year.

Why is Millie Bobby Brown the best actress? ›

Because of her outstanding performance as Eleven in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, people can't help but swoon over Millie Bobby Brown. In fact, she has earned several accolades for her performance including two Best Actress in a Drama nominations in the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Did Millie Bobby Brown move to America? ›

Millie Bobby Brown grew up in England, but moved to the United States when she was 6 years old to pursue a career in Hollywood.

How did Millie Bobby Brown get good at acting? ›

She has spoken about her hearing loss, emphasizing that it has not affected her acting or singing abilities. While participating in a weekend acting workshop, Brown was discovered by a professional talent scout who told her parents that she had a natural talent for acting and might do well in Hollywood.

How old was Millie Bobby Brown when she got her first acting job? ›

When she was 9 years old, Brown made her acting debut as young Alice on ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland in 2013, a spin-off of the network's Emmy-nominated series Once Upon a Time.

What surgery did Millie Bobby Brown do? ›

Rhinoplasty. Most notably, Millie Bobby Brown has been charged with concealing a rhinoplasty, a cosmetic surgery that modifies the nose's size and shape.

What is Millie Bobby Brown's real name? ›

Millie Bobby Bongiovi (born Millie Bobby Brown; 19 February 2004) is an English actress and model who portrays Elodie Bayford in Damsel, also executive producing. She also portrays Michelle in The Electric State.

Who inspired Millie Bobby Brown? ›

Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder and Yara Shadidi are a few of her biggest inspirations. These role models helped empower her take on “Enola Holmes”, which Brown had a big part in bringing to life.

What's Millie Bobby Brown's fav movie? ›

Millie Bobby Brown shares why Pixar's “Up” is her all-time favorite movie ☁️ #milliebobbybrown #pixar #up #upmovie #movies #celebrityinterviews.

What is Millie Bobby Brown's favorite food? ›

Her favorite snack is an in-season veggie we're also big fans of. “I love carrots,” Brown exclaimed in the video. “Carrots are my favorite, I think about carrots all the time. I have outfits dedicated to just carrots.

Did Millie Bobby Brown get married? ›

Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi has confirmed to the BBC his son Jake Bongiovi has married Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.

Is Millie losing her accent? ›

Millie Bobby Brown Reacts to Comments About Her Changing Accent: 'I'm an Actor and I Adapt' The 'Stranger Things' star, 20, said in a new interview that she mimics those around her when she's in the U.S. Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE.

Does Millie Bobby Brown have two accents? ›

While Brown may be sounding more American these days, it's likely her accent is a mixture of many different places she's lived. The 20-year-old was born in Spain before her British parents moved back to England when she was 4.

Did Millie Bobby Brown go to acting school? ›

Here, Millie went to acting workshops to pass time on a Saturday, and it was there that a top Hollywood talent scout called and told Millie's parents that "she has instincts you cannot teach." She advised Millie's parents that she could "mix it with the best kids in Hollywood." They packed up and drove from Orlando to ...

How did Millie Bobby Brown get her agent? ›

After a showcase performance, an agent spotted her talent and approached the family offering to represent her. Kelly and Robert's faith in Millie was so great that soon after, on the advice of the agent, the Brown family left Orlando for Los Angeles where there would be even more opportunities for her.

Why did Millie Bobby Brown start her business? ›

Millie Bobby Brown revealed that she started her brand Florence by Mills because she doesn't know anything about the beauty industry and wanted to learn as she goes.

How did Millie Bobby Brown get on Stranger Things? ›

Millie was one of 307 girls who auditioned for the role of Eleven. Millie and Noah Schnapp, who portrayed Will Byers, would often prank people on set while filming season one. Millie's kiss with Finn Wolfhard, who played Mike Wheeler in the series, was her first actual kiss as well.

When did Millie Bobby Brown start producing? ›

At 16, Brown produced the first Enola Holmes film for Netflix. She has started her own production company, PCMA Productions, which is behind another of her projects, the adventure fantasy Damsel, which is already in post-production, as well as her latest film, Enola Holmes 2.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6528

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.