Millie Bobby Brown reveals why she apologized to her 'Stranger Things' castmates after the series finale

• Brown said the end of the series led to a brief period of depression.
• She reached out to castmates to strengthen their friendships.
• The actress felt vulnerable after leaving the show behind.
• Stranger Things was a major part of her life for 10 years.
• Brown remains hopeful about Eleven’s future after the finale.

Millie Bobby Brown has shared how emotional it was to say goodbye to Stranger Things after spending a decade on the hit Netflix series.

Speaking with Josh Horowitz during a live recording of the Happy Sad Confused podcast in New York on Wednesday (24), the actress admitted that the show's ending had a surprising effect on her mental health.

"I went into a little bit of a slight, slight depression," Brown said. "It was very hard for me. I would not have expected that coming off of the show. I'm a very happy-go-lucky person."

The 22-year-old explained that finishing the series left her feeling uncertain about her relationships with her longtime castmates, including Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, and Joe Keery. Because of those feelings, she decided to reach out to them personally.

"They probably thought I was crazy," she recalled. "I was like, 'We're still friends, right? Like, you're not gonna stop talking to me anymore?' I was like, 'I'm sorry if I ever upset you,' and was just trying to mend anything. 'It's been 10 years, and I really want to be friends. You're my sibling.'"

Brown said the emotional weight of ending the series became clear during a quiet moment after filming had wrapped.

"Then I was on the beach, it was beautiful, and I just sat there crying," Brown—who shares a daughter with husband Jake Bongiovi—added. "It was a very hard time for me."

For Brown, the conclusion of Stranger Things represented much more than the end of a television show. It marked the closing of an important chapter in her life. She joined the series at just 10 years old and grew up alongside both the cast and her character, Eleven.

"No one will ever understand it," she emphasized. "I started the show when I was 10. This character was me and these people were in my life more than my own family. I saw these people more than going home and eating dinner with my family."

After spending 10 years working on the show, Brown said the farewell was deeply emotional.

"Saying goodbye to that after 10 years was a very, very emotional thing," she continued. "I'm going to miss Eleven more than anything."

The actress also addressed the ongoing fan discussions about Eleven’s fate in the series finale. While some viewers and cast members believe the character may have sacrificed herself, Brown remains optimistic.

"All people say now is, 'Do you believe?'" she explained. "Of course, I believe. I have to believe."

Although she has strong feelings about what may happen next for Eleven, Brown is keeping any details private. She revealed that Stranger Things creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer asked her not to share certain information.

"They were like, 'Do not tell anyone. Because we made it a secret kind of pledge,'" Brown said. "No one else knows. It's just us three. And what we do with that information, it'll be up to them."

While the series has ended, Brown's connection to Eleven and her castmates remains as strong as ever, even as she moves on to the next stage of her career.