Through her captivating performance as Eleven in Netflix’s sci-fi series Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown solidified herself as one of this generation’s biggest child stars. Looking back on her journey, from a youngster battling demogorgOns to now, a brave orphan traversing through a dystopian California in the 1990’s in The Electric State, Brown has revealed whether she would let her future child pursue a career in showbiz.
In recent years — with documentaries like Quiet On Set and Frankie Muniz‘s revelation that wouldn’t allow his kids to become child actors — the idea of child stars has been controversial.
From the treatment of children, the workload, the pay, and the many, many tell-all horror stories from former child stars — like iCarly’s Jennette McCurdy — the topic has become quite macabre.
But for Millie Bobby Brown — now 21 — and her experience, it is definitely a lighter and more positive story. While the star has come across much scrutiny from the public as a child star, especially surrounding her appearance and growing up, the Enola Holmes star revealed that she would allow her future child to reach for the Hollywood stars if they choose to do so.
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV during the press tour for Netflix’s The Electric State, Millie said that as a parent, she will follow how her parents navigated her fame.
“I would do exactly what my parents did to me, which was just encourage me to be myself,” she began.
“I would support them but protect them in the way that my parents protected me. So, yeah, I always encourage any young person to achieve their dreams, and if I can help in any way, I absolutely will.”
Throughout Millie’s career, her parents Robert and Kelly Brown did everything they could to keep grounded despite shooting to stardom with Netflix’s beloved sci-fi series.
Robert previously told Daily Mail that he always tried to keep Millie grounded by making her do homework and chores. They also encouraged her to continue schooling despite her fame, per PEOPLE.
In recent days, Millie had to remind the public that she is no longer the child star we all know from Stranger Things. In a scathing Instagram post, penned to journalists who she named and shamed, The Electric State star slammed articles that criticised her appearance.
“I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow up with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, as I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season One,” she lamented.
Millie’s take on the child star journey is definitely an interesting perspective as it contrasts what Malcolm In The Middle star Frankie Muniz has said in the past.
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV ahead of his appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia, the actor-turned-race-car-driver said he would “never let my kid go into the business”.
“And not that I had a negative experience because, to be honest, my experience was 100 per cent positive but I know so many people, friends that were close to me, that had such insanely negative experiences,” Muniz shared.
While the life of a child actor does sound glamorous — especially if you clock that Millie Bobby Brown or Frankie Muniz fame — I cannot help but also feel a sense of unease.
Regardless, there is comfort in the fact that Millie says she had a positive experience with the guidance of her parents. It’s also worth noting that Millie and Frankie were child stars in different eras, so that could definitely play a part in how kiddos in creative fields were treated.
Definitely something to think about.
The Electric State is out March 14 on Netflix.
Image source: Netflix / Stranger Things and Getty Images.
