Originally appeared on E! Online
Dacre Montgomery is getting back to saner things.
The “Stranger Things“ star explained the reason he took an extended hiatus from Hollywood after playing Billy Hargrove on the Netflix series, reflecting on the “change” the industry has undergone over the years.
“Traditional Hollywood stars existed because there was mystery,” Montgomery recently told The Australian, per the Daily Mail. “Social media has done away with that. That’s a large part of why I dropped off the map for the last five years.”
He added, “I’m not trying to compete with anyone else, I’m living my truth and hopefully being able to pay the rent while I’m doing it.”
Beyond regaining his privacy, the 30-year-old — who starred alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp in Stranger Things — emphasized his desire to reclaim his identity.
“I’ve given a piece of myself to every role I’ve played and that’s largely why I’ve taken time off,” he continued. “Lately, there’s been a lot of personal reflection about what I want in my career. I’m trying to gain a bit more control over where and what I’m working on.”
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And though he won’t be starring in the upcoming final season of “Stranger Things,” he’s looking forward to the show’s end — especially for the series’ creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer.
“I’m more excited than anything for it to be over for the Duffer Brothers, because I know they have so many other awesome stories that, years ago, they were telling me about,” Montgomery told ScreenRant in an interview published Aug. 6. “I’m like, ‘Guys, you haven’t had the bandwidth to make this project.’ So, that’s my most exciting thing.”
Plus, he’s optimistic about his costar Sadie Sink’s future.
“She’s such a talented actress that’s had some amazing opportunities over the last few years,” Montgomery continued. “I really, more than anything, just want her to see her continue to do so many cool performances outside of Stranger Things, because I just think that she’s so talented, so professional, so driven—all those sorts of things.”
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