Millie Bobby Brown, the star of "Stranger Things," almost gave up on her acting career prior to securing her iconic role as Eleven. At just 10 years old, she was deeply discouraged after a "powerful casting director" told her she was "too mature" for a child actor, leaving her in tears. Brown had always perceived her maturity as a positive trait, having felt unique and somewhat isolated due to it.
Her parents encouraged her to do "one last audition" after this hurtful experience and a string of rejections. Brown noted that the acting industry is filled with constant rejection, having previously auditioned for various roles, including "Game of Thrones," and faced a "no" for that part. This string of disappointments left her feeling that acting was incredibly difficult.
Despite the financial struggles her family faced, moving from England to Florida and then to California to support her acting aspirations, Brown agreed to one final self-tape audition. This audition was for a Netflix show initially titled "Montauk," which ultimately became "Stranger Things." She landed the role just three months later, marking a turning point in her career.
