Stranger Things' Dacre Montgomery's transformation from 90kg teenager (2024)

Over 40 million peopled have already tuned in to the new season of Stranger Things.

And as Australian actorDacre Montgomery takes the lead this series as villain Billy Hargrove, the Netflix show has completely changed the 24-year-old's life.

While he may be known for his ripped body, model girlfriend and millions of fans these days, just a few years ago his future looked very different.

OVERWEIGHT AND BULLIED

Dacre doesn't appear to look back at his days at Perth's Mount Lawley Senior High School with many fond memories.

Speaking to Men's Healthin June, the actor admitted he had a 'really tough time' and was a 'big kid' as he tipped the scales at 90kg.

However, some good did come out of the difficult time, as the star admits he channeled the behaviour of his bullies into his role as bad boy Billy on the Netflix show.

'You know, any bully or person that you've had in your life that has been antagonistic towards you. It was about finding those qualities and representing them,' he explained.

TOLD HE HAD TO LOSE WEIGHT TO MAKE IT

After high school, Dacre fled his hometown of Perth and took a gap year in Canada.

With a dream of making it as an actor, it was during this time an agent 'told him to lose 25kg' if he wanted to succeed, Dacre told PerthNowin 2017.

'I was really fat in school,' he joked of this time, before going on to lose 27kg.

'[It] was purely just going to the gym and getting on the treadmill and running.'

Following his impressive weight loss, Dacre returned to Perth and landed a spot at the renown WA Academy of Performing Arts.

THE FORGOTTEN ROLES AND HIS BIG BREAK

Dacre got his first acting gig in 2010, starring in a short movie called Betrand the Terrible.

Aged 16 at the time, he appeared in the film alongside fellow rising Perth star Troye Sivan, before then taking the lead in the unsuccessful TV pilot, Family Tree.

It wasn't until 2015, just 15 months after graduating WAAPA in Perth, that he got his first big break when cast asJason (Red Ranger) in Power Rangers.

While already trim at this point, Dacre thenturned to theWA Institute of Martial Arts to become as ripped and muscular as possible, completing his transformation.

The film hit the big screen in 2017 to rave reviews, with Dacre making his debut as Billy in Stranger Things 2 that same year.

STRANGER THINGS MANIA AND TAKING HOLLYWOOD

After making his debut on Stranger Things, Dacre quickly became a fan favourite.

But it wasn't until earlier this month, when Stranger Things 3 dropped worldwide, that the actor's talents really became apparent.

From sending fans into a frenzy at the LA premiere last month to his Instagram now boasting over three million followers, the star now has Hollywood at his feet.

And with his stunning model girlfriend, Liv Pollock, also from Perth, by his side, it seems Dacre is on his way to superstardom.