Cover Millie Bobby Brown has built a remarkable career spanning television and film (Photo: @milliebobbybrown / Instagram)
Millie Bobby Brown has built a remarkable career spanning television and film (Photo: @milliebobbybrown / Instagram)
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From her Emmy-nominated turn as Eleven to leading major film franchises, Millie Bobby Brown has built a career that traces a clear path from breakout child star to global screen presence
As Millie Bobby Brown marks her birthday, it’s worth taking stock of a career that has unfolded quickly and in full public view. From the decade-defining Stranger Things (2016–2026) to the Enola Holmes franchise and ambitious blockbusters like The Electric State (2025), her must-watch roles trace the evolution of a streaming-era star coming into her own.
The young star occupies a curious space in Hollywood: critics may debate her biggest projects, but her audience shows up, keeping her among the most bankable young actors today. With Stranger Things concluding in December 2025 and this summer’s Enola Holmes 3 signalling her next chapter, these roles reveal how she has navigated child stardom, franchise fame and the pressures of growing up onscreen—without losing her hold on viewers.
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‘Enola Holmes 2’ (2022): her highest-rated film and creative peak
Above Millie Bobby Brown stars as the titular detective in ‘Enola Holmes 2’
With a 93 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, this sequel represents Mille Bobby Brown’s critical masterpiece. Integrating the real-world 1888 Matchgirls’ strike, she elevated the franchise beyond light mystery into socially conscious historical fiction. Her producing prowess through PCMA Productions shines here, proving she’s an architect of compelling narratives that educate and entertain.
‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025): the cultural phenomenon that defined a decade
Above Millie Bobby Brown is Eleven in the decade-spanning series ‘Stranger Things’
From the child with psychic powers to the controversial messiah figure of 2025’s finale, Eleven defined Brown’s adolescence and Netflix’s golden era. The December 2025 conclusion sparked “Conformity Gate”—fan theories so intense they crashed servers. Ten years, five seasons and billions in cultural impact: this role transformed her from unknown to icon.
‘Enola Holmes’ (2020): the franchise that proved she could carry a film
Above Millie Bobby Brown breaks the fourth wall as Enola Holmes in the 2020 film
This feminist reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes mythology showcased Milly Bobby Brown’s star power during pandemic lockdowns. Her fourth-wall-breaking performance created conspiratorial intimacy with audiences, earning a 91 per cent critical score. Co-starring Henry Cavill (Sherlock) and Sam Claflin (Mycroft), she commanded every frame whilst establishing the franchise that would define her producing ambitions.
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‘Godzilla vs Kong’ (2021): the billion-dollar blockbuster
Above Millie Bobby Brown stars as Madison Russell in the monster blockbuster ‘Godzilla vs Kong’
Reprising Madison Russell, Brown grounded this CGI-heavy spectacle with genuine human emotion. Whilst critics found the plot serviceable, audiences embraced it—the film earned over US$470 million globally in its theatrical run. Millie Bobby Brown’s ability to anchor massive tentpoles proved she could navigate both intimate character work and stadium-sized action.
‘Damsel’ (2024): the review-proof hit that dominated streaming
Above Millie Bobby Brown subverts fairy tale expectations in Netflix’s ‘Damsel’
Here’s where the critic-audience divide becomes pronounced. Reviews were lukewarm (56 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes), citing algorithmic storytelling. Yet Damsel dominated Netflix, becoming the streamer’s most-watched film globally in 2024. Brown’s dragon-slaying princess proved her name alone drives viewership—critical consensus be damned.
‘The Electric State’ (2025): the fan-favourite sci-fi epic
Above Millie Bobby Brown in the Russo Brothers’ sci-fi epic ‘The Electric State’
This Russo Brothers sci-fi epic, co-starring Chris Pratt, earned a devastating 14 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes and Razzie nominations. Yet audiences adored it, making it among Netflix’s most-watched sci-fi films and earning Millie Bobby Brown a Kids’ Choice Award nomination for Favourite Movie Actress. The Electric State is the ultimate proof that her Gen Z fanbase doesn’t need reviews.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
