Photo: Noah Schnapp/Youtube
From strangers toStranger Things.
AlthoughBrown’s ElevenandSchnapp’s Will Byersdidn’t have much onscreen interaction within the first three seasons, the two have grown extremely close behind the scenes.
Whether they’re tearing up red carpets, filming TikTok challenges, orhitting the dance floorat award show afterparties, Brown and Schnapp always bring the fun.
They’ve alsogrown up alongside each other! WhenBrown first auditioned forStranger Things, she was 11 years old. Meanwhile,Schnapp was 9 years old at the time. Now, as the show enters its penultimate fourth season, Brown is 18 and Schnapp is 17.
Between their silly videos and sweet photos together, take a look back at Brown and Schnapp’s friendship through the years.
Noah Schnapp/Instagram
WhileStranger Thingsseason one began filming in September 2015, Schnapp documented hisfirst day on setwith an Instagram photo posted on Dec. 16.
Brown excitedly posed next to Schnapp, while the rest of the gang —Caleb McLaughlin,Gaten Matarazzo, andFinn Wolfhard— also gathered around for the selfie.
“Day one here we go,” Schnapp captioned the post.
Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Marking the first of many, Brown and Schnapp hit the red carpet together at theStranger Thingsseason 1 premiere on July 11, 2016. They posed alongside cast membersWinona Ryder, McLaughlin, Matarazzo, and Matthew Modine.
Noah Schnapp Instagram
Ahead of the award show circuit, in which theStranger Thingscast famously made their rounds, Brown and Schnapp attended the annualBAFTA Tea Partyevent in Beverly Hills on Jan. 7, 2017.
The dynamic duo were newbies on the star-studded scene at the time but made sure tosnag a selfiewithJustin Timberlakewhile they were there.
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
The dynamic duo didn’t just walk the red carpet at the 2017 Weinstein Company and NetflixGolden Globesafterparty on Jan. 8, they struck some fierce poses as well! Brown hit a power stance with her hands on her hips, while Schnapp crouched down and pointed at the camera.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Emotions ran high for theStranger Thingscast when they won the award for outstanding ensemble in a drama series at the 23rd AnnualScreen Actors Guild Awardson Jan. 29, 2017.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company/Netflix
Jason LaVeris/WireImage
Brown and Schnapp sweetly wrapped their arms around each other on the red carpet at theStranger ThingsFYC event at Netflix FYSee Space in Beverly Hills on June 6, 2017.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
A year later, Brown and Schnapp arrived at the same event in a similar fashion, this time walking the Netflix FYSee red carpet hand-in-hand.
Sometimes filming can take theStranger Thingscast and crew well into the evening, but the cast has fun while doing it. Schnapp shared a fun video of himself alongside Browndoing the iconic choreographed dancetoDrake’s hit “In My Feelings,” captioning the clip, “night shoots” on July 17, 2018.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
TheStranger Thingscast loves to have a good time, especially when it comes to award show afterparties. Coming off a big night at the 70th AnnualEmmy Awards, Brown and Schnapp were all smiles when they held each other close for a photo on Sept. 17, 2018.
There’s no denying that Brown’s character Eleven has been apopular Halloween costumeover the years, so much so that even Schnapp transformed into the nose-bleeding, telepathic character!
Brownshared a photoon Instagram posing beside Matarazzo, Wolfhard, McLaughlin, Schnapp, andSadie Sinkon the spooky holiday in 2018.
CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images
Schnapp appeared to be fixing the tulle train on Brown’s gown as the two playfully posed for a picture at theStranger Thingsseason 3world premiere on June 28, 2019.
Noah Schnapp/Youtube
While Brown and Schnapp have publicly deemed themselves each other’s “best friend” in the past — such as in their interview withWired— the two put their true friendship to the test in a video uploaded toSchnapp’s YouTube channelin 2019.
Brown and Schnapp filmed themselves answering a number of questions while keeping a tally to see “who knows each other best.”
In addition to throwing random dance parties and filming social media challenges, Brown and Schnapp are always pulling pranks on set as well. The two teamed up on aStranger Thingscrew member who was about to get married to pull off their “proudest prank” yet,Schnapp told PEOPLEon the2020 SAG Awardsred carpet.
“We told one of our crew members her wedding was cancelled and she started crying,” Schnapp said. “That was a pretty good one. It’s our proudest prank. I was like her manager and we called them on the phone and we were right next to her like looking at her and she was bawling, and it was kind of bad but we told her after and she was okay.”
While Schnapp is regarded as the prankster of theStranger Thingscast, Brown managed to pull a fast one on him while filmingthe show’s fourth season.
Schnapp soon realized Brown had something entirely different planned: “Her and 30 other crew members came out behind the trailers with each, like, 100 water balloons, just chucking them at me!”
Schnapp shouted outBrown in honor of her 18th birthdaywith asweet Instagram tributeon Feb. 19, 2022. The post pictured Brown playfully grabbing Schnapps cheeks as the two wrapped their arms around each other.
“Happy 18 to this crazy girl…thanks@strangerthingstvfor bringing this crazy duo together🤞🏼” Schnapp captioned the photo.
Schnapp posted anotherroundup of imagesfrom Brown’s big birthday bash. Among the series of photos, one included Schnapp behind the mic while Brown looked emotional as he spoke. The roundup concluded with the besties battling it out on the dance floor in typical Brown-Schnapp fashion.
Schnapp made hisTonight Showreturn as he talked about all thingsStranger Thingson March 12, 2022. While he was there to promote the show’s fourth season, he shared how emotional things got for him, Brown, and the rest of the cast when it registered that the show’s fifth and final season is right around the corner.
He explained that after theStranger Thingscreators shared a letter about how it was “the beginning of the end” of the show, Schnapp “started balling.” He added, “I texted Millie … who was like, ‘You’re crying too? So am I!'”
Brown uploaded the race to her TikTok and chatted about it when she appeared onThe Tonight Show. After beating Schnapp in their competition, she then challengedJimmy Fallonto the sugary showdown.
Courtesy of Netflix
Despite being best friends in real life, Brown’s Eleven and Schnapp’s Will haven’t interacted much on the show — but come season four,that dynamic changes.
“To get to work with Millie, it’s been such a blast,” Schnapp toldExtraof working with his best friend. “She’s so talented and just working off of her is amazing and I just learn so much with her, so great ride.”
“I love their sibling relationship that we get to show this season,” Schnapp said. “You kind of see Will as an over-protective brother to El this season, through all her struggles in high school.”
He added: “It’s been fun, off set just to be together and be able to play that because prior to that, we never really had any scenes or much [chance] to work together. That was the first time we really got to be together and work alongside each other, and it was great.”
Brown opened up toVarietyabout how she and her castmates aren’t quite ready forStranger Thingsto wrap. “We’re in that denial phase right now where we’re not choosing to accept it. We’re the ones that you can’t really talk about it around,” she said of herself and Schnapp.
Noah added that they were especially emotional on the last day of shooting season 4. “I remember, I was going up to Millie, and I was like, ‘Are you crying? Are you gonna cry? Are you crying or upset?’ And she’s like, ‘No, no, we’re not talking about it yet. There’s still seven more hours. It’s not over yet.'”
However as soon as they wrapped, Brown added that they began sobbing like “cartoons with tears coming out of their eyes.” “So we are choosing not to speak of it,” she added.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
Brown and Schnapp stepped out in style when they hit the red carpet at theStranger Thingsseason 4 premierein New York City. The carpet was a nostalgic one for the cast, as this penultimate season marks three yearssince season3 was released. (And the kids are all grown up!)
Brownoozed glamourin a Louis Vuitton belted white, floor-length dress. Meanwhile, Schnapp wore a pink jacket with popped lapels over an all-white ensemble.
In celebration of theStranger Thingsseason 4 release, Brown and Schnapp both shared some never-before-seen content from set on their respective Instagram accounts.
“ST4 is out now… Thanks to the best cast and crew for pouring their lives into this show and creating a masterpiece❤️” wrote Schnapp alongsidea carousel of candid pictures and videostaken during production.
Brown captioned her post: “so many giggles! so much hard work! we hope you like it 💗@strangerthingstv.” Her carousel included several pics with the cast, in addition to asilly solo snap with Schnappthat kicked off the roundup.
Brown made sure to clarify the pair would be wed “completely platonically.” She then added, “No kids, though, cause I could not deal with a child of yours.”
The two sat beside each other, clinked wings for a “cheers,” and joked with each other while enjoying the first. Schanpp poked fun at Brown when he commented on her self-proclaimed high tolerance with hot food, in which he touted, “I’m much better at spice.”
Brown hilariously quipped, “Well, they didn’t invite you on the show!”
Brown and Schnapp find fun in nearly everything they do, even when work is involved. The dynamic duo couldn’t contain their laughter when attempting to shoot a promo forStranger Things4, Volume 2.
Schnapp shared a behind-the-scenes clip of the silliness toTikTok, writing, “Millie and I are clearly experts in press,” as they struggled to get the words out of their mouths.
Brownanswered questionsaboutStranger Thingswhile takingVanity Fair’s lie detector test. At one point, she was asked about Schnapp’s iconic bowl cut from the series. “Would a best friend let someone have this haircut?” the interviewer asked, sliding a photo of Schnapp to her.
“He put himself in that position,” Brown replied.
When asked if she thinks he looks good, Brown nervously said, “I do think he looks great.”
However, it’s clear the actress had an issue with the ’80s hairstyle as the polygraph examiner immediately announced, “That’s a lie.”
source: people.com
