Biography of Dacre Montgomery
Dacre Montgomery is an Australian actor who gained fame for his roles in the series "Stranger Things" and the 2017 film "Power Rangers."
Childhood and Youth
Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey was born on November 22, 1994, in the Australian city of Perth. His parents, Judith Barrett-Lennard and Scott Montgomery-Harvey, worked in the film industry, so Dacre's path was predetermined from an early age (although he did dream of becoming an interior designer for some time). 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 soon Dacre was born. Twelve years later, his sister Saskia was born.From a young age, Dacre exhibited acting talents. He adeptly mimicked others, imitated adults, and transformed into movie characters. At the age of 9, he regularly took to the stage of the local theatre and from 12, he additionally took acting lessons. Even then, his drama club peers were convinced that if any of them were destined to make it in Hollywood, it would definitely be Dacre.
However, he did not have much affection for school. As a child, he struggled with being overweight, which was a constant source of teasing by classmates. His grades were average:
But all these problems were left behind when he was admitted to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and in 2015, he earned a degree in acting, combining his practical skills with theoretical knowledge from college. 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 the age of 16, Dacre Montgomery landed his first role. The project was a short film titled "Bertrand the Terrible," in which he portrayed a guy named Fred. This adventurous fantasy proved to be a successful start, reinforcing his belief that he had chosen the right 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. However, the producers did not take to the idea, and the project did not progress beyond the pilot.
The next film featuring the actor was the horror movie "Better Watch Out," where he appeared as Jeremy, the ex-boyfriend of the main character Ashley, played by Olivia DeJonge. The film, a US and Australia production, was successful and won several awards in various categories.
Following that was the film "A Few Less Men," which did not leave a significant mark on the actor's filmography; however, in 2017, Montgomery played Jason Lee Scott in "Power Rangers." The superhero project, based on the children's TV series, was warmly received by critics and audiences alike, and he was joined on set by stars such as Elizabeth Banks, Naomi Scott, and the 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 was invited to join the series "Stranger Things". He appeared in the second season and immediately caught the attention of the audience. Montgomery was cast as Billy Hargrove – a young man who suffered psychological abuse from his biological father, turning him into a cruel and aggressive person.The actor excellently portrayed the difficult nature of his character, who, at the end of his life, repented and apologized to his stepsister. Alongside him on set were Winona Ryder, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Finn Wolfhard, and others.
After working on the series, the artist admitted that he found it very interesting to shoot this project, and the plot and atmosphere left an indelible impression on him. He enjoyed playing a villainous character, very different from his own personality, but that's what made Billy interesting, as this complex role allowed Dacre to evolve and grow as an actor.
Despite the fact that the character only appeared in seasons 2 and 3, the viewers were deeply impressed for a long time. Montgomery didn't stop there. 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. They met in 2017 through mutual friends and were friends for a while.
"Perth is actually a small town. We knew each other through common work contacts. We started chatting on social media, talking, our relationship developed, and here we are. I was studying architecture, and Dacre adores interior design," Liv recalled later.
His girlfriend is not jealous of Dacre's soaring popularity; on the contrary, she supports him in everything. To be with her beloved while he was filming the third season of "Stranger Things," Liv took a sabbatical and followed him to Atlanta, USA, where the shooting took place. Dacre reciprocates her feelings:
Dacre admits that in his life, apart from filming, there are things he cannot do without. They hold special significance in his life, and he does not hide it. For example, the actor places great importance on the lighting in a room; it must be special – in the purple spectrum. Montgomery also highly values natural daylight, which adds coziness to his favorite rooms.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 cannot live without his surfboard, as he loves "riding the waves."