You’re sitting on your couch, scrolling through Netflix, and you decide to throw on a classic. Maybe it’s Big from 1988 or the 1994 version of Miracle on 34th Street. Suddenly, you see her. The wide eyes, the specific structure of the jaw, that certain intensity in the gaze. You think, "Wait, is that Eleven?"
It’s not. It’s Elizabeth Perkins. But the resemblance is so striking it’s actually kind of jarring.
The internet has a weird obsession with celebrity doppelgängers, but the Elizabeth Perkins and Millie Bobby Brown related theories go deeper than your average "they kind of look alike" post. Fans have been spiraling about this for years. They aren't just similar; they’re "written in the same font," as one viral TikToker put it. But are they actually family? Or is this just a glitch in the Hollywood matrix?
The Ancestry Question: Are They Actually Family?
Let's get the big one out of the way first. Are they related by blood? No. Elizabeth Perkins was born in Queens, New York, in 1960. Her parents were Jo Williams, a drug treatment counselor, and James Perkins, an artist and writer. Her background is Greek (her paternal grandfather changed the family name from Pisperikos to Perkins).
Millie Bobby Brown, on the other hand, is a British actress born in Spain in 2004 to English parents, Kelly and Robert Brown. Unless there’s a secret Greek-British crossover in the family tree that Ancestry.com hasn't picked up on yet, there is zero biological link between the two.
It’s just one of those rare genetic coincidences. Forensic experts actually say the odds of two unrelated people sharing the exact same face are about one in a trillion. Apparently, Millie and Elizabeth are just the lucky winners of that cosmic lottery.
Why the Internet Can't Stop Talking About It
This isn't just a niche Reddit thread anymore. It exploded on TikTok a few years back when side-by-side edits of a young Elizabeth Perkins in About Last Night and Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things Season 2 started pulling in millions of views.
Honestly, it’s the eyes. They both have this incredibly expressive, slightly soulful look that makes them seem older than they are. When Elizabeth Perkins was filming Big opposite Tom Hanks, she had this mixture of sophisticated adult and wide-eyed innocence. That’s basically Millie’s entire brand.
Even Elizabeth Perkins knows about it. Back in 2016, when Stranger Things was first becoming a global phenomenon, Perkins tweeted a side-by-side comparison with the caption "Haha! Love it." She’s totally leaned into the comparison, which just fueled the fire for fans who want them to play mother and daughter in a future project.
The Roles That Mirror Each Other
If you look at their career trajectories, the similarities don't stop at their faces.
- Elizabeth Perkins: Broke out in the late 80s as a sophisticated but grounded leading lady. She could do the high-concept stuff (Big) but also the gritty, emotional dramas (Sharp Objects later in her career).
- Millie Bobby Brown: Became a household name at age 12. She’s moved from sci-fi icon to producing her own franchise with Enola Holmes.
There’s a specific "it factor" they both share. They both have a knack for playing characters who are smarter than the people around them. Think about Elizabeth’s character in Weeds, Celia Hodes. She was sharp, biting, and arguably the most interesting person on screen. Now look at Millie as Enola. Same energy. Different generation.
Comparison of Key Features:
- The Smile: Both have a very specific, slightly asymmetrical smile that gives them a "knowing" look.
- Voice Texture: Believe it or not, if you listen to Elizabeth Perkins in her 20s, her vocal cadence is remarkably similar to Millie's natural British-accented-but-Americanized-for-TV voice.
- Acting Style: They are both "internal" actors. They don't need to scream to show they're angry; you can see it in their eyes.
Will We Ever See Them Together on Screen?
People have been screaming for a "mother-daughter" casting for nearly a decade. With Stranger Things heading into its final stretch and Millie moving into more mature roles, the window for a shared project is wide open.
There was a rumor circulating on X (formerly Twitter) late last year about a psychological thriller where they would play the same character at different stages of life. While that turned out to be fan fiction, it’s the kind of "prestige" project that would actually make sense for both of them.
Perkins has been doing incredible work lately in shows like The Afterparty and Barry, proving she’s still one of the most versatile actresses in the game. Millie is currently busy with the 2026 release of Enola Holmes 3 and the upcoming The Electric State.
What You Should Actually Take Away
While they aren't related, the Elizabeth Perkins and Millie Bobby Brown connection is a testament to how certain "types" of talent and charisma resonate across generations. Hollywood loves a legacy, even if it's not a literal one.
If you're a fan of Millie Bobby Brown and haven't explored Elizabeth Perkins' filmography, you're missing out. You basically get to see a blueprint of where Millie’s career could go over the next forty years.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Watch 'Big' (1988): It’s the closest you’ll get to seeing "1980s Millie Bobby Brown."
- Check out 'Sharp Objects': If you want to see Elizabeth Perkins do the kind of dark, intense acting that Millie mastered in the later seasons of Stranger Things.
- Keep an eye on casting news: With both actresses currently active in the Netflix ecosystem, a "shared universe" project isn't entirely impossible.