We all do crazy things in our 20s, whether that be getting tattoos, bold haircuts, drinking too much, or, in the case of Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown, 21, adopting a baby!
That’s right. The British actress, best known for her role as teenager Eleven in the hit Netflix TV series, has adopted a “sweet baby girl” with husband Jake Bongiovi, 24. Bongiovi is the son of American singer-songwriter and frontman of Bon Jovi, Jon Bongiovi.
Brown shared the news via an Instagram post, saying: “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption. We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. And then there were three.”
The couple have since been spotted walking around East Hampton with their baby girl in a stroller. In the paparazzi photos, fans noticed that Brown was carrying a phone case with the letters “RWB”, sparking speculation that these are her new daughter's initials.
Bongiovi and Brown tied the knot in May 2024 in a private ceremony in the United States, followed by a destination wedding in Tuscany later that month. For the bigger wedding, Brown wore a custom version of Galia Lahav's ANAIS gown. Their second ceremony was officiated by Stranger Things actor (and Eleven’s “papa”) Matthew Modine.
Brown has since taken Bongiovi’s last name, making her officially “Millie Bonnie Bongiovi”, but Millie Bobby Brown remains her stage name.
Eagle-eyed fans could have seen the adoption coming: not only has Brown spoken publicly about wanting a family before, but she has also addressed adoption.
Speaking on the Smartless podcast this March, she told interviewers Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett: “My mom actually had her first child at 21, and my dad was 19.
“I really want a family. I really want a big family. I'm one of four. [Bongiovi] is one of four.
“Since I was a baby, I told my mom, like, baby dolls. I wanted to be a mom just like the way my mom was to me. And my nan, my grandmother is, she was a huge part of my life.
“And so, yeah, I mean, Jake knows how important it is to me and, of course, I want to focus on really establishing myself as an actor and as a producer, but I also find it's so important to start a family for me personally.
“It's a huge thing. Jake was like, we cannot do that until we get married. So that was his thing.'
On adoption, she said: “I don't see having your own child, you know, as really any different as in adopting.
“My home is full of love for anyone and anything, and so that is what we kind of stand by. The energy in our house is the door is always open, and we want everyone to feel really comfortable.”
In case you’re wondering what Jon Bon Jovi thinks of it all, he previously addressed the couple’s beyond-their-years antics on on Radio Andy following their engagement.
“I don't know if age matters,” the Bon Jovi frontman, 62, said of the young couple. “If you find the right partner and you grow together ... my advice really is growing together is wise. I think that all of my kids have found people that they think they can grow together with and we like them all.”
“Millie is wonderful,” the rock icon added, saying that his son is “very, very happy.”
