Millie Bobby Brown, best known for her breakout role as Eleven in Netflix’s Stranger Things, is no stranger to the spotlight—or to the challenges that come with it. On September 21, 2025, Brown marked a significant milestone, sharing a black and white throwback photo from her wedding ceremony on Instagram, celebrating one year of marriage to Jake Bongiovi. “1 year married,” she captioned the post. “I love being your wife.” The heartfelt message, paired with the candid image, gave fans a rare glimpse into her personal life, which—despite her fame—she’s managed to keep relatively private.
But the couple’s celebration didn’t stop there. Just a month earlier, on August 21, Brown and Bongiovi revealed another joyous update: they had welcomed a baby girl into their family through adoption over the summer. In their announcement, Brown expressed gratitude and excitement about expanding their family, a sentiment that resonated with her followers and the broader public. Jake Bongiovi, notably the son of legendary musician Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi, has been a steady presence in Brown’s life, supporting her through both triumphs and tribulations.
Brown’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. In a candid interview with Vanity Fair published on September 24, 2025, she reflected on the impact of growing up in front of the camera. Beginning her tenure on Stranger Things at just 11 years old, Brown quickly became a global sensation. However, the glitz and glamour masked a reality that was often isolating. “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.”
The demands of filming, coupled with on-set schooling and the isolation brought on by the pandemic in 2020, meant that Brown’s formative years were markedly different from those of her peers. Her castmates, also young actors, became a surrogate family, but even those relationships were shaped by the unique pressures of their shared experience. Brown developed a particularly close bond with Noah Schnapp, her co-star, who has remained a steadfast friend off-screen for years.
Yet, the perils of fame extended beyond the set. In 2017, Brown found herself the target of internet trolls who attempted to stir up drama between her and Finn Wolfhard, another Stranger Things co-star and on-screen love interest. Wolfhard publicly defended her, posting, “If you are for real you will not harass my friends, or co-workers.” Though the post has since been deleted, it underscored the solidarity among the young cast and the challenges they faced navigating fame at such a tender age.
Brown’s struggles weren’t limited to online harassment. The constant scrutiny led to issues with body image and personal boundaries. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is making me feel horrible about myself,’” she confessed to Vanity Fair, recalling her decision to delete social media in 2022 after being sexualized online. The move was a necessary step for her mental health, allowing her to reclaim some measure of control over her public persona.
Despite—or perhaps because of—these challenges, Brown has found solace in her home life. Living on a farm with Bongiovi, she describes her current situation as content and peaceful, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of her early career. The couple’s decision to adopt speaks to their desire to build a nurturing environment, one where their daughter can grow up with a sense of normalcy that Brown herself often lacked.
Professionally, Brown’s chapter with Stranger Things is drawing to a close. The long-awaited fifth and final season wrapped filming in December 2024, with its release slated for later this year. Brown’s return to set was tinged with nostalgia and emotion, particularly as she prepared to say goodbye to a character and story that had defined much of her adolescence. According to Matt Duffer, co-creator of the show, Brown’s playful spirit was on full display during filming. “She asked us to play ‘Defying Gravity’ while she was hovering midair in a harness so she could pretend to fly like Elphaba,” Duffer shared. “Not just because she loves the song, but because she knows it drives us a little crazy. As soon as the camera rolls—barely a second before—that silliness vanishes and she just … transforms into Eleven.”
Brown herself recounted the difficulty of letting go. “I was on set, and I was like, ‘Well, I have one more day left.’ And I started crying. I don’t actually like to cry at work. I’m a really emotional person, but I try to stay super strong. It made me feel so uncomfortable … and I just started welling up.” Her words capture the bittersweet nature of closing such a significant chapter—not just in her career, but in her life.
As the world awaits the final season, Brown’s story continues to evolve beyond the screen. Her openness about the difficulties of child stardom, the toll of public scrutiny, and her journey toward self-acceptance has resonated with many. In an industry often criticized for its treatment of young talent, Brown’s candor and resilience stand out. She’s not just a star; she’s a young woman navigating life’s complexities, forging her own path, and, as she puts it, “working through” the challenges that come her way.
With a loving husband, a new daughter, and the freedom to shape her future, Millie Bobby Brown is stepping into a new era—one that promises growth, healing, and perhaps, a little more ordinary happiness than she’s known before. Her fans, old and new, will no doubt be watching, cheering her on as she embraces each new adventure.