Millie Bobby Brown's 'nurturing' relationship with on-screen 'Papa'

Superhuman Eleven and the character elusively known only as 'Papa' had a turbulent relationship in Stranger Things - but the reality between their actors, Millie Bobby Brown and Matthew Modine, couldn't be farther from fiction.

The young actress - now 20 - who rose to fame when she was just a child found a mentor in the 65-year old star, who had officiated her Italian wedding to Jake Bongiovi this week.

The paternal figure was the 'first' person to meet her future husband to be, revealing he had been on hand to 'size him up' and 'suss him out'.

The duo met when Millie was 11, and Matthew has described their dynamic as 'very nurturing' and 'loving'.

Speaking to The Independent, the actor revealed that the pair had bonded over their acting process for season four of the show, when Millie invited him to stay at her house.

'She saw me going through my process, which she'd never seen, of memorising lines, just sitting down with the script and saying the lines over and over again,' he said.

'She asked me why I work so hard to memorise. She said: "Obviously you know the lines. What are you searching for?" And I said: "Millie, I'm working with the most famous actress in the world! Certainly one of the most famous actresses in the world, and I have to be prepared."'

Speaking to Netflix, Millie added that their close relationship also helped them with making the show. 

'Papa and Eleven have such an intimate relationship, so we needed to be able to bond to portray that,' she explained. 'We meshed, and it was just a true, real friendship. Nothing was ever forced. It just worked.'

Ross Duffer, the show's co-showrunner, also said: 'Matthew and Millie are so close outside of the show.

'In Season 1, we're hinting at Brenner, but we really get to know him a lot better this season. They had so much fun working on scenes together. It really was a blast.'

Matthew also stayed with Millie's family in their house during season one of filming - and says that before long he was part of the clan and going on road trips with them.

While he was only meant to stay for three days, he ended up extending it to three months, with Millie recounting that they even named the guest house 'Modine House'.

Millie's mother would make them dinners after a long day on set, and they wowed fans who spotted them making grocery store trips together, and 'taking selfies in the cereal aisle'.

Matthew was also on hand to make sure Millie was taking care of her mental and physical  health on set - in a show that demands a lot from the lead in terms of stunts as well as performance. 

In 2022, he told the Guardian that he had a 'desire to protect' his co-star.

'When I was a young actor, if you had a show that was successful in 20 or 30 territories around the world, that would be unbelievable,' he said.

'Netflix is in more than 190 territories. What Millie and her generation have been exposed to through streaming is a kind of celebrity and power and reach that's bigger than anything in the entertainment industry before.

'It's a rollercoaster: there's ups and downs. The adoration and the love are not real, it's for something that you've created and it can be devastating.'

Matthew rose to prominence after playing Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket in 1987 - and has appeared in a number of others hits including Pacific Heights, The Dark Knight Rises and Oppenheimer.

It's clear that their bond has stayed in tact beyond the show, as Matthew has recently officiated Millie's wedding to Jake Bongiovi.

Speaking about first meeting her husband, he told The Independent: 'He was such a gentleman. He was so kind, this young man, and comported himself in such a grown-up manner. He was very impressive. I don't know what I expected from a rock star's son, but he's a very impressive young man.'

Sharing a sweet candid from the wedding on his Instagram, Matthew sported a friendship bracelet with beads that spelt 'Papa' out. 

'Thank you @milliebobbybrown @jakebongiovi,' he wrote. '#friendsforever.'

Millie and Jake shared the first look at their gorgeous wedding on Wednesday.

The couple, who secretly wed in May, posted a collection of photos on Instagram, capturing the magic of their celebration at Villa Cetinale in Italy.

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Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi share FIRST look at wedding

The photos feature the couple exchanging vows beneath a beautiful floral arch, as the Stranger Things actress, 20, stuns in her custom Galia Lahav gown.

'Forever and always, your wife,' the Florence by Mills founder wrote in her caption, 

Jake, 22, shared his own set of photos, captioning them with 'Forever and always, your husband.' 

One photo also includes a touching moment with his father, Jon Bon Jovi.

Another photo caught fans' attention as they were astonished to learn that Millie's Stranger Things co-star and Hollywood icon, Matthew Modine, officiated the couple’s ceremony. 

'Not Matthew officiating the wedding I’m gonna sob,' commented a follower. 

Another chimed in, 'Matthew officiating the wedding is the sweetest thing ever.' 

For the ceremony, Millie dazzled in the breathtaking creation by Galia Lahav.

She completed her look with a delicate veil from Monvieve, which beautifully echoed the gown's intricate patterns.

Opting for a refined aesthetic, she wore minimal jewelry and makeup, later transitioning into a chic off-the-shoulder satin gown for the evening festivities.

Jake appeared dapper in an ivory tuxedo jacket paired with black pants, accented by a crisp white shirt and a fashionable black bow tie.