'Stranger Things' star Dacre Montgomery opens up about childhood struggles on Instagram

Sam Haysom

Following his powerhouse performance in the last two Stranger Things seasons, Dacre Montgomery is a pretty big deal.

But it wasn't always that way.

In a very honest Instagram post shared on Monday night, the actor opened up about his childhood struggles and the beginnings of his love of drama.

"When I was a kid, I was lost," Montgomery wrote. "I had a really tough time in school. I was a big kid who loved drama.

"I never got passing grades, I wasn’t popular or a gifted sports player. Girls were never interested in me. I suffered from anxiety from a young age. I was distracted and I wasn’t focused. But I had a dream, I was lucky — I knew what I wanted to do. And every night I went home and I focused on THAT."

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When I was a kid, I was lost. I had a really tough time in school. I was a big kid who loved drama. I never got passing grades, I wasn’t popular or a gifted sports player. Girls were never interested in me. I suffered from anxiety from a young age. I was distracted and I wasn’t focused. But I had a dream, I was lucky - I knew what I wanted to do. And every night I went home and I focused on THAT. I visualised a future where my dreams became a reality. When I was 15 I failed my high school drama exams. When I was 16 I was told I needed to loose weight. When I was 17 I was told I should go to drama school and train. When I was 18 I was fired from my job. When I was in drama school I was told to leave. When I had a DREAM - I was told it wasn’t achievable. Well, you know what.... I lost weight, I went to drama school and I never stopped wanting it, I never stopped being curious. I never let the failures get me down. Because I believed in myself and I never let anyone tell me otherwise. You can do anything you set your mind to. So, go out there and get it!

A post shared by Dacre Montgomery (@dacremontgomery) on Jul 22, 2019 at 11:26am PDT

Despite what sounds like many setbacks, Montgomery explained that he never gave up on his hopes of becoming an actor.

"I never let the failures get me down," he wrote. "Because I believed in myself and I never let anyone tell me otherwise. You can do anything you set your mind to. 

"So, go out there and get it!"

WATCH: Netflix claims ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3 has been viewed a record amount of times

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