Charlie Heaton has weighed in on popular fan theory surrounding Eleven’s emotional conclusion in Stranger Things, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown.

In a candid conversation with Us Weekly at the Industry Season 4 premiere, the 31-year-old actor shared thoughts on the ongoing debate about Eleven’s fate following the Netflix hit’s finale.

"I love that for Mike, that’s what he tells us," Heaton said. "You know, that’s coping, right?"

It is worth noting that at the end of Stranger Things Season 5, Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, suggests that Eleven’s goodbye was not because she was dying, but because she planned to run away.

He believes she ultimately made her way to a place with three waterfalls, a destination he had promised they would find once their battle was over.

Mike also states that his explanation is only a theory, leading him and his friends to each declare, "I believe."

Looking back on the scene, Heaton revealed what resonated with him most about the conclusion.

"The stories that we choose to believe and the versions of our reality that we choose to believe to cope," he explained.

Toward the end of the interview, the English actor added, "And I think it’s really beautiful."

Stranger Things, starring Heaton as Jonathan Byers, debuted in 2016 and concluded with its fifth and final season released across November and December 2025.