A Decade of On- and Off-Screen Connection

Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour have shared a unique, parental dynamic both on-screen and off for more than a decade. The actors met on the set of Netflix’s Stranger Things in 2015, when Brown was just 11 years old and Harbour, now 50, took on the role of Jim Hopper, the adoptive father of Brown’s character, Eleven.

Harbour previously described his connection with Brown as “protective,” adding that he has always felt a deep fatherly concern for her well-being and her career in the spotlight.

Brown, now 21, has similarly spoken of Harbour as a parental figure, noting that their relationship influenced the authentic portrayal of Eleven and Hopper’s bond on-screen.

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Alleged Harassment Claim

Recently, The Daily Mail reported that Brown filed a bullying and harassment claim against Harbour before filming season 5, prompting a months-long investigation. The complaint reportedly did not involve sexual misconduct. Reps for Netflix, Brown, and Harbour have not publicly commented.

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From Stern Mentor to Family

Harbour shared that during the early seasons, he aimed to preserve Hopper’s character off-camera to encourage strong performances from the young cast. Over time, his relationship with Brown and other younger actors — Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink — evolved into a family-like dynamic, balancing mentorship with warmth and humor.

“But then as the seasons go on, you just become like a family, and my sort of soft heart gets exposed,” Harbour said. “They start to be able to not really take me seriously anymore.”

He emphasized his concern over Brown growing up in the public eye:

“I have a real protective feeling for her. I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with. And I’ve just always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection for her.”

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Brown on the Dynamic

Brown has openly acknowledged Harbour’s guidance over the years. In 2018, she said:

“Winona Ryder and David Harbour are like my parents. On set, they’re like, ‘Stop running, what are you eating, why are you eating that?’”

Brown added that Harbour even monitored aspects of her personal life, especially relationships:

“David is like, ‘Another boy?’”

Reflecting on how their real-life relationship mirrored their characters’ journey, Brown told Empire Magazine:

“He always looked out for me, and I always annoyed him like a daughter or younger sister. I think that’s how the El and Hopper relationship really started to develop — it was mirroring our actual lives.”

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A Bond That Shaped Stranger Things

Harbour and Brown’s off-screen dynamic contributed to the raw and real emotional depth of their on-screen performances, allowing fans to connect more deeply with Eleven and Hopper. Their decade-long relationship has been a cornerstone of Stranger Things’ enduring success.