Millie Bobby Brown has opened up about the downside of growing up in the spotlight including concerns over leaked salary contracts and the effect on her social development. The Stranger Things star in a recent cover story for Vanity Fair discussed navigating fame since she was a child actor and the challenges it presents.
Reports in 2022 indicated Brown earned $10 million for Enola Holmes 2. This would have been a record payment for an actor under 20. Salary details from Stranger Things also surfaced showing Brown making at least $250000 per episode from season three. Brown did not confirm the exact figures but voiced worries about the public nature of these contracts especially for young performers.
According to Brown contracts she signed as a teenager becoming public knowledge is risky. She stated these documents "should’ve been protected so that they’re not on the record."
Brown expressed concern about the wider implications. “It just puts children in a really dangerous situation” Brown said. “I think everybody’s a little bit too lax about the way that children are brought up in the industry." She acknowledged the protection she received from her parents and Netflix but highlighted the broader need for better safeguards for young actors.
Brown credited her parents for teaching her to assert herself. She emphasized the power of saying no and having parents who encouraged her to stand up for herself and demand what she deserves. This support she explained has been crucial in her career allowing her to advocate for herself and potentially for others.
Millie Bobby Brown's Social Skill Challenges Due to Early Career
Growing Up On Set Impacted Social Development
Brown also spoke about the impact of her early fame on her social life. She started on Stranger Things at age 11. She explained that growing up on set affected her " social skills ." Because she did not attend regular school and was often in a bubble with her co-stars her social development was different.
“I don’t have many friends because of who I am” Brown revealed. “I didn’t go to school so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them.”
Despite these challenges Brown has formed close bonds with some of her Stranger Things co-stars like Noah Schnapp. She also recounted an incident where Finn Wolfhard defended her against online harassment in 2017 . Brown also mentioned dealing with online sexualization and body image issues which led her to briefly delete social media in 2022.
Currently Brown is content living on a farm with her husband Jake Bongiovi. Looking back at filming the final season of Stranger Things Brown shared her emotional reaction to the chapter closing. She mentioned becoming emotional on set as filming wrapped acknowledging the significance of this period in her life.
Our Take On Millie Bobby Brown's Recent Revelations
Brown's Openness Highlights Pressures of Young Stardom
Millie Bobby Brown's openness provides valuable insight into the pressures faced by young stars. Her comments about leaked contracts underscore the need for stronger protections for child actors' financial privacy. Her discussion of social challenges shows the personal cost of early fame and the unusual circumstances in which child stars develop.
Brown’s willingness to speak about these issues is important. It brings attention to the unique difficulties of growing up in the entertainment industry. As Stranger Things concludes and Brown moves forward in her career her experiences offer a compelling perspective on child stardom in the modern media landscape.
Brown will next be seen in Netflix's The Electric State alongside Chris Pratt releasing on March 14.
Source: Variety, Hollywood Reporter, People, Just Jared