Millie Bobby Brown Reveals the Social Skills She Missed Growing Up on Stranger Things

29 July 2026

Millie Bobby Brown has spent nearly half her life in front of cameras, building one of the most successful careers of her generation before reaching her mid twenties. While the actress has enjoyed extraordinary professional success, she recently admitted that growing up on the set of Stranger Things came with unexpected sacrifices. In a candid interview, Brown revealed that one of the most important life skills she feels she never fully developed was learning how to socialize with people her own age.

Speaking during an appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, the 22 year old actress reflected on what it was like spending her childhood working on one of the biggest television shows in the world. Brown explained that because she never attended public school and instead spent most of her formative years surrounded by adults on film sets, she missed out on many of the everyday social experiences that help young people build friendships and confidence.

When asked whether she felt she had missed any important life skills because of her unusual upbringing, Brown answered honestly that socialization was probably the biggest one. She admitted that interacting with people her own age can sometimes feel awkward because she simply did not grow up in a traditional environment where she regularly spent time with classmates or large groups of peers.

Brown first rose to international fame in 2016 when she was just 11 years old after being cast as Eleven in Netflix's Stranger Things. Over the next decade, the series became one of the platform's biggest global hits, transforming Brown into an international star while requiring much of her adolescence to be spent filming, traveling, and promoting the show. Although she says she feels grateful for every opportunity that came with the role, she acknowledges that her childhood looked very different from that of most people her age.

The actress explained that she often finds herself unsure of how to react during conversations with people in their twenties because many of them share experiences she never had. School dances, classrooms, sporting events, and ordinary teenage routines were replaced by long filming schedules, interviews, premieres, and professional responsibilities. As a result, Brown sometimes feels disconnected from conversations centered on those common milestones.

Fortunately, she says she has found tremendous support from her husband, Jake Bongiovi. Brown described him as a natural people person whose outgoing personality has helped her become more comfortable in social situations. She credited him with encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and gradually become more confident when meeting new people.

Despite those challenges, Brown made it clear that she has no regrets about the path her life has taken. She joked about internet comments claiming she looks much older than she really is, laughing that online searches sometimes suggest she appears to be 50 years old. Rather than allowing those remarks to upset her, she approached them with humor and confidence, saying she is perfectly happy with where she is in life.

Brown also shared that her happiest moments now come from a quieter lifestyle away from Hollywood. She enjoys spending time on her farm, sewing, embroidering, watching reality television, and caring for her family. Rather than seeking constant excitement, she says she prefers the comfort of home and appreciates the slower pace her personal life now offers.

Her recent reflections come shortly after she spoke about the emotional impact of finishing Stranger Things. Brown previously admitted that saying goodbye to the series left her feeling unexpectedly emotional and even led to a brief period of sadness as she adjusted to life after the show that had defined so much of her childhood. She described her castmates as family and revealed she worried about maintaining those relationships once filming came to an end.

Today, Brown continues balancing a successful acting career with producing, writing, and family life. She recently returned as the famous detective in Enola Holmes 3 while continuing to expand her work behind the scenes. Even with her impressive accomplishments, she remains remarkably open about the challenges that accompanied growing up in the spotlight.

Her honesty has resonated with fans around the world. Many praised her willingness to acknowledge that success does not erase personal struggles and that childhood fame often comes with sacrifices invisible to the public. Brown's reflections offer a reminder that while millions watched her grow up on screen, much of the ordinary childhood that helps shape friendships and social confidence happened somewhere else.