Millie Bobby Brown has spoken out about the dangers of salary contracts being leaked, following reports that revealed her earnings for Netflix’s Enola Holmes 2. The leaked documents, which surfaced in July 2022, indicated that Brown was paid $10 million for starring in and producing the film, making her the highest-paid actor under 20 years old. Additional leaks of her salary for Stranger Things revealed she earned at least $250,000 per episode starting from the third season.
While Brown did not confirm or deny these figures, she expressed concern over the impact of such revelations on young actors. In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, Brown stated that contracts for teen stars should never be made public. “It just puts children in a really dangerous situation,” she said. “I think everybody’s a little bit too lax about the way that children are brought up in the industry.”
Brown acknowledged that she has always felt supported by her parents and Netflix, which has produced both Stranger Things and Enola Holmes, but emphasized that young stars’ privacy should be protected to ensure their safety. “I grew up with a lot of eyes on my parents, but I feel that those were the people that protected me the most,” she added.
The 19-year-old also reflected on her upbringing, crediting her parents for teaching her how to advocate for herself at a young age. “I think it’s a very powerful word,” she said, referring to “no.” “My mom is very knowing and wise, and she advocates for herself. My dad has always been someone who pushes me to stand up for myself and never settle for anything less than what I deserve.”
As a child star, Brown has been open about the challenges of fame, particularly the toll it has taken on her mental health. She explained that she doesn’t allow many people into her life and prefers to maintain a private, moderated circle. She also recalled a traumatic experience at age 13 when a paparazzi member sneaked onto the set of a fashion shoot in Australia and took invasive photos of her.
“I didn’t have anything [on underneath]… It wasn’t too much, but it was enough for it not to be okay,” Brown shared. “I think, just in general, there should be more laws with the media in terms of paparazzi in terms of exploitation.”
Brown is set to appear in Netflix’s The Electric State, alongside Chris Pratt, which will stream on March 14, 2024. For more on her interview, read the full Vanity Fair cover story online.