The Stranger Things star says young female actors face intense scrutiny over appearance, unlike their male co-stars.

Millie Bobby Brown has opened up about the different pressures faced by young actresses in the entertainment industry, reflecting on her experience growing up on Stranger Things alongside four male co-stars.

Speaking on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Brown said she witnessed a significant difference in how young female and male actors were discussed in the media.

“I grew up on a show with four boys,” Brown said, while acknowledging that her male co-stars had their own experiences and challenges.

However, she said the scrutiny directed at the girls on the show was particularly intense, especially when it came to their appearance.

Brown recalled that she rarely saw headlines about her male castmates focusing on what they wore on the red carpet, their hair, makeup or the things they said.

Instead, she said the coverage surrounding the boys was more likely to focus on their achievements and success.

“It was about how amazing they were, how successful they were,” Brown said, adding that female actors should receive the same treatment.

She argued that young actresses should not have their careers defined by criticism of their appearance.

“My headline shouldn’t be tearing me down,” the actress said.

Brown also expressed frustration over the way young women entering the entertainment industry can become targets of similar scrutiny.

“I just feel very protective of the girls that are coming up into the industry,” she said, adding that this should not have to become “their storyline”.

Millie Bobby Brown advocates for young actresses

Brown’s comments highlight her concerns about the expectations placed on young women working in Hollywood and the way media coverage can focus heavily on their appearance rather than their professional accomplishments.

The actress rose to international fame through Stranger Things, in which she plays Eleven. The series became one of Netflix’s most successful shows and established Brown as one of its leading young stars.

Her latest comments reflect her broader concern that young actresses should be recognised for their talent and achievements rather than subjected to disproportionate scrutiny over their looks and personal presentation.