They want way too much from child actor Millie Bobby Brown

I think she did a pretty good job. It wasn't perfect but some scenes she really nailed and stood in the spotlight.

I think your seeing what we all are, but forgetting MAYBE that it is , even in the reality of the story still a little girl talking, moving, etc...so. she will,even if it really is happening still look and sound like a little girl...
As for her acting...I think she is SPOOKY GOOD!!!?
I read an article about her. She is considered a prodigy. When she came in to audition, the casting people explained to the parents that she was a one in a million talent. Children normally can't act at this level of sophistication. But every once on a while a Haley Joel etc,, will come along. But I get why you are seeing it as stillted. She is a little girl and that can not change. She still will seem like a little girl being a man. But that is also the character, right?

Millie Bobby Brown sometimes gets it right but other times you can clearly see her struggling at acting. So it's not an either/or for me..
There are some child actors that are naturals such as Haley Joel Osment and Jody Foster..It's incredible to see a child that can completely possess their character but these kind of innately gifted people are extremely rare and far between. They are a minority in the pool of child actors and they are usually so good that there's no room for doubt..
Millie Bobby Brown has some talent but she is not as naturally talented. The fact that this is even in dispute sort of proves that fact.
She didn't ruin it for me...but she didn't make it either.
I like John Sim myself. And James Frain. They kind of make it for me.

I actually thought she did great job considering what they asked of her. She was right scary as Marcus, and as Madison there wasn't much to do expect to want to go back to her mommy.

___
Anyone who has ever read any spoilers,
knows that Winter Is Coming

While I am not overly-impressed with the role of Madison (or the series, for that matter), I have to give Millie Brown credit where it's due. Did any of you who have posted on this thread know that she's English? She lives in the States now, but she isn't American, yet her accent is pretty spot-on for the "American West Coast pre-pubescent girl" that she's playing.

She can switch between her normal speech pattern, to a Southern American accent, to the one she uses for Madison in one sentence. Check this out:

http://www.bbcamerica.com/intruders/videos/inside-look-millies-accent/

Even if you don't like her acting, you've got to give her props for the talent that she has. Madison/Marcus is a very demanding role and I'm not thrilled with the content and language it entails for one so young. I'm no prude, but kids are growing up far too quickly as it is. I sure hope her parents are providing the kind of balance she needs because she's working with some pretty mature content on this show.

I have to agree with the OP, the actress might be okay but she can NOT do intimidating well enough for me to buy. IT looks like a kid trying to look more threatening than she actually is and I can buy that over she's a really old man. Nothing abut Old!Man Marcus and little Girl!Madison makes me think they're the same character.

Once Upon A Time Abridged http://onceuponatimeabridged.blogspot.com/

She does a good job for a child her age. They taught her to pull scary faces and say obscene things in a low voice quite well.

However, I'm having the same experience as the OP. It kinda breaks the immersion, because you are constantly aware that you are watching a small child do her very best to imitate a pervy old man, but it's never quite believable. The ridiculousness of the role results in some bad overacting.

The worst part is the whole ''What goes around...'' catchphrase. It's supposed to be intimidating, but it's just silly, the way she emphasizes every word slowly.

Still, it's more entertaining that watching James Frain drive around and shooting almost everyone he meets in the face.

I agree ... asking a child that age to have the acting chops to pull off such a complex role to a satisfactory degree was a huge task.

Then again, Chloe Grace Moretz was only 11 when she played Hit Girl in Kick-Ass...

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