Brooke Shields has revealed the mindset and resilience that helped her navigate the challenges of early fame, a journey that many child stars struggle with. The 59-year-old actress, who began her career as a child model before starring in Pretty Baby at just 12 years old, acknowledges that her successful transition into adulthood continues to surprise people.
“Everybody’s shocked. They want me to be a s***show,” Brooke Shields told Saga magazine. She shared that designer Diane von Fürstenberg recently complimented her on never becoming bitter or playing the victim, something Shields attributes to ensuring she had the “tools to cope” with fame from a young age.
Having seen many young actors falter under the pressures of Hollywood, Brooke Shields made a conscious effort to develop the resilience needed to withstand the industry’s pitfalls. “I guess we’ve seen so many young actors who didn’t come out all right because they didn’t have the tools to cope with fame that I insisted on,” she explained.
Brooke Shields also touched on the public perception of youth and aging, noting how some legendary figures, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, are remembered as they were in their prime. “There’s an idea these huge figures in popular culture die young. We never saw the Marilyns or the James Deans grow older,” she said. While not comparing herself directly to such icons, she pointed out that people tend to freeze celebrities in time, making it difficult for them to be accepted as they age.
“Just the other day, a stranger commented on my Instagram: ‘I really wish you looked the way you looked when you were younger.’ When I meet people, I want to say, ‘This is me now. Do you want to get it out of your system? Then we can have a conversation.’”
As Brooke Shields approaches her 60th birthday on May 31, she maintains a positive outlook, embracing the milestone with the same excitement she had for youthful transitions. “I don’t feel 60, so I don’t have any hang-ups. After this, it’s going to go into reverse. I’m going to look forward to milestone birthdays, like I looked forward to turning 18 or 21 or into double digits.”
For Brooke Shields, aging is not something to fear but to celebrate. “As long as my health is good, there’s just going to be more fun to celebrate.”
