Millie Bobby Brown says adoption was always part of the family she imagined for herself, and she still hopes to carry a child one day.
The Stranger Things star spoke about motherhood, adoption, privacy, and online judgment during a new appearance on Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast. Brown and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, announced in August 2025 that they had welcomed a baby girl through adoption.
People reported that Brown, 22, said adoption had been part of her dream since childhood. She also clarified that adopting first does not mean she has ruled out pregnancy later.
“It’s not because I don’t want that,” Brown said of carrying a child, according to People. “Hopefully one day that’s in my future.”
Brown Said Adoption Was Always Part of Her Childhood Dream
Brown told Kelce that adoption was never a backup plan. She said her parents noticed when she was 5 or 6 that the baby dolls she played with were always “adopted,” and she never pretended she was pregnant while playing with them.
“Always, always wanted to adopt,” Brown said on the podcast, according to People. She also said she studied social work before switching to veterinary science, and that her social work courses made adoption especially meaningful to her.
Brown said she and Bongiovi spent time learning about adoption and reading about the experience of birth mothers before moving forward. “Adoption is love, adoption is forever,” she said.
She and Jake Bongiovi Are Keeping Their Daughter’s Life Private
Brown and Bongiovi announced their daughter’s adoption in August 2025 with a joint statement. “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” they wrote at the time, according to People. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in peace and privacy.”
The couple has not publicly shared their daughter’s name or shown her face online. People reported that Brown and Bongiovi have kept the baby’s life relatively private, and Brown gave a similar explanation in a British Vogue interview, saying her daughter can decide later whether she wants to share parts of herself publicly.
Brown grew up in front of a global audience after being cast in Stranger Things as a child. In another People report from the same podcast appearance, she said that experience affects how she thinks about raising her daughter and protecting her sense of safety.
Brown Said She Wants Her Daughter to Speak Freely
Brown told Kelce that she wants to create a home where her daughter feels loved, nurtured, safe, and confident. She also said she wants her child to know she can speak up rather than feel silenced.
The actress joked that her baby already sounds ready to argue her point when she babbles. Brown said she responds as if her daughter is making a real case, encouraging the idea that she should have a voice even while she is still too young to speak clearly.
She Also Addressed Online Mom-Shaming
Brown said motherhood has brought judgment from other mothers online. People reported that she described the criticism as “vicious” and said she has learned where to draw the line.
She also said she gets support from her parents and in-laws, who encourage her without overwhelming her with advice. Brown told Extra in May that all maternal figures should be celebrated, including adoptive mothers, birth mothers, and others helping raise children.