Summary
Overview
Millie Bobby Brown joins Jay Shetty for an intimate conversation about motherhood, marriage to Jake Bongiovi, her adoption journey, battling anxiety and health anxiety, growing up as a child actor, and how she's building a life centered around family and authenticity. She opens up about finding peace through meditation in Japan, the importance of speaking your mind, and creating a strong foundation with her husband while blocking out public scrutiny.
Growing Up in the Spotlight and Defining Moments
Millie reflects on her childhood and the pivotal moment at age 10 when she shaved her head for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things. Her mother prepared her for the bullying that would follow, teaching her to stand by decisions that make her happy. This early lesson in authenticity shaped how she handles criticism today, though she faced years of public scrutiny about her appearance and choices as a young woman in Hollywood.
- At 10 years old, shaving her head for Stranger Things was a defining moment showing dedication to her craft
- Her mother prepared her for bullying by explaining that she made the choice because it made her happy
- She was bullied in person for having short hair but her mother's preparation helped protect her
- Got her first tattoo (the number 11) at 16, which her dad didn't know about for four years
" Your hair as a girl, you're told is kind of like what defines you as being kind of a girl and pretty and, you know, whatever. And I just didn't care about that. I wanted to do what made me happy. "
" Don't lie to me. I was never the kid, like, don't lie to me. I'd rather just know. "
The Transformative Power of Motherhood Through Adoption
Millie discusses how becoming a mother through adoption was always part of her journey, inspired by adopted friends and her desire to study social work. She describes motherhood as transforming her life from "black and white to color," not because of daily tasks but because of witnessing her daughter experience life's simple joys for the first time. The moment she received the call about her daughter was sacred and intentionally left unrecorded.
- Adoption was always in her heart as the first thing she wanted to do when becoming a mother
- She studied social work for two years, focusing primarily on adoption from the social worker's perspective
- Started a dog rescue simultaneously and changed her degree to vet tech to learn about animal care
- The call about her daughter was the most surreal feeling, and she knew immediately they had found each other
- The phone call was never recorded, making it sacred and memorable only to her and Jake
" The color is like the life and light in her eyes when you look at her and she's thinking and she's putting two and two together and she's seeing flowers or smelling flowers for the first time or reacting to the sun in the morning like that is the color like it's seeing somebody enjoy and love life for the first time in the most pure stunning way. "
" There are two ways to have a baby one through your stomach and one through your heart. My girl was through my heart. "
" My whole life's recorded, you know like I could look back on any moment and be like I remember when I was there and I was that and doing that and something about that my husband and I will never forget those words where we were what we were doing the feeling and I think in so many ways like that is that is why that that shouldn't be recorded. "
📚 8 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future On Purpose with Jay Shetty episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new On Purpose with Jay Shetty episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.