Eleven

Forged in isolation, defined by connection.

Jane Hopper, better known as Eleven or "El", is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Netflix science fiction horror television series Stranger Things and its spin-off series Stranger Things: Tales from '85. She is portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown in the original series and voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt in the spin-off. Eleven has psychokinetic and telepathic powers. Born Jane Ives on June 7, 1971, she is the daughter of Teresa "Terry" Ives, who was a test subject in MKUltra. Eleven was taken by Dr. Martin Brenner to Hawkins National Laboratory to develop her psychokinetic skills, and she escaped from the lab wearing only her hospital gown at the start of the series.

Quick Facts

Series

Stranger Things

First

"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" (2016)

Creator

The Duffer Brothers

Portrayed by

Millie Bobby Brown
Charlotte and Clara Ward (young; season 2)
Martie Blair (young; season 4)

Full name

Jane Ives (birth name); Jane Hopper (legal name)

Also known as

011 (subject name)
The Weirdo
Eleanor
Shirley Temple
Supergirl
The Mage

Partner

Mike Wheeler (boyfriend)

Relatives

Becky Ives (aunt)

Lore & Background

Born Jane Ives on June 7, 1971, Eleven is the daughter of Teresa "Terry" Ives, who was a test subject in MKUltra under Dr. Martin Brenner. Terry did not know she was pregnant with her and her boyfriend Andrew Rich's baby while experiments took place. Dr. Brenner had Andrew expelled from college, making him eligible for the draft; Andrew died fighting in the Vietnam War before learning he was going to be a father. Dr. Brenner covered up Eleven's kidnapping by making it look like Terry miscarried, and took Eleven to Hawkins National Laboratory.

Terry stormed Hawkins Lab in 1974 to get her child back, finding Eleven and Kali (008) in the Rainbow Room, but was captured and given electroshock therapy until she experienced severe brain damage. Eleven appears to have been born a psychic with notable telekinetic and extrasensory abilities. When she uses these abilities to a significant degree, she becomes temporarily weakened and her nose bleeds. In a sensory deprivation tank, she can use remote viewing to access other dimensions. She can also open and close portals to a parallel dimension called the Upside Down.

Reader's Guide

Eleven is the emotional and supernatural core of the Stranger Things narrative. Her arc transforms from a feral, traumatized child into a complex young woman navigating high school, romance, and war against interdimensional entities. Initially defined by her inability to speak or trust, she gradually reclaims her agency, learning that true strength lies not just in telekinesis but in the bonds she forms with others.