Stranger Things has been one of Netflix's best shows, which is truly saying a lot, considering how great its original content can be. The show has benefited from great writing, unscripted moments, and performances from stars like Millie Bobby Brown.
Brown has been dynamic during her time on the show, and she's continued to grow as a performer. This, however, nearly didn't happen, as she nearly gave up on acting before landing the role of Eleven.
Let's take a look at the actress and see why she almost quit acting.
Millie Bobby Brown Is A Major Star
Since breaking out on Netflix, Millie Bobby Brown has become one of the most popular people in the entertainment industry. Sure, Stranger Things is what really got things rolling, but she's made sure to showcase her skills in other projects.
In the film world, the star has been featured in two Godzilla movies, which has given her another franchise to lean on in recent years. She also had a fantastic reception to her performance in Enola Holmes, which is set to get a sequel.
Brown has also down her share of TV work, too. In her career, she's done shows like Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Intruders, NCIS, Modern Family, and even Grey's Anatomy.
It's been a wild ride for Brown, and it's all thanks to breaking out on a hit series several years ago.
'Stranger Things' Was Her Breakthrough
In 2016, the unknown Millie Bobby Brown began her time on Stranger Things, a Netflix project that had a wealth of potential. No one knew how things would play out for the show, and even some of its stars have admitted to thinking it would fail Instead of flopping, the show became a colossal hit, and it thrust Mille Bobby Brown into the spotlight.
During the show's four seasons, Brown has turned in great work in front of the cameras. Her performance is what really adds weight to the character, and it's why people love El so much.
For season 4, a younger star, Martie Blair, played a young El, and Millie Bobby Brown helped her young co-star.
"It was really important for me to help her through that because I didn’t really have anyone helping me through who Eleven was going to be. I would come to set before my scenes and direct her through everything. I would hide behind the wall and scream with her when she got anxious about screaming to do my powers. I would help her with some of her facial twitches and things like that — very specific things that no one probably would even tell, but me watching the show, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t help her through it," Brown told Variety.
It's remarkable to see how far the actress has come since the show became a major success. It's especially impressive when considering the fact that she nearly threw in the towel on acting before getting the role of Eleven.
Why She Almost Quit Acting
So, why did the talented Millie Bobby Brown nearly quit acting as a youngster? Turns out, it stemmed from being passed over for a role on another massive show.
"I think I was just very disheartened by the rejection, which is something I tell everyone. Like, this industry is just full of rejection, 24/7. You get far more noes -- a lot of noes -- before you get a yes. I was auditioning for commercials, for anything, really. I then auditioned for 'Game of Thrones' and I got a 'no' for that. Then that's kind of when I was like, 'Oh, this is really difficult,' because I guess I really wanted that role," she told Jimmy Fallon, per CNN.
Losing out on a show like that is a crushing blow for any person, let alone a kid. Imagine watching someone else live out your dream on the biggest show on TV. That's what Millie Bobby Brown had to do all those years ago.
The site, however, does note that she landed the role of Eleven just two months later, which is a relatively quick turnaround. None of it would have been possible without the youngster making the decision to press forward and not be deterred by rejection.
Game of Thrones would have been an amazing project for Millie Bobby Brown, but thankfully, she landed Stranger Things and is now a massive star in her own right.