Dacre Montgomery’s Career Reset: From Stranger Things Spotlight to Indie Film Passion

Dacre Montgomery’s Bold Career Reset: From Stranger Things Fame to Indie Film Passion

Sometimes, stepping back is the only way to move forward. For Dacre Montgomery, the Australian actor best known for his electrifying role as Billy Hargrove in Netflix’s mega-hit Stranger Things, that pause turned out to be the defining decision of his career. Fame came fast, opportunities flooded in, but deep down, Montgomery knew something wasn’t aligning with his true creative ambitions.

“I grew up really wanting to work with auteur directors on art house films,” he reflects. “For me, it was always about testing myself, digging into characters, and falling in love with meaningful stories.”

That hunger for authenticity clashed with the commercial whirlwind he got swept into after Stranger Things exploded in popularity. Overnight, Montgomery went from being an actor with quiet aspirations to a face recognized around the world. He acknowledges the incredible break the Netflix series gave him but also admits it nudged his career into a lane that didn’t feel like his own.

The Price of Instant Fame

Anyone who’s seen Stranger Things knows how memorable Billy Hargrove was. The bad-boy energy, the swagger, the danger—Montgomery brought all of it to the screen. But the fame that followed? That was a different kind of role altogether.

“With Stranger Things — like any massive Netflix show — you basically lose your anonymity overnight,” Montgomery explains. “It’s overwhelming, amazing, and honestly, I felt really fortunate. But it also came with this push toward projects that didn’t reflect what I wanted long term.”

It wasn’t that he disliked commercial films. The problem was that the roles he was being offered leaned heavily in that direction, steering him away from the more intimate, character-driven stories he craved.

Taking a Step Back

Instead of chasing every script landing on his desk, Montgomery decided to do something gutsier: wait. He calls it “reverse engineering” his career—slowing down, reevaluating, and redirecting his path.

“That sort of change takes time,” he says. “You can’t just conjure up an incredible story or an amazing director overnight. It’s about being patient and holding out for the right kind of phone call.”

So he took a hiatus. While some actors fear disappearing from the spotlight, Montgomery embraced the quiet. He needed space to think about the filmmakers he wanted to collaborate with, the stories he wanted to tell, and the kind of actor he wanted to become.

Six Years of Rebuilding

The process wasn’t quick. Montgomery spent about five to six years intentionally steering himself toward the projects that aligned with his vision. That meant turning down opportunities that didn’t fit, even when they looked glamorous on the surface.

“Now, I finally feel like I’m in a really good space,” he says with relief. “I’ve got a couple of films coming up that feel right. They’re exactly the kind of projects I wanted when I first started out.”

One of those projects is his new indie film, Went Up the Hill, which Montgomery describes as exactly the type of story he’s been waiting for. The movie arrives in theaters on August 15, and for him, it represents more than just another role—it’s a career milestone.

Why Went Up the Hill Matters

Montgomery plays Jack, a grieving son who forms an unexpected bond with Jill (played by Vicky Krieps), his late mother’s widow. Together, they navigate the emotional wreckage of loss, creating a story that’s quiet, tender, and deeply human.

“This movie really changed my life,” he admits. “The process of rehearsing and filming was transformative. It was everything I hoped acting could be.”

Unlike the larger-than-life spectacle of Stranger Things, this project lives in the details—the pauses between dialogue, the raw vulnerability of grief, and the complexity of relationships. It’s a somber, emotional story that asks audiences to sit with discomfort and find connection in it.

The Bigger Picture: Purpose Over Popularity

Montgomery isn’t shy about admitting he’s chasing more than box office numbers now. For him, the real success of a film comes down to its impact.

“These are the kinds of projects I want to do—stories that have something important to say,” he explains. “If it touches even one person in the right way, that’s success. That’s why you make movies like this.”

He describes this stage of his career as “mining” for meaning—seeking out roles that challenge him, inspire him, and leave audiences with something to carry home. It’s a stark contrast to the Hollywood machine that sometimes prioritizes mass appeal over personal depth.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Looking back, Montgomery doesn’t regret the whirlwind of fame from Stranger Things. If anything, he credits it for giving him the platform to be selective now. But he’s grateful he had the courage to pump the brakes, even when the industry momentum told him to go faster.

“I think stepping back was the best thing I could’ve done,” he reflects. “It gave me the clarity to figure out who I really am as an actor.”

It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t fast, but the patience is finally paying off. With Went Up the Hill and other projects in the pipeline, Montgomery feels more aligned with his creative goals than ever before.

Key Takeaways from Dacre Montgomery’s Journey

If there’s one thing to pull from Montgomery’s story, it’s that success doesn’t always mean saying yes to everything. Sometimes the most powerful move is saying no.

• Fame isn’t always fulfilling. Overnight recognition can be thrilling, but it may not align with long-term goals.

• Patience is a power move. It took Montgomery six years to redirect his career, and that patience is now paying off.

• Purpose beats popularity. For him, films that touch lives matter more than those that just rake in big numbers.

• Self-awareness is key. Knowing what you want early—and being brave enough to chase it—sets the foundation for real success.

Looking Ahead

As the release of Went Up the Hill approaches, Montgomery is stepping into a new era—one defined not by the glare of commercial fame but by stories that dig deep. Fans who loved him as the unpredictable Billy Hargrove may see a very different side of him in this indie project, but that’s exactly the point.

Montgomery isn’t chasing comfort zones. He’s chasing growth. And with this new chapter, he’s proving that stepping off the fast track can sometimes put you right where you were always meant to be.

“Now,” he says with quiet confidence, “I feel like I’m exactly where I should be.”