Adelaide
November 2-3, 2024
Adelaide Showground
It was clear that the 15-year-old star of Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown, was a huge drawcard at Supanova Melbourne – the queue for her panel curled like the Demogorgon’s tentacles around the sides of the Cosplay Theatre.
Here are some highlights from her panel.
CRAZY FAN THEORIES
When one fan asked about the craziest fan theory Brown had heard, she responded cryptically, noting that “they’re all pretty valid”. There is one exception though – “there’s one theory that Noah [Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in Stranger Things] was pregnant, because he was coughing up slugs. I don’t know if that person was listening in health class, but that’s not how it works!”
ON AUSTRALIA
As well as visiting Australia Zoo and meeting Bindi and Bob Irwin, Brown described one close encounter that required her security to intervene. “A baby kangaroo was pawing at my dress, so my security guard got between me and the kangaroo… and it raised its little fists! I’ve never seen my security guard looking so scared.”
BEING A ROLE MODEL
Being named a UNICEF Ambassador was “a huge honour and a responsibility… I’m not just an actor now, I’m also advocating for children’s rights.” Brown also recognises the importance of having the kind of platform she does, as a role model for millions of young people – “there are so many more people watching me now, so why I don’t I use that to put good messages out there. People don’t listen for very long, so I may as well make the most of it.”
UPCOMING PROJECT: ENOLA HOLMES
Brown is excited about her upcoming role as Enola Holmes, the sister of Sherlock Holmes, because it gives her an opportunity to be a British female lead. “I love her, because she’s one of my favourite characters and a British heroine, and that’s something I never had to look up to when I was growing up.” Brown is also co-producing the film.
STRANGE TIMES ON STRANGER THINGS
She found it hard to choose a funniest on-set moment, because her friends, in particular Noah Schnapp, “make [her] laugh every day.” One of Brown’s favourite moments on the set of Stranger Things was pranking their makeup artist by calling her and pretending her wedding venue was cancelled. “She just burst into tears, and we didn’t know what to do, so we pretended to put some hold music on by holding two phones together with one playing hold music from YouTube.”
LAMER THINGS
When asked whether she thought Stranger Things was going to be as big a success as it was, Brown admitted that “honestly, I thought it would flop.” While she fully trusted the directors, she didn’t expect people to react to it so strongly – “I was getting flowers from random people. I got flowers from Melissa McCarthy! It was the craziest thing in the world.”
DREAM ROLES
One of Brown’s dream roles would be to play Amy Winehouse. “Playing someone like her would be extremely powerful. I am absolutely obsessed with her – and I would love to have that beehive!”. While she will likely have to wait a few more years before she’s old enough to play the London legend, the few lines of Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good that she sang for her fans to close the panel indicated that her vocal abilities would definitely be up to the task.
Lead image by Ewan Ly
