Millie Bobby Brown, star of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, is bidding a heartfelt farewell to the show that has defined much of her career and life.
On Friday, the 20-year-old actress shared an emotional video of herself choking back tears while delivering a goodbye speech on the set of the final season.
“Isn’t graduation supposed to bring relief, like you’re glad to leave behind the teachers and classmates? Not me,” Brown said in the video posted on Instagram. “I am nowhere near ready to leave you guys.”
Holding back tears, she continued, “I love each and every one of you, and I’ll forever carry the memories and bonds we’ve created together as a family. I love you. Thank you.”
The video was part of a carousel of photos documenting her journey on the show, which began in 2016 when she was just 12 years old. Over the years, Brown has grown up in front of audiences, portraying Eleven, a telekinetic girl who became one of the most beloved characters on television.
Her time on the show has been transformative, propelling her to international stardom and opening doors to roles in films such as Enola Holmes. Beyond her career, she has also started a new chapter in her personal life, marrying Jake Bongiovi, son of rock icon Jon Bon Jovi, earlier this year.
Notably, her Stranger Things co-star Matthew Modine, who played Papa, officiated the wedding.
Netflix confirmed on Friday that production for the final season of Stranger Things had officially wrapped. “THAT’S A WRAP ON STRANGER THINGS,” read a post from Netflix’s official X account.
Brown’s co-stars also shared their reflections and emotions about the end of the series. Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, admitted on Instagram that he was “still in shock” that the show was ending.
Posting a nostalgic photo of himself and his co-stars during the early days of filming, Wolfhard wrote, “We shot (the final season) for a year and I’ll miss all of my friends and our characters terribly. When I think of the show, I picture this first photo. A bunch of goofy young people making something they think is cool but really have no clue what’s to come. I feel like we’re still those people, and I’m lucky to still stand beside them today.”
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, also shared his thoughts on Instagram, describing his feelings as “very emotional.”
Reflecting on his decade-long journey with the show, he wrote, “As I close this chapter of my life, I can’t help but be forever grateful for the incredible people that I’ve met and valuable life and career lessons I learned through this decade journey.”
David Harbour, who portrays Jim Hopper, previously teased the emotional weight of the final season during an October interview at New York Comic Con. He revealed that the cast became deeply moved while reading the script for the series finale.
“About halfway through, people started crying, and then (during) about the last 20 minutes, it was just uncontrollable crying, waves of different people,” Harbour recalled. He described the finale as “the best episode of the entire show,” crediting the writers for “landing the plane” with a satisfying conclusion.
Harbour also reflected on the profound personal impact the show has had on its younger cast members. “Part of that also is the fact that these kids, it was their childhood,” he said. “They started the show when they were 11 and 12, and here we are reading and it’s nine, 10 years later. We examine that idea (in the show). It’s so well done and so beautiful.”
As Stranger Things comes to a close, it marks the end of an era not only for its devoted fans but also for the cast and crew who have grown together over nearly a decade.
The show has left an indelible mark on television history, and its legacy will undoubtedly live on.
