Millie Bobby Brown’s characters are often put through the ringer; she’s fought demogorgons, hunted down criminals, and even been sacrificed to a dragon. But for all the trials she’s faced in these roles, she never goes down without a fight.
Over the past decade, Brown has cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with, infusing her characters with a captivating sense of adventure, nuance, and humanity.
There are many common threads in the roles she gravitates toward, but some of the most notable qualities are the sheer strength and unapologetic nature of the women she plays. Whether she’s portraying Eleven in Stranger Things, or traversing a robot wasteland in The Electric State, you don’t want to miss a performance by Millie Bobby Brown.
Stranger Things is considered Millie Bobby Brown’s breakout role, and for good reason. Brown has worked on this series for a decade, growing up alongside her beloved character Eleven, a young girl with supernatural abilities and a big heart. If you’re not familiar with the iconic sci-fi series, the story is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and kicks off when a group of friends (Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo alongside Brown) go in search of their missing pal (Noah Schnapp). As the show progresses, the group travels across state lines and dimensional planes to fight supernatural forces that threaten what matters most to them: their friends. The fifth and final season premieres Nov. 26, with the first four episodes dropping at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. After you make your way through all Brown’s Netflix hits, find shows and movies with the rest of the Stranger Things crew in our cast guide.
In Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s Damsel, Millie Bobby Brown flips the script on the traditional fairy tale narrative and shows that sometimes the only person who can save you is yourself. Brown plays Elodie, who finds herself in quite a predicament after her handsome prince-to-be (Nick Robinson) sacrifices her to a terrifying dragon in order to pay back an ancient family debt. Elodie is thrust into the giant creature’s lair and left to her own devices. The film is filled with energy and tension, as you feel trapped alongside Elodie as she fights tooth-and-nail for her life.
Brown not only starred in, but also produced this adaptation of the first in a series of young adult detective novels by Nancy Springer. Enola Holmes follows the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) as she carves her own path in the family business. After Enola’s mother (Helena Bonham Carter) goes missing, her determined daughter (Brown) sets out on a mission to find her mom and get answers. Enola breaks tradition and challenges her older brother at every step of her journey. Set in Victorian England, the mystery adventure is shot through with irreverent humor alongside an unfolding mystery that keeps the viewer hooked.
In Enola Holmes 2, Millie Bobby Brown revisits her detective role as a more grown-up Enola Holmes, who has launched her own detective agency but is struggling to define herself without the help of her brother. For her first official case, Enola is tasked with tracking down a missing person, only to realize a much larger conspiracy bubbles beneath the surface. The second film also brings back Sherlock (Henry Cavill), with whom Enola crosses paths with throughout her investigation. Brown has a knack for taking her beloved characters on a twisty journeys of growth, and Enola Holmes 2 is no exception.
If you’re already well-versed in the world of Stranger Things, you might be looking for a deeper dive into the series with the added perspective of the creators (the brothers Matt and Ross Duffer) and the cast. Hosted by Jim Rash, Beyond Stranger Things gives fans a peak behind the creative curtain with secrets, anecdotes, and discussion of the gripping series. Brown, alongside her castmates, makes several appearances, offering insight into not only her process but her character work.
If you're antsy to watch Brown’s latest work, the wait is over: The Electric State is streaming now. The film takes place after a catastrophic war between humans and robots leaves the world as we know it in shambles. The film’s protagonist, Michelle (Brown), embarks on a dangerous journey across the American West accompanied by her robot (voiced by Anthony Mackie) and a drifter (Chris Pratt). Directed by the Russo brothers (Avengers: Endgame, The Gray Man) and based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel of the same name, the film is sure to be a wild ride.
