Brooke Shields discusses surviving Hollywood, reflecting on hypersexualized roles, complex relationship with her mother, counseling her teenage daughters on social media. Conversation delves into societal pressure, effects of social media on teen mental health, personal experiences in the film industry, and reflections on mother's alcoholism impact on childhood. Shields shares about choosing Princeton, navigating assault aftermath, self-worth, motherhood, and self-awareness.
Brooke Shields reflects on the challenges of being perceived as a sexualized child star and her determination to prove herself beyond appearance in the entertainment industry.
Shields discusses her complex relationship with her mother, addressing the impact of her mother's alcoholism on her life and career, highlighting the strength and agency she developed as a result.
Deep dives
Brooke Shields' Career and Early Fame
Brooke Shields reflects on her early career as a child actor and model, discussing her breakout role in the controversial film 'Pretty Baby' at the age of 11. She talks about the perception of her as a sexualized child star and the impact it had on her identity, both personally and professionally. Shields also mentions her famous Calvin Klein ads and the controversy surrounding them, highlighting the double standards and objectification she faced. Despite the challenges, she shares her love for acting and her determination to prove herself beyond being just a pretty face.
The Influence of Brooke Shields' Mother and Alcoholism
The documentary explores Brooke Shields' complex relationship with her mother, who battled alcoholism. Shields describes her role as a caretaker at a young age and the challenges of navigating her mother's drinking. She shares the impact it had on her life and the sense of compartmentalization it fostered. Shields reflects on the role her mother played in her career and how it influenced her perspective. She acknowledges the hardships and damage caused by her mother's addiction but also highlights the strength and agency she developed as a result.
Brooke Shields' Journey to Princeton University
Shields discusses her decision to attend Princeton University in 1983, a move that surprised many given her fame and career in entertainment. She explains her desire for a normal life and the opportunity to have her own thoughts separate from the entertainment industry. Shields shares her motivation to prove herself beyond being a pretty face and her determination to find fulfillment outside of the confines of Hollywood. She reflects on the challenges and homesickness she faced during her first semester at Princeton but ultimately sees it as a valuable and transformative experience.
The Impact of Social Media and the Need for Agency among Women
The podcast delves into the influence of social media on young girls, discussing the disturbing trends of increased sexualization and objectification. Shields expresses concern about her own daughters and their belief that having agency over their social media presence makes them immune to exploitation and harm. She highlights the dangers of societal expectations and the emphasis on appearance, urging her daughters and young women to value themselves beyond their physical attributes. Shields discusses the complexities of navigating the entertainment industry and how societal pressures persist despite the progress made in addressing gender dynamics.
Today, we’re replaying a conversation that Kara taped last spring with none other than Brooke Shields. Shields became a teenage superstar through her roles in “Pretty Baby” and “Blue Lagoon” as well as the famous Calvin Klein ads (“Do you want to know what comes in between me and my Calvins? Nothing.”). In her new Hulu documentary, “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” she talks about how she sees those hypersexualized roles today and how she survived life in an industry that she says did nothing to help her. Shields also revisits her complex relationship with her mother, who introduced her to modeling and acting, and how Shields now counsels her own two teenage daughters about feeding the social media “monster.”
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