Brooke Shields: Being a Pretty Baby as a Kid Was a ‘Burden and a Responsibility’
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Published 2024-03-21
In this exclusive AARP interview, actress Brooke Shields, shares how facing setbacks with optimism helped her overcome a difficult childhood and learn to love herself.
As someone who was sexualized as a child star, Shields reflects on the negative consequences of beauty. She rose to prominence at age 12 in Louis Malle’s 1978 film, “Pretty Baby,” and went on to star in “The Blue Lagoon” (1980), “Endless Love” (1981) and a series of controversial Calvin Klein ads as a teen. Later she had a guest role on “Friends,” starred in the NBC sitcoms “Suddenly Susan” and “Lipstick Jungle,” and had a recurring role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Now 58 and a mother of two daughters, Shields says she’s more confident and in touch with herself than ever. She found empowerment in the making of her 2023 Hulu documentary, “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields.” She is writing a book and launching a website to help people embrace aging. Shields is also starring in the Netflix movie “Mother of the Bride,” with Miranda Cosgrove, Chad Michael Murray and Benjamin Bratt, releasing in May 2024.
Shields is featured on the cover of the April/May 2024 issue of “AARP The Magazine.”
For her full “AARP The Magazine” cover story, click here:
www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/info-2024/b…
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: staying positive
00:14 Brooke Shields: "Beauty was a burden"
00:31 Brooke Shields Calvin Klein advertisement
00:41 Brooke Shields 'Pretty Baby' 2023 documentary
00:58 LHL: What would shock your teenage self?
01:14 Brook Shields writing book on aging and starring in 'Mother of the Bride'
01:39 Brooke Shields: "I feel more in touch with my power"
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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.
All Comments (14)
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I've always liked Brooke. From Suddenly Susan to Jackie's mom on That 70's Show. Funny and beautiful inside and out.
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Could not understand how they got away with filming the Blue Lagoon when she was a minor
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She is very likeable and did well as an adult - not an easy transition but she found her way and her own seemingly happy family. Younger generations are very quick to judge her as if she is being an apologist for her mother or for her career but I don't think she was at all - like she said, she never wanted to be a victim and she isn't - she is always personable and intelligent. People focus a lot on her mother but her father was a privileged, well-educated successful man whose own mother was part of a European noble family of the past - looks like she inherited a graceful way to handle life. It's a breath of fresh air from hearing about constant victimization stories. Those are important and younger gens deserve credit for that openness, but it's not a good way to go through life only as a victim. Brooke is a good example of choosing to focus on moving forward.
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Your life has definitely been a tight rope and you have come out of it beautifully God Bless🙏❤️
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Her beauty come from her father and his family.
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Very beautiful person she didn't need Hollywood.She went to Princeton very smart girl happily.Made has a family god bless her
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I’ve always loved Brooke not only because of her beauty but as a person who had to field every kind of pressure and came out better and more resilient. I am 65 years old with fly away eyebrows so I ask my wife to make mine like Brooke Shields… kidding of course,… There’s no one like her.
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Always thought Brooke was so beautiful The Blue Lagoon. Never imagined her as sexy then. Her eyes and smile just simply captivated me, melted me. Glad she's doing well. 🥰
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Brooke was the most beautiful young woman, and if I were her daughter, I'd be so pissed off that I didn't inherit her once in a lifetime, stunning looks, not that they are not beautiful, but there will never be another Brooke shields, though I have a friend who looks almost identical to her!
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Unfortunately, MOTB movie doesn't give her the depth she deserves. It's too stereotyped.
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It is difficult looking at older women. It just makes me feel sad.
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Give it back or go to jail, Brooke
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Now he’s a poor rich $$$$ “victim” crying about her “looks”. Vain narcissist with an over paid “position” in hollyWOOD!
