Being a celebrity is not all bells and whistles. With all the glamour, love and appreciation come a lot of scrutinies and unsolicited advice. It is especially challenging for a child actor who has literally grown up on the screen. Our very own telekinetic teen, Millie Bobby Brown, is also no stranger to these struggles.

Brown was all of 10 when she first auditioned for Stranger Things. And the rest, as they say, is history. However, it has been over eight years and a huge section of her fanbase still seems to be stuck in that time warp. They cannot fathom that their favorite child star is not a child anymore. About a year ago, Millie opened up about how she has had to grapple with this very strong public viewpoint. Let us see what she had to say.

Fans of Millie Bobby Brown are in denial about her growing up

In March 2021, Millie Bobby Brown was busy promoting her film Godzilla vs Kong. In an interview with MTV News, the then 17-year-old star discussed the difficulties of growing up in the public eye. 

“I’m only 17, but at the end of the day, I’m learning to be a woman. I’m learning to be a young woman,” said the Stranger Things actress.

Brown also spoke about how fans have a tendency to “become invested in your growth and your journey.” Since they have seen her as a young actor, they find it hard to see her “growing up“. Most of the time, it is Millie’s fashion sense that throws the audience off. For instance, if she sports a crop top to high-heeled footwear, they are often aghast still believing “she’s 10.”

“No… I am 17. That’s a thing girls do,” exclaimed Millie, thinking out loud. Her red carpet looks and ensembles for award shows always get the eyes rolling and not in a good way. “She looks 50,” is often a comment that gets thrown at her. The Enola Holmes actress also delved into how the “transition period” was particularly taxing.

“It’s kind of like I have 50 million people like my parents,” said an exasperated Brown.

The growing actor tries her best to deal with the constant spotlight and unwarranted criticism. But as much as she wants to not let the negativity affect her, it is not as easy as it sounds. It leads to anxiety and other mental health issues.

“I meditate, I journal a lot, I take a lot of time for myself,” said Millie as she attempts to “cope with it.”

What are your views on Millie Bobby Brown’s challenges from a child actress to a girl on the cusp of womanhood? Let us know in the comments. In the meantime, with Enola Holmes 2 just a couple of months away, you could watch the first part streaming on Netflix.