Close Encounters with Eleven: Q&A with Netflix ‘Stranger Things’ Star Millie Bobby Brown

After a long day of playing Dungeons & Dragons, four boys in Indiana head back safely to their homes, except for Will Byers. His vanishing leads to mystery after mystery, with friends and family and the local police looking for clues. Their investigations also bring them to discover a strange girl only known as 'Eleven.'

Hooked and thirsty for more, fans worldwide binge-watched 'Stranger Things,' the phenomenal Netflix thriller series that resurrected everything we loved about the 1980s. Millie Bobby Brown, the 12-year-old breakout actress who plays Eleven or "El" to her friends was recently in Manila as celebrity guest at Asia Pop Comicon 2016. Before her fan events at the convention where she had a series of meet and greet, autograph and photo sessions, we were able to meet and chat with Millie at Conrad Hotel Manila to geek out on Stranger Things, the 80s, and the Upside Down.

Question: Were you scared [watching Stranger Things]?

Millie Bobby Brown: Yeah. I really was. I was scared of myself! I was like wow, Eleven's evil! But yeah, the beginning bit, the boys were laughing at me because I was sitting there, and we had this preview and we're on the set. So we just finished I think it was [episodes] three and four, and the Duffers were like, 'we have a screening tonight,' and I was just like yes! Yes! I'm so happy. So we all got together, the crew and everyone. I mean we've all watched episode one and two, and the first episode… The scientist pops out, I jumped and I was like "Nooooo! Oh my god!" And the boys were like, chill out, Millie! And I was just, no! That's scary! [laughs] And the demogorgon — because once when I was in the void, the Duffers like to tease me a lot, they're like my big brothers. I was [shooting] in the void, and there was this monster sound that had to go off. And I just thought, you know, the first AD could go "roar," or something like that. No! They got sound department in, the speakers out, and there was like–"ROAAAAR!" And I ran! I was like, help! Help! I'm dying!!! [laughs] So yeah, I get scared very easily. And the boys like to scare me, they'd be like "Hey Millie, come in here," and I'd come in the room and they'd scare me. "No, stop! No! I'm really a child!" [laughs] 

How was it like acting in a period piece–it's set in the eighties and you weren't born yet that time. How was it like experiencing that decade?

Completely different. I'd never expect something like this. When I got it, yeah, there was eighties movies — like The Goonies, Stand By Me, ET, stuff like that. And I was like, oh I like this, and it was good. And then when I actually got onto the set, I found these cars, this junkyard–we had amazing sets. We filmed in Jackson, and all over. It was really amazing. The sets were fantastic, from props department… I first found out what a record player was. I was like, what was that? It's like, it's got a stick and a circle on it. And my dad was like, "that's a vinyl," and I was like, okay. And I got it for Christmas. So I'm very into eighties stuff now.

How hard was the decision to chop off your hair? 

I was on summer vacation and I was like, we need to post the picture of my head being shaved cos they're gonna love it. And I really want them to go through my journey of how it actually felt, I was completely fine with it. I loved it, I was like "Let's do it! Come on, let's get it off, let's go!" And they're like "Are you sure about this?" I'm like, yes I'm sure this is fine. You know, there's kids out there who have no choice, who have alopecia or cancer, terrible diseases, and I thought why not inspire people to think it's cool to have short hair, why not embrace it? And I hope I inspire people from there. So it was very easy, [for] my mum not so much. My mum, I was really convincing her. I mean, she would not do it. She was like "you're not doing it! You're a girl, you gotta have hair." I'm like, no I don't. Society tells us nowadays that you know, girls, they have long beautiful hair, blue eyes, and boys they have to have their short hair. No, what if I were just like, Charlize Theron and Winona Ryder? Let's do it, let's boycott and yeah, so I've done that. It was really easy for me. And the boys, they didn't recognize me when I came in. They're like, "Millie?" I was like, "It's me." Cause I came in and it was reading and one by one, everybody went. And I was the last one. Caleb came in this amazing afro, Gaten came in with his curly hair and Finn came in with his locks. And I was like, my turn. So I got out, and I came and then they were like, "Millie! You look different." I was like, "In a good way?" "In a great way." [laughs]  

How often have you been recognized as Eleven — can you walk out now and still be anonymous?

Yeah, I can actually. My hair's grown, and so I don't look like Eleven. And I don't say "No," "Mike," "Goodbye," so I manage to. And I'm British and I have glasses, I have prescription glasses so people don't recognize me. And it's really nice. It's different here when people know I'm coming, you know? So yes I probably will, but I really love taking pictures and interacting with my fans. I consider my fans as my friends.

Which scenes were the most difficult for you to film?

You know, it's really crazy because everybody thinks it's the one where you come down the hall, is that probably the hardest? I'm like, no it wasn't. It was very easy for me and I don't know why. That scares me. [laughs] But when I was doing it, it was so much fun actually. I was like, there's these two men and I got to try and bite them, and I was like, this is great! I love this! [laughs] And I got to fight them, I got to use my boxing moves, so I was like this is great. And they're taking it. So yeah, that was pretty easy. And for me to cry, that's easy. It's when I don't have to cry, or when I can't cry. I can't cry when it's cold. So in the hospital that's been shut down, it was really warm in there so I'm like okay. We went into the quarry one night in the scene where we find Will's fake body, and we all come out, and Mike's really upset with me, and I couldn't cry. I was like–cry! I'm not crying! I'm not crying! And the boys are crying and I'm like, this is unbelievable. So I'm going down the lake, "Just cry. Cry." I'm listening to music, and I'm not crying. So I got to do something other than crying. I was like, "Mike… Mike." [laughs] So yeah, that was probably the hardest scene.  

You were speaking about using your boxing in that hallway scene. You're very into martial arts, why is that?

I had this really big movie where I auditioned for, and it was very active. And I got to fight this very big actor. I was like, it's on, let's do this. I was doing it, and I was like, I loved this. I don't like hitting people, I like sound of it, hitting the pads, and the punchbag. I'm really into it and I'm always working out anyway. I don't like press-ups, I like doing fun stuff, I like combinations, I like remembering things–that's like a whole process. I love remembering things, combinations, jiu jitsu. You have to remember there's like submissions, sweeps; and Thai boxing, the kicks. I don't really know how I got into it but I'd love to have more scenes or like a movie all about boxing. Like Millie Bobby Brown boxing. Yeah, that would be fun!

How intense was it to film the scenes where you had to submerge yourself in the sensory deprivation tank, and the pool with all the salt? How was it like?

The first scene where I had to actually go in the tank, that was crazy! I prepped a month before, I rehearsed it a couple of times. All these men from Sea Trek all came and they're really amazing. Every day there was training and they were amazing. So I was like, listen, am I gonna breathe? Am I gonna drown? And they were teaching me all these signs. I'm going to do it actually in the sea one day. I love it now. I went in there about, I counted eight times. I had this earpiece in and the Duffers, they're like my big brothers, and they would do noises. They're like, "Alright, everybody peed in the tank right after lunch, so basically you're swimming in pee." I was like, "Lovely." And I was going to the camera…[thumbs up sign] and we made light of it. And so it was easy. Every time I'd go in, it's harder to scream, and I was crying, and I was like, okay, can I go up now? And I'd go up and I'd be like "that was awesome!" And they'd be like, "you look terrified!" No, it was so much fun! [laughs] It was so fun inside! Yeah, but it was scary being there, when they [first] told me–I am very claustrophobic in general–so yeah, I'm not doing that. And they were like, "yeah you are." But I think what is funny is that the Duffers are so open minded. Like I couldn't say it with the kiss, like no I don't want to do it with the kiss. Cause they're like "we're doing it anyway," but there was times where I'd go, you know, what if Eleven does this, and they're like, yeah. So they're really open minded and really amazing throughout all that sensory deprivation. And I have really sensitive skin, so when I went into the pool with the salt, I came out and was like, "Right, I need water!" and then I'd calm down. [laughs]

There has been overwhelming response to Stranger Things, even celebrities obsessed with it, and with you — like Aaron Paul. What has been the most overwhelming fan encounter so far?

Everything has been, even not from celebrities. My fans in general, the press have been amazing and so supportive. It's really been incredible. I'm so speechless, like I'm friends with Maddie Ziegler! I've watched her since I was like, tiny. I was like Dance Moms! I was like, "I can't believe it's you! Really? You know who I am?!" She followed me on Twitter and it was the best day of my life. [laughs] I'm like, I'm set! It's been amazing. Aaron Paul interviewing me was incredible.

Will you let him adopt you? He wants to adopt you.

Yeah, I'd consider it. We said that we'd go to lunch, he'd bring the adoption papers, I'll bring my suitcase, we'll make a deal. And my parents are like, "Can we just have you on weekends?" [laughs]

Name one strange thing about you.

Oh, that's a good question. You know, I do masks on my face, and I do them all the time–but I do them on the plane. So people come up to me and I have this mask, and I'm like, "Can I have a Coke?" [laughs] and also, well it's kind of annoying, but I have something wrong with me–I get annoyed when people chew gum, or slurp. I'm like, just leave. There's the door! So the sound of it, I'm like so quiet and, you don't have to just munch, just eat. [laughs] That's one strange thing about me. And my big sister she's the same, and my mum when she has these chips, I'm like, "Mum, mum just quietly…" And she's like "How am I supposed to eat it? They're chips! They're crunchy!" I'm like, no they're not! Just suck on them, and chew! [laughs] That's one strange thing.  

If Eleven is in the Upside Down right now, what do you think she is doing?

She's with Joyce's dog, she's grooming the dog in the void. Yup. She's having a mani-pedi with the Demogorgon, stuff like that. Um, I have no idea really. Do you know I'm still kind of processing what it actually means? Like, the Upside Down–I still don't even get it. I don't yet understand it though, and they're like, everybody else does, why don't you? I want to, but I don't! [laughs] I know what the Upside Down is but it's just–I mean the void, it's my mind. But me and Winona are like, I don't understand. We've given up. 

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All 8 episodes of Stranger Things season one are now available to binge-watch on Netflix. Watch everything on Netflix by signing up for a plan (Basic/P370, Standard/P460, Premium/P550) and get one month free. Visit www.netflix.com, like Netflix Asia on Facebook (/netflixasia) and follow on Instagram and Twitter (@netflixasia).