Biography of Dacre Montgomery
Dacre Montgomery is an Australian actor who shot to fame playing Billy Hargrove in "Stranger Things" and the Red Ranger in 2017's "Power Rangers."
Childhood and Youth
Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey was born on November 22, 1994, in the Australian city of Perth. With parents Judith Barrett-Lennard and Scott Montgomery-Harvey both working in film, Dacre's destiny seemed set from the start (though he briefly dreamed of becoming an interior designer). Judith is Canadian, and Scott is from New Zealand. Both are actors, and they met on a film set in Perth. They fell in love, and Dacre came along soon after. Twelve years later, his sister Saskia was born.Dacre showed acting chops early on, expertly mimicking others, copying adults, and morphing into movie characters. By age 9, he was regularly performing at the local theater, and at 12, he started taking formal acting lessons. Even then, his drama club friends were certain that if anyone from their group would make it to Hollywood, it'd be Dacre.
School, however, wasn't really his thing. As a kid, he battled weight issues and endured constant bullying from classmates. His grades were average:
But those struggles became history when he got into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), graduating in 2015 with an acting degree that blended hands-on experience with academic training. On his agent's advice, he lost 55 pounds.I wasn't a good student, nor a bad one. I just wasn't focused. My grades weren't great. I was just goofing off – a phase everyone goes through.
Early Roles
At 16, Dacre Montgomery scored his first acting gig. The project was a short film titled "Bertrand the Terrible," in which he portrayed a guy named Fred. This fantasy adventure marked a promising debut, confirming he'd chosen the right career path.In 2011, Montgomery was invited to the pilot episode of a project called "Family Tree" directed by David Vincent Smith. He was to play a homeless teenager named Will, who is brought home by a teenage girl from the streets and welcomed by her family. Unfortunately, producers weren't sold on the concept, and the show never made it past the pilot.
Montgomery's next project was horror flick "Better Watch Out," where he played Jeremy, the ex-boyfriend of lead character Ashley (Olivia DeJonge). The film, a US and Australia production, was successful and won several awards in various categories.
Next came "A Few Less Men," a forgettable entry in his filmography, but 2017 brought his breakthrough role as Jason Lee Scott in "Power Rangers." The superhero reboot of the beloved kids' TV series earned positive reviews from critics and fans, with Montgomery sharing the screen alongside Elizabeth Banks, Naomi Scott, and singer Becky G. Interestingly, Montgomery himself was a fan of superhero stories about Batman and Spider-Man.
Stranger Things and Subsequent Career
In 2017, the actor landed a role in the hit series "Stranger Things." He appeared in the second season and immediately grabbed viewers' attention. Montgomery was cast as Billy Hargrove – a troubled young man whose psychological abuse at the hands of his father turned him cruel and aggressive.The actor brilliantly captured his character's troubled nature, ultimately showing Billy's redemption as he apologized to his stepsister before his death. Alongside him on set were Winona Ryder, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Finn Wolfhard, and others.
After wrapping the series, Montgomery admitted he found the project fascinating to film, with the plot and atmosphere leaving a lasting impression on him. He relished playing a villain so different from his own personality – that's what made Billy compelling, as the complex role pushed Dacre to evolve as an actor.
Though Billy only appeared in seasons 2 and 3, viewers remained captivated by the character long after. Montgomery kept the momentum going. He then starred in the movie "The Broken Hearts Gallery", where he played a leading role. In addition, Montgomery appeared in the music video for the song "Chateau" by the Australian band Angus & Julia Stone and participated in an advertising campaign for the H&M brand.
Dacre Montgomery's Personal Life
Since 2017, Dacre Montgomery has been dating model Liv Pollock, a stunning blue-eyed Australian beauty. They met in 2017 through mutual friends and were friends for a while.
"Perth is actually a small town. We knew each other through mutual work contacts. We started chatting on social media, and our relationship just developed from there. I was studying architecture, and Dacre adores interior design," Liv later recalled.
His girlfriend isn't fazed by Dacre's rising fame – instead, she's his biggest supporter. To be with her love during filming of "Stranger Things" season three, Liv took time off and followed him to Atlanta, where production was based. Dacre reciprocates her feelings:
Dacre admits there are certain things in his life he simply can't live without, beyond his acting career. These hold deep meaning for him, and he's open about it. For instance, the actor is particular about room lighting – it has to be just right, preferably in purple tones. Montgomery also treasures natural daylight, which brings warmth to his favorite spaces.Liv is ready to wake up in a new room every day to be with me. She knows how to lift my spirits when I come home from filming completely exhausted. She helps me bring out new ideas. She's my best listener, my brain.
He also can't live without his surfboard – he's passionate about catching waves.