Millie Bobby Brown made no secret of her desire to become a young mother — following in the footsteps of her own mom, who had her first child at 21.
Despite being very vocal about her dream of starting a family with husband Jake Bongiovi, 23, as soon as possible, the Stranger Things actress, 21, left fans stunned after announcing they have a daughter.
‘This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,’ the couple wrote in a heartfelt joint statement via Instagram on Thursday. ‘We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.’
They signed off the post with: ‘And then there were 3. Love, Millie and Jake Bongiovi.’
Although the announcement shocked many, DailyMail.com has traced back the trail of clues that suggested the couple were already preparing for parenthood.
From Millie’s candid talk about adoption to the couple’s ‘abundance of animals’ on their farm, it now seems clear they had been hinting at baby plans all along.
Millie Bobby Brown made no secret of her desire to become a young mother — following in the footsteps of her own mom, who had her first child at 21
Despite being very vocal about her dream of starting a family with husband Jake Bongiovi as soon as possible, the couple stunned fans by announcing they quietly adopted a baby girl
Her candid talk about adoption
While appearing on Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes’ SmartLess podcast in March, the Stranger Things star, 21, openly discussed building her family through adoption.
‘I don’t see having your own child, you know, as really any different as in adopting,’ she explained. ‘For me, like, my home is full of love for anyone and anything, and so that is what we stand by, Jake and I — our energy in the house is like, “The door is always open.”‘
At the time, it sounded like a sweet sentiment. Now, it reads like foreshadowing.
Although the announcement shocked many, DailyMail.com has traced back the trail of clues that suggested the couple were already preparing for parenthood
Following in her mother’s footsteps
Millie has long said she wanted to become a young mom, just like her mother, who had her first child at 21.
On that same podcast, the performer explained: ‘My mom actually had her first child at 21, and my dad was 19. And you know, it’s been my thing since before I met Jake.’
‘Since I was a baby, I told my mom, like, baby dolls. I wanted to be a mom just like the way my mom was to me. And my nan, my grandmother, was a huge part of my life,’ she explained.
Clearly, family traditions, and timing, were always on the front of Millie’s mind.
From Millie’s candid talk about adoption to the couple’s ‘abundance of animals’ on their farm, it now seems clear they had been hinting at baby plans all along; seen with Jake Bongiovi in 2022
Jake wanted marriage first
While Millie admitted she was ready to welcome a baby even before walking down the aisle, Jake had one stipulation.
He wanted to wait until they legally tied the knot.
‘Jake was like, we cannot do that until we get married,’ she revealed. ‘So that was his thing. And my thing was, I really want a family. I really want a big family. I’m one of four. He’s one of four. So, it is definitely in our future.’
The couple wed in May 2024 at Villa Cetinale in Tuscany in a lavish Italian celebration — and within months, they made good on Millie’s wish.
Back in April, fans were convinced Millie had already become a mom when she posted a carousel of photos, ending with an image of Jake playing with a little girl
Instagram clues
Back in April, fans were convinced Millie had already become a mom when she posted a carousel of photos, ending with an image of Jake playing with a little girl.
‘The last photo you reveal something to us??????’ one follower asked.
Another wrote: ‘AWWW THE LAST PIC IS SO CUTEEE AW❤️.’
A third chimed in simply: ‘Mommy.’
At the time, it was written off as speculation. But clearly, fans were onto something.
Over the years, Millie has leaned into a quieter, home-focused lifestyle with Jake, which she discussed in depth on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast
Her ‘tradwife’ comments
Over the years, Millie has leaned into a quieter, home-focused lifestyle with Jake, which she discussed in depth on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast.
‘I get it. I understand why they would say that because I am actually, like, I have chickens, I get the eggs. I know what it looks like from afar,’ she admitted of being called a ‘tradwife.’
‘I love my job. I love being untraditional and unconventional in so many ways of my life. I love being on a farm, and Jake does, too. So like, that would then make him a tradhusband.’
She also confessed she prepares dinner every night, adding: ‘Cooking is, that’s where I find I can put all my anxiety into cooking. And I’m really, really good.’
For Millie, domestic bliss seemed to be another step in preparing for motherhood.
As Millie joked, the couple already had a taste of parenthood thanks to their sprawling menagerie at home
An ‘abundance of animals’
As Millie joked, the couple already had a taste of parenthood thanks to their sprawling menagerie at home.
She revealed they share 25 farm animals, 10 dogs, four cats and foster an additional 23 dogs.
For those looking back, their household and ‘abundance of animals’ sounds less like a retreat and more like preparing for their family in the making.
Now, with their baby girl finally home, Millie’s long-stated wish of becoming a young mother has come true.
For a star who grew up on-screen from the age of 12, her new role may be the most meaningful yet.
And if her own words are any guide, this is only the beginning as Brown has always expressed wanting a big family.
