Millie Bobby Brown reveals her name isn’t actually Millie Bobby Brown and why she changed it
Millie Bobby Brown isn’t her birth name. Credit: JB Lacroix / Getty
Brown, 21, first burst onto our screens as a child in Stranger Things and has since forged a very successful career.
The actress is going from strength to strength, but how well do you really know her?
Well, the star is currently promoting her new Netflix film The Electric State, alongside Hollywood A-Lister Chris Pratt.
As is the norm when promoting a new movie, the pair are taking part in interviews where they’re usually asked bizarre questions.
Well, Brown and Pratt recently sat down with BuzzFeed where the star made a revelation about her name.
Millie Bobby Brown is best known for Stranger Things. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty
Questioning her name, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor asked: “Is it Millie Bobby Brown?”
“My middle name is Bonnie,” Brown revealed, correcting him.
A confused Pratt repeated back, “Millie Bobby Bonnie Brown?” but Brown quickly set the record straight. “No, it’s not Bobby. It’s Millie Bonnie Brown.”
Stunned, Pratt pressed for more details. “Really?”
“I’ve never told anyone that,” Brown admitted. “You heard it here first.”
Still trying to wrap his head around the revelation, Pratt asked if she had changed her name for her career.
“For s***s and giggles,” Brown joked, confirming that “Bobby” was a stage name.
On top of revealing her true middle name, Brown recently changed her last name as well. In May 2023, she tied the knot with Jake Bongiovi, officially becoming Millie Bobby Brown Bongiovi.
While Brown’s name revelation made headlines, another aspect of her public life has taken a different turn.
After appearing at The Electric State premiere, she became the target of harsh criticism over her appearance, with headlines questioning why she looked “so old” and even speculating on whether she had altered her face.
Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown attend the world premiere of Netflix’s The Electric State. Credit: JB Lacroix / Getty
Frustrated by the relentless focus on her looks, Brown decided to speak out.
“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny,” she said in an Instagram video on March 3.
“I think it’s necessary to speak up about this. I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
Brown slammed the media for fixating on her appearance, calling it a form of bullying.
The young star made it clear that she won’t be conforming to anyone’s expectations.
“I refuse to apologize for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman,” she continued.
“I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment.”