Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery shares emotional story about his teenage years

Dacre Montgomery, who plays the resident bad boy Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things, shared an adorable throwback photo of himself as a kid on Instagram. Photos / Netflix, Instagram

An Australian actor has taken to social media to share an emotional and inspiring story about his childhood.

Dacre Montgomery, who plays the resident bad boy Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things, shared an adorable throwback photo of himself as a kid on Instagram.

And while he plays a popular heart-throb in the sci-fi Netflix series, he revealed in the Instagram post he didn't have the same experience growing up.

Montgomery opened up about a personal time in his life, revealing that had a tough time in school.

View this post on Instagram

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

His caption reads:

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 lose 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!

He also shared his story on Twitter, which resonated with a lot of his fans who showed love and support for his message.

We love you king pic.twitter.com/FwSGlL0d23

— 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 (@m_shargrove) July 22, 2019

I love how you’re kind enough to share your experiences in hopes that they’ll help someone else. I’m so glad you never gave up on your dreams!! I couldn’t picture anyone else playing Billy with the intensity that you did. ❤️

— hannah (@robinscoopsahoy) July 22, 2019

You are such an inspiration pic.twitter.com/jNTgqpaR7K

— mia🎃 (@hannibalfoodie) July 22, 2019

dacre was a born motivational speaker, and i’m here for it. i love you. pic.twitter.com/Mk6oeOY4mW

— fatima (@vqnillaskies) July 22, 2019