Millie Bobby Brown Is Ready to Say Goodbye to 'Stranger Things' — What She's Planning Next

The Netflix star has a lot of passions and ambitions, but doesn't 'want anything handed to me.'

Millie Bobby Brown is ready to move on from Stranger Things.

Since 2016, the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador has played Eleven on the global phenomenon created by the Duffer Brothers. With Stranger Things set to come to a close with Season 5, Brown told Parade that "yes, I think I am ready" to say goodbye to her character and the Netflix series.

"It's been a long time coming and I think the fans need closure," she said with a laugh, "And so do the actors. So I think we're definitely ready to be able to say goodbye to those roles and thank them and be grateful for the time that I've had with them, but I'm ready to move on to new projects and new roles to fulfill."

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will reportedly begin filming in June. During Parade's chat with Millie in mid-February to discuss her new partnership with Essentia Water, which was officially announced on March 7, Brown shared that she was ready to finish the series "off with a bang."

Brown, who is in her first year of college studying human services, has made an effort to balance school and work. The actress, who previously felt like she couldn't do both simultaneously, pointed out that Essentia Water's "Stop for Nothing" campaign is "kind of [her] message." She said, "I felt like it was going to be too hard for me, but stopping for nothing, you know, really why do I have to choose one? I can find a balance. And I didn't want to stop. I wanted to do both. So I made that happen."

Related: Which Stranger Things Song Is On Prince Charles' Coronation Playlist?

Continue reading to find out what Millie Bobby Brown told Parade about being enrolled in college (ironically, one located in Indiana!), her wellness routine and being aware of her privilege.

What made this partnership with Essentia Water a great fit for you?

It's really hard to find companies that share the same message and objective and goal with Florence by Mills, my skincare and beauty line. I care so much about what my consumers want, my fans want and giving them what they need, which is hydration and skincare.

So much of my day-to-day life is putting makeup on, taking it off, putting makeup on, taking it off and so I found that the balance of that was hydration in my moisturizers and my face washes and really focusing on giving back what your skin is really needing and wanting. So when this collaboration came around, I thought what better way to share that same message with Essentia which is giving people what everyone needs—water. Not only taking care of your skin, but taking care of your body and what you need as a human being.

Related: Why David Harbour Says Stranger Things Needs to End

What does your wellness and self-care routine look like?

I have a routine because I need routine—I think everyone needs routine. I think it's really important to be able to have that 10 minutes of your day so that you can focus on yourself and give back what your soul needs.

So much of the day consists of work, work, work for me, so being able to take that 10 minutes out of my day to drink a bottle of water, sit down, do something I enjoy, play with my animals—you know, even just sit in my office and be able to talk to people, take care of myself, take care of my skin. I think so much of that is what makes me ready for the next day. So that routine is just basically, consists of drinking water, playing with my animals, doing my skincare routine, going to therapy, journaling and doing what I love, creating more goals.

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Does it ever get challenging for you to maintain your self-care routine while balancing school and work?

Of course! I mean it's not like I have it in the bag. I'm 19 years old. So there are days where I go, "Oh my gosh, I haven't focused on myself at least once during the last few days!" and that's too long to go without kind of recognizing that. So I take a minute, get a bottle of water, and sit down and either do something I really like, watch something I really like, journal, listen to music, which is something I also really enjoy doing, and talk to the people I love. There's nothing more interesting than talking to the people around you.

Related: Everything We Know About Stranger Things Season 5

How is your first year of college going?

It's going good! At times it can be challenging to balance both, but that's just finding that balance and being comfortable with sharing your time between work and school. But this is something that I'm really interested in, and I felt that my role with UNICEF was far too big for me to just take on the chin. I felt like there were so many amazing people before me who paved the way with UNICEF and their roles, and I felt that I needed to know and learn more about what that role looks like for me so that I can fulfill that and do my part.

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You're taking online classes?

Yes! I'm taking online classes. Because I work, and so I basically do it in my trailer when I'm not working.

Related: How Paul Reiser Got Involved In Stranger Things

What exactly are you studying?

Human services.

Related: See the Stranger Things Kids' Unforgettable Audition Videos

Is it a huge coincidence that you're enrolled in a university that's located in Indiana?

I thought people were going to be interested in that! No, I didn't really know. I was just looking at some of the best online curriculums and Purdue Global was that for me. I was really lucky to be able to get in and to be able to be part of a curriculum that actually just means so much to me, and such a niche program to focus on human beings indulge in some really exciting topics that I really am interested in and focusing on communities and marginalized groups and areas, and bringing people together, which is my goal. And learning more about people's experiences and empathizing with that and doing my part.

That's why I really like Essentia, because the whole brand campaign is "Stop for Nothing," so that's kind of my message. I felt like I couldn't do school and work at the same time. I felt like it was going to be too hard for me, but stopping for nothing—really, why do I have to choose one? I can find a balance. And I didn't want to stop. I wanted to do both. So I made that happen.

Related: Fun Facts About Stranger Things Mom Winona Ryder

And one of those things you're balancing is Stranger Things! How are you feeling about returning to Hawkins, Indiana, for one final season this year?

I'm feeling good. I'm feeling ready to get back to work and to be able to finish it off with a bang.

Related: 45 Best Stranger Things Quotes by Character—Everyone From Eleven to Eddie!

Are you ready to say goodbye to this character and the series?

Yes, I think I am ready. I think it's been—it's been a long time coming, and I think the fans need closure, and so do the actors. So I think we're definitely ready to be able to say goodbye to those roles and thank them and be grateful for the time that I've had with them, but I'm ready to move on to new projects and new roles to fulfill.

Related: Millie Bobby Brown Reflects on 'Unhealthy' Past Relationship

Obviously you're sworn to secrecy, and can't spill any details, but how would you describe the final season?

I don't know what it's about. Like I honestly don't know what it's about. Nobody's shared anything with me, so you'd have to ask the people that are experts in Stranger Things for that one.

Related: Why Maya Hawke Wants Her Character to Die in Stranger Things Season 5

Last year you made your directorial debut with a short film for Samsung. Is directing something you'd like to continue pursuing?

Yeah, absolutely. I have many passions and ambitions, but I also am very aware that it takes a lot to fill those boots and I don't want anything handed to me. I want to be able to work for what I want and I'm striving for that.

You know, there are many young women like me that are in film school studying directing and I'm really aware that I have the privilege of being able to take control of the narratives that I want to put out in the world, so I definitely want to work my way to that point of success. I just want to do it in the right way that feels right to me, and be super aware that there are other young women that also deserve that opportunity. So for me right now producing is a really good way of segueing into that world appropriately.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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