Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown says she never 'healed' after grandmother's death

Millie Bobby Brown recently revealed an unexpected career aspiration during an interview on Radio 4's Women's Hour.  While discussing her new book, Nineteen Steps, which draws inspiration from her late grandmother's stories, she disclosed that she had a passion for working in a care home. She also shed light on her bond with her grandmother. 

2 things you need to know

• Millie Bobby Brown rose to fame with her stint as Eleven in Stranger Things.
• Her grandmother, Ruth, passed away in November 2020 due to Alzheimer's Disease.

Brown's novel is inspired by her grandmother

Millie Bobby Brown's novel, Nineteen Steps, was influenced by her grandmother's tales of life during the war. She said that her grandmother's experiences served as a foundation for the book's narrative. The 19-year-old actress spoke fondly of her interest in older people's history and the interesting stories they share, even if some are "embellished or fictional".

 

 

 

 

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The young actress expressed her hope that reading her book would motivate others to engage with their grandparents or parents to learn about their family history. She emphasised the importance of spending time with older generations and actively listening to their stories. Brown also encouraged the idea of volunteering at care homes.

Honouring her grandmother's memory

Millie Bobby Brown's grandmother, Ruth, passed away in November 2020 due to Alzheimer's Disease. When recording the audiobook for Nineteen Steps, the actress paid tribute to her grandmother's memory by lighting a candle and placing her picture in front of her. She shared that revisiting her grandmother's stories during this process was "emotional but essential".

"Losing her was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through and I don't know if I necessarily healed from it fully. I was with her for a lot of my childhood by choice. I love my parents but they are not as interesting as her," she said. 

Reflecting on her childhood, Brown explained that she spent a significant part of it with her grandmother by choice, as she found her grandmother's stories more interesting than anything else. She described her desire to capture her grandmother's life stories, especially those related to the war, which became even more prominent when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She said that despite memory loss, her grandmother would remember remarkable details from her past.