Millie Bobby Brown has lived in the spotlight since she was 12 years old.
And in the years since her 2016 debut as Eleven in Stranger Things, the now 21-year-old has been plagued by scrutiny over her appearance—namely that some fans think she looks and dresses older than her age.
In fact, after British Vogue published an article titled, “No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks,” Millie reshared a screenshot to her Feb. 27 Instagram Story writing simply, “Thank you.”
The opinion piece points to Millie’s recent Electric State premiere, which saw her don a metallic gown, her blonde hair done in a dramatic updo. In the comment section of Millie’s post from the Feb. 24 premiere were criticisms such as, “Why this makeup and this blonde hair? You’re so cute in your natural version! In the actually pic you’re a 40[sic] Years old woman.”
Another user—amid many fans praising her look—commented, “What a mania she has for wanting to look older.”
The pointed criticism appears so regularly, in fact, that this is not the first time the Enola Holmes star has had to clap back this year.
After a mirror selfie Millie posted at the end of 2024 once again saw a flood of comments dissecting her appearance, the actress took to her Instagram Story days later to point out the obvious.
“Women grow!!” Millie wrote Jan. 1. ” Not sorry about it :)”
It’s a sentiment many fans tried to explain on the post in question, with one user writing, “Seriously, just because she started her career as a child doesn’t mean she’ll always stay the same.”
In addition to questions over her appearance, the British actress has also had to field user’s questions about why it sometimes sounds in interviews like she’s using an American accent.
“Let me just speak to that real quick,” she said in a March 2024 TikTok. “I’m an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America. I come to set and I’m an actor and I adapt. And so I want to mimic people.”
She explained that she often sounds more American around people like husband Jake Bongiovi, while back in England her British accent is more prominent.
“I don’t do it intentionally,” she noted. “I’m sorry if it offends you. Okay, but listen, I’m trying my best. I’m trying my best!”
