Millie Bobby Brown Reveals Why She Rejected Glitz and Glamour of L.A. To Live on ‘Chaotic’ Georgia Farm With Husband Jake Bongiovi

“Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown has lifted the lid on her farm lifestyle with her husband, Jake Bongiovi, as she opened up about why she has chosen to reject the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in favor of a rural environment.

The 20-year-old actress—who was thrust into the spotlight when she was just 12 after she earned the leading role in Netflix’s sci-fi drama—spoke to Vanity Fair about her decision to embrace a traditional lifestyle in Georgia.

It has helped her to find a sense of normalcy, despite her extraordinary career path, she explained. Although she grew accustomed to the flashing lights and watchful eyes as a child, she ultimately grew tired of the limelight and wanted a home where she could have space and privacy.

So, after tying the knot, Brown and Bongiovi, 20, who is the son of rocker Jon Bon Jovi, moved to a sprawling Georgia farm at the back of an exclusive street hidden by rows of pine trees.

It’s there that Brown can lean in to her love of animals by creating a sanctuary for goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, and her therapy dog Winnie, whom she adopted five years ago to help with her panic attacks.

Brown’s decision to live in a remote location has drawn some comparisons to the viral “tradwife” trend, in which women conform to their conventional gender role, which sees them cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the home. Meanwhile, husbands work outside the home and are the sole breadwinner.

The Netflix star insisted that she did not choose her home—or her lifestyle—out of a desire to adhere to a popular “aesthetic.” Instead, she embraced that way of living simply because she “loves it” and all of the “chaos” that comes with it.

In the wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair, Brown admitted that the farm life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It was nothing like the glamorous shots seen online.

“I’m not doing it for the aesthetic. I’m doing it because I love it. There are maybe some tradwives out there doing it because it seems wholesome, but it is not,” she said.

“If you’re not picking up horse—- or washing a cow with your bare hands, then that life is not made for you at all.”

The A-lister—who rescues dogs from kill shelters and works to find them forever homes through her organization, Joey’s Friends—also gushed about her passion for animals and how it inspired her to leave behind her normal glam.

She revealed that she has taken several animal-focused online courses at Purdue University and is preparing for an externship, which will see her observing surgeries.

“I’m able to treat wounds, take their pulse, moderate blood pressure, things like that. I do all their medical records myself,” Brown explained.

“Adoption campaigns are wonderful temporarily, but you really have to get in there and do the work to make a difference.”

Further in the interview, Brown revealed that she had to keep a tight circle due to her stardom, adding that life on the farm helped her “thrive.”

“I don’t have many friends, because of who I am. I didn’t go to school, so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them,” she said.

The Hollywood star added: “You think animals are peaceful. You think the South is peaceful. You think this place is peaceful. But there’s so much chaos. My animals are loud, and it’s messy and my dogs are crazy.

“And there is, you know, laughter and a lot of passion and excitement, and it is a very vibrant place. There is so much chaos, and that is where I thrive.”

Brown has previously shared glimpses of her beloved farm on her Instagram account. The actress can be seen strolling through her farm while feeding her animals.

Brown and Bongiovi met through mutual friends and first sparked romance rumors in 2021. They said “I do” in May 2024 and had a larger wedding ceremony in Italy in September 2024.

Speaking about her romance with her husband, Brown admitted that he is the first man she has ever “been in love with.”

Since the beginning of their relationship, “we were pretty united. … We talked about our political views, what kind of family we want to build, the kind of home we want to live in, the kind of relationship we’re looking for, the kind of careers we want,” she said.

“It’s such an important decision, and we wanted to make sure we were making the right one. I knew I was. It always felt right with him,” the actress added.

In addition to her Georgia farm, Brown also owns a mansion in London.

Brown was born in Spain and moved to England when she was 4. When she was 8, Brown’s family moved to Orlando, FL. Her parents have since moved back to England.