Millie Bobby Brown has been honing her martial arts skills since she was a teenager, as revealed during a recent cast interview for “The Electric State.” The actress, who rose to fame as Eleven in “Stranger Things,” disclosed that her training in jiu-jitsu began years ago and was further developed for her role in the Netflix mystery film “Enola Holmes.”
“In Enola Holmes I got to learn a lot of jiujitsu and marshal [arts],” Brown shared during the interview. “I think that I loved [it] cuz I love boxing and stuff like that, so I think that was the coolest skill I got to learn.”
Brown’s martial arts journey actually began much earlier than her work on “Enola Holmes.” Records show she first stepped onto the mat at Phoenix BJJ in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, when she was just 12 years old. In August 2016, shortly after gaining recognition for her role in “Stranger Things,” she was photographed receiving a stripe on her white belt. Her instructor at the time was black belt Trevor Chamberlain at a club affiliated with former world champion Fernando ‘Terere’.
This early training proved valuable when preparing for her role as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister years later. In March 2021, Brown gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at her intensive fight scene training for “Enola Holmes” by sharing a throwback video on Instagram.
The training footage showed Brown, then 17, executing a series of coordinated attacks and defensive maneuvers with a stunt performer. Despite her opponent being twice her size, the video showcased Brown’s ability to throw punches, utilize props as weapons, and even successfully pin down her training partner.
“This video is nearly 2 years old!! training for my girl, enola,”
she captioned the post to her 43.5 million followers.
Brown’s dedication to physical preparation extended beyond just memorizing choreography. Her training incorporated authentic jiu-jitsu techniques that transferred seamlessly to the film’s action sequences, where she sported a red dress while putting her skills to use.
The British actress, who grew up in Dorset before moving to Florida at age eight to pursue acting, has continued to expand her martial arts repertoire alongside her flourishing career. This physical training has become part of her diverse skill set as she takes on increasingly complex roles in Hollywood productions.
In “Enola Holmes,” Brown not only starred as the title character but also served as a producer for the film, which featured Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes, and Helena Bonham Carter as their missing mother. Originally planned for theatrical release by Warner Bros., the movie was acquired by Netflix in April 2020.
Brown continues to evolve as an actress, and her martial arts background demonstrates her commitment to physically demanding performances that began in her early teens and continues to serve her well in action-oriented roles.
