Why Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery confronted biological father

Rising star Dacre Montgomery has been forced to confront “a whole lot of stuff” from his past but the Stranger Things actor says it’s been healing.

Rising Hollywood star Dacre Montgomery found global fame as Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things, a teen bully reeling from his mother’s abandonment and his father’s abuse.

Unveiling Politix’s new Spring/Summer collection at Sydney’s Ace Hotel, Montgomery said he chose a relatable character: “I have a really complicated relationship with my dad, my biological father.”

In a climatic moment from the smash hit series, Billy is about to sacrifice Eleven to the monster, when she’s able to reach his humanity by reminding him of the boy he was before trauma.

“A few years ago I went and confronted him about a whole lot of stuff because I could see it bleeding into me and my life,” Montgomery said.

“Anything that is a trigger in life bleeds into your work, and I’m fortunate opening up trauma in my work is healing.”

Australian-born Hollywood actor Dacre Montgomery for Politix menswear. Picture: Adam Yip

The 28-year-old has continued to be face of premium men’s suit brand Politix, and their modern masculinity campaigns.

“The person that gave me the confidence to be sensitive was actually my stepfather, who waited until he was 42 and three marriages deep to kind of confront his dad.

Montgomery as Billy Hargrove in season three of global hit Stranger Things. Picture: Netflix

“When I was 22, he sat me down and got very emotional. This was an Australian man who I had never seen take off his mask and show me a soft side of himself, and he said: Don’t wait to address these things in your life.”

The Perth-born star and his partner Liv Pollock landed back in Sydney last week, after Montgomery had spent several months in New Zealand’s mountains on a sheep station.

He plays one of two leads in complicated thriller Went Up That Hill, which he filmed after making a horror movie alongside Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira in New Orleans.

“I’m choosy about the roles I select, probably to my own detriment,” Montgomery said, “because I feel like I give everything to every project.”

Montgomery has revealed the “really complicated” relationship he has with his biological dad bleeds into his working life. Picture: Adam Yip

He’s intending to take a break, and look for a house to buy and settle in, in the Inner West or the eastern beaches.

“I was born and raised in Perth, as was my partner,” Montgomery said.

“All my friends are here in Sydney. My life has always been in Australia, it’s never been overseas.”

The only opportunity Montgomery said he’s had to work on home turf was in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, and he wants to see that change.

His next move will be to step into the director’s chair on an Australian feature film, “telling an Australian story that is dear to me”.