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Stranger Things’ Eleven is a kickass, rather feminist 12-year-old
She's only 12 years old, but Millie Bobby Brown already seems poised for greatness. Much like Drew Barrymore in the '80s classic "Firestarter", the young actress held the audience captive with her performance as Eleven in the Netflix hit "Stranger Things."
Eleven is arguably the coolest character on the show. Benny, the kind owner of the diner where she ducked in first, might be the only one who can dethrone her—but Eleven's telekinesis undoubtedly makes her pretty kickass. That and the fact that she's not going to think twice about punishing bullies.
In real life, Brown seems even cooler. Speaking before media panel before her appearance at the AsiaPOP Comic Con on Saturday, Brown was striking with her wit and warmth.
Of her character, she immediately said, "I was scared of myself. Eleven's evil!"
Hi everyone! Finally in Manila! And very tired! ???? very excited about today guys! Spreading the love to all of you!!! pic.twitter.com/kFIWvRaf82
— Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebbrown) August 26, 2016
One thing she does have in common with Eleven is challenging labels imposed on girls. The audience is rooting for this strong, female character to gain her freedom—for these other people to leave her alone and let her eat her Eggos in peace. In real life, Brown shaving her head became a meaningful act of defiance.
"Society tells us nowadays that, you know, girls they have long hair and blue eyes," she said. "Boys have their short hair. What if I just do a Charlize Theron and Winona Ryder? Let's boycott and be cool!"
Her own mother was worried about having a daughter sporting a buzz cut and had insisted that girls should have long hair. But young Millie put her foot down, and although she was nervous about how she would look, she hoped that her simple act has inspired people.
"There are kids out there who have no choice, who have alopecia, cancer—terrible diseases—and I thought 'Why not inspire people to think it's cool to have short hair? Why not embrace it?'" she said.
Here it is!! The video of me getting my hair shaved for #StrangerThings. Enjoy!???????? #buzzed pic.twitter.com/qFQWwib1ti
— Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebbrown) August 21, 2016
Brown is also more fun than her fictional counterpart. Although she admits that she gets frightened easily, it doesn't stop her from doing things.
"I get scared very easily. The boys like to scare me," she revealed. "They would be like 'Hey Millie, come in here' and I'd come in the room and they'd scare me. I would be like 'No, stop! No! I'm only a child!'"
She also told the press that she's got sensitive skin and she's claustrophobic—but she went right inside the sensory deprivation tank anyway. She was in there eight times. She knows because she counted. The salt also did a number on her skin, but she washed and brushed it all off.
Brown is also enthusiastic about doing physical scenes, having a background in mixed martial arts.
"Everyone thinks the one where you come down the hall is probably the hardest, but it was very easy for me and I don't know why. That scares me!
"When I was doing it, it was so much fun. There were two men and I got to try and bite them! I got to fight them, I got to use my boxing moves! I was [thinking], 'This is great'—and they were taking it!"
Apparently, the more difficult scenes were crying in colder weather.
"The scene where we find Will's fake body in the lake and Mike's upset with me—and I couldn't cry! I was like 'Come on, tears!'"
Brown speaks with delight about her experience, which according to her is so incredible it has rendered her speechless. She's optimistic about future projects and she's looking forward to exhibiting her skills in contact sports.
"I'd love to have a movie all about boxing! That would be fun!"
"Stranger Things" is available for streaming on Netflix Philippines. — BM, GMA News
