Millie Bobby Brown opened up about the most unexpected part of shaving her head

Millie Bobby Brown is only 14 years old, but she’s been a household name ever since Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016. Brown significantly changed up her personal look to play Eleven, and she just opened up about what it was like to sport Eleven’s signature shaved head in real life.

In a new interview in W Magazine‘s latest issue, Brown admits that “the shaved head was a big deal,” revealing the biggest lesson she learned from the experience. “On the one hand, it was cool,” she shared. “When you’re bald, rain feels like a head massage. I’d walk in the rain, and people would look at me like I was crazy. I’d be smiling — so, so happy to have the water hit my naked head.”

"But on the other hand, people stared at me, wondering whether I was sick," she added. "Some would even laugh at me, without knowing whether I was or wasn’t sick. It was hurtful, but their attitude taught me something about compassion. In the end, being bald was the best thing I ever did — being different changed my life. I wanted to embrace my baldness and, hopefully, inspire people. And, now, that’s become my message to the world."

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As much as it hurts to hear that people would actually laugh at another person (let alone a child) for their differences, we’re so inspired by Brown’s message of kindness and self-acceptance. Rising above the cruelty of others is no easy feat — even for adults — and we love that she’s setting such a positive example for fans, old and young alike.