The Biggest Things Brooke Shields Has Revealed Through The Years

The following article includes references to addiction, sexual assault, mental health issues, and suicide.

Brooke Shields has been modeling and acting since she was a child, meaning that she has a wealth of experience within the entertainment industry, some good and some bad. In her Hulu documentary "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," the "Suddenly Susan" star opens up about her life as Hollywood star, unveiling shocking revelations that will surprise even the most seasoned fans. But this isn't the first time Shields has gotten frank about her upbringing or the more horrifying aspects of the film industry, which she experienced from a very young age.

Speaking to The New Yorker in March 2023, Shields revealed that she was forced to juggle school alongside acting when her career took off. "I only knew working, and I only knew school and jobs," she told the publication. "I went to school in Manhattan, and I only worked from three o'clock on. ... I always had these two concurrent existences and compartmentalized brilliantly." Having to work from such a young age can't have been easy, especially as Shields often found herself thrown into a very adult world when she was still just a pre-teen.

From her early days as a young Hollywood star to well-publicized feuds with fellow actors to allegations of assault, these are the biggest revelations Brooke Shields has made throughout the years.

In her Hulu documentary, Brooke Shields made some shocking revelations about her career, some of which revolved around the 1978 movie "Pretty Baby." Directed by French filmmaker Louis Malle, "Pretty Baby" tells the story of Violet, a 12-year-old sex worker living in 1917 New Orleans, with Shields taking the lead. Understandably, the controversial subject matter meant that Shields encountered some uncomfortable moments while shooting the movie, especially as she was forced to have her very first kiss with a much older man.

In the film, Shields' character Violet becomes close to a photographer named Bellocq, played by Keith Carradine, and the pair share a kiss on screen — which also happened to mark Shields' first kiss. In the doc, Shields explained that the director was unhappy with her performance when kissing Carradine, as she apparently kept making strange faces. Carradine, who was in his late 20s at the time, spoke to an 11-year-old Shields about how to approach the scene. As Shields recalled in the documentary, "'Hey,' he said to me. 'You know what? This doesn't count. This is all make-believe.'"

Basically, the older actor tried to reassure Shields and help her complete the scene, while acknowledging how difficult it must have been for the young star. But for most of us, it's difficult to imagine being placed into such a bewildering situation that likely felt very unsafe for an 11-year-old girl.

Brooke Shields' childhood was far from easy. As well as being thrown in front of the camera at an extremely young age, Brooke seemingly had a challenging home life, too. Her mother, Teri Shields, acted as her manager, but also struggled with alcohol addiction, which impacted the actor's life in many ways. In an interview with "Today" in April 2023, Brooke explained, "I was in that role with her, you know? And she was so broken, and even as a child, I had like, not pity in a bad way, but respectful pity, if there's such a thing." She continued, "I was just like, 'What a shame, you have demons, and I don't want you to.'"

During her "Today" appearance, Brooke was asked if she would change anything about her childhood, to which she replied, "I would only erase my mother's alcoholism, because that was such a constant source of agony for me." The "A Castle for Christmas" star then went into detail about how she tried to help Teri, revealing that she even staged her first intervention on her mother when she was just 13 years old.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

After being forced to have her first kiss as an 11-year-old girl while filming 1978's "Pretty Baby," Brooke Shields allegedly experienced even more exploitation as her career progressed. In "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," the actor recounted filming Franco Zeffirelli's 1981 film "Endless Love," which also featured Tom Cruise in his very first movie role. 

"The physicality and the exploration of sexuality felt really dangerous to me," Shields said of her experience filming with Zeffirelli. "I didn't trust the director to create a safe environment for me." Shields also described filming a scene in which her character lost her virginity, and how the director admittedly went to extreme lengths to get the reaction he wanted from the actor. As she said in the documentary, "Zeffirelli kept grabbing my toe and twisting it, so I had a look of, I guess, ecstasy."

The "Lipstick Jungle" star also opened up about filming 1980's "The Blue Lagoon," which was directed by Randal Kleiser, when she was just 14 years old. Shields' character was often required to be naked in "The Blue Lagoon," which tells the story of two children who find themselves shipwrecked on an island in the South Pacific. "They wanted to sell my actual sexual awakening," she said of the experience in "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields." "The irony was, I wasn't in touch with any of my own sexuality." Sadly, as a young actor, Shields often felt unsafe.

Brooke Shields was in the public eye from a very young age, which meant that she grew up in front of a worldwide audience. As a child star, Shields was likely under insurmountable pressure, and she wasn't always in control of her own narrative. Now, when she looks back on particular moments in her life, the actor wishes that she'd made different choices. For instance, in her 1985 book "On Your Own," a 20-year-old Shields made the candid confession that she was a virgin (via Page Six). 

During a November 2022 episode of her podcast, "Now What? With Brooke Shields," she said, "I mean, I think it was, in hindsight, a bit of a mistake for me to be so open about my virginity because it never left me alone." Shields also disclosed that a ghostwriter had actually written the book. Unfortunately, Shields' personal revelation brought a smorgasbord of unwanted attention. "I became the most famous virgin in the world," she explained on her podcast. "To be in the line of fire at such a young age in that way, I gained a resilience, and it set me up to be ready for anything in this industry, which can be difficult." 

Luckily, the "Army Wives" star can find the positives in having been plagued by years of intrusive questions regarding her sex life, but it can't have been easy handling the attention as a young actor.

In Hulu's "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," the "Friends" guest star opened up about her relationship with Dean Cain, who famously played Superman in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." The pair both attended Princeton University in the '80s and dated while they were undergraduates. However, when it came to sex, a 22-year-old Brooke Shields was naturally more nervous, having previously made such a public revelation about her virginity. 

In the documentary, Shields explained, "When we finally had sex, I immediately ran out of the room, down the hall, butt naked, just running. I didn't know where I was going." She continued, "He ran after me with the duvet and grabbed a hold of me." Understandably, the milestone freaked Shields out, especially as she felt immense pressure because there had been such a focus on her virginity. According to the actor, Cain was a consummate gentleman and cared for her after she tried to run away. "He got it instantly and I just cried," Shields said in her Hulu doc. 

While the relationship ultimately didn't work out, it's clear that there was a lot of love between the two actors.

Having built a successful acting career during her childhood, Brooke Shields found herself mingling with celebrities and some of the world's most famous families. In the '80s, Shields even came into contact with John F. Kennedy Jr. during a trip to Aspen, Colorado, and she went out with his family. 

During an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" in April 2023, Shields revealed, "We did have a real date, and I wouldn't sleep with him, because I ... kind of loved him too much." Elaborating on the date, the "Chalet Girl" star told Stern, "He kept saying I looked like his mother, which was really interesting." While many people wouldn't find this particularly romantic, Shields was seemingly besotted with the young Kennedy and went back to his chalet with him.

Discussing the evening, Shields explained, "He kissed me, and it was like the best kiss I ever had in my life. ... I froze though, because it was so precious to me. ... I was so afraid of being really hurt." Because she decided not to have sex with Kennedy Jr., the night quickly ended, and Shields apparently had to get a taxicab back to her own accommodation. To make matters worse, Shields alleged that when she saw her crush on the ski slope the following day, he essentially ghosted her in person. "He didn't look at me, and he didn't talk to me," she told Stern, claiming, "... He showed his true colors in that."

In an interview with The Times in March 2023, Brooke Shields opened up about her friendship with superstar Michael Jackson. Shields revealed that they bonded over having both grown up in the entertainment industry, saying, "He was so famous and I was so famous, and we could laugh at everybody, like little kids." 

However, their friendship wasn't always smooth sailing, as in 1993, Jackson claimed that he was dating Shields during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Understandably, Shields was upset, especially as she was in a relationship with someone else at the time. As she told The Times, "I called him up and I think I said, 'This is kind of pathetic that you need to do this. I am having a shot at normal life — you cannot drag me into crazy town.'"

Shields also claimed to the publication that the "Bad" singer once told her that he wanted to adopt children with her. Despite Jackson's seeming interest in pursuing a romance with Shields, she shot him down. She explained to the outlet, "There was one moment when we were in the car and the cameras were there and he grabbed me to kiss me and I said, 'No! Stop! We are just friends and you need me as a friend.'" 

Brooke Shields has faced some terrifying situations throughout her career, but one of the most devastating involves a sexual assault she previously hadn't revealed to the public. Shields made the revelation in her 2023 Hulu documentary, explaining to People, "It's taken me a long time to process it. ... I'm more angry now than I was able to be then. If you're afraid, you're rightfully so. They are scary situations. They don't have to be violent to be scary." 

Shields revealed that she was in her early 20s when the assault allegedly occurred, after she'd graduated from Princeton and when she was looking for work again as an actor. Shields had dinner with a movie executive, who told her to come to his hotel room afterwards so she could call a taxi. Recounting the night in "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," she explained, "I didn't fight. I just froze." At the time, Shields refrained from revealing the assault to all but one person — her friend Gavin de Becker, per People. 

While she blamed herself for a long time after the alleged attack took place, she has since decided to speak out to help others. Shields told People, "Everybody processes their own trauma on a different timeline. I want to be an advocate for women to be able to speak their truth." To date, Shields has chosen to not name her alleged attacker.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In 2005, Tom Cruise publicly took aim at Brooke Shields after she revealed she had taken antidepressants to manage her postpartum depression (PPD). In an interview with "Access Hollywood" (via People), Cruise claimed, "When someone says (medication) has helped them, it is to cope, it didn't cure anything. There is no science. There is nothing that can cure them whatsoever." Cruise's statements stem from his belief in Scientology, which condemns psychiatry and the use of medication to treat mental health issues. As reported by People, Shields responded to Cruise's comments, saying, "Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them."

That July, Shields wrote an op-ed for The New York Times, in which she addressed Cruise's claims at length. "To suggest that I was wrong to take drugs to deal with my depression, and that instead I should have taken vitamins and exercised shows an utter lack of understanding about postpartum depression and childbirth in general," she wrote. 

While standing up to one of the world's most famous movie stars must have been daunting, Shields decided to take a stand for people all over the world regarding the use of antidepressants. The two actors subsequently made amends following Cruise's in-person apology, and Shields even received an invite to Cruise's 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes. 

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

In 1999, Brooke Shields faced immense tragedy when one of her closest friends, David Strickland, died by suicide. Her "Suddenly Susan" co-star was 29 at the time, and Shields was understandably crushed by the loss. Per Entertainment Weekly, Strickland and "Saved By the Bell" star Tiffani Thiessen had just started dating when he was tragically found dead in a Las Vegas motel room. 

The third season of "Suddenly Susan" paused production upon news of his death, and his character on the show was subsequently killed off to explain his absence. After learning of Strickland's death, Shields said in a statement via Entertainment Weekly, "I am devastated by the loss of my best friend. I pray to God David's pure heart is now at peace."

In April 2023, Shields opened up about Strickland's death during an interview with "Today," saying, "Losing my best friend to suicide was just ... you just don't recover, really, from those things." The "Alice, Sweet Alice" star underwent therapy to try to come to terms with the loss, telling the morning show, "I'm forever changed, but there's nothing I can do about it (but) try to break up the scar tissue."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Brooke Shields and Andre Agassi married in April 1997, but just two years later, it was revealed that the couple had filed for divorce in April 1999, per CBS News. Since then, Shields has made multiple shocking revelations about the marriage. For instance, in her 2014 memoir "There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me," Shields alleged (via People) that Agassi had been dealing with a crystal meth addiction during their relationship. 

In 2023, Shields opened up about how Agassi reacted when he saw her unforgettable 1996 "Friends" appearance, in which she played Erika, a crazed Joey Tribbiani fan, in Season 2's "The One After the Superbowl, Part 1." During the episode, Shields infamously licked and kissed actor Matt LeBlanc's fingers. In her interview with The New Yorker, Shields alleged that Agassi initially supported the cameo, but had an extremely negative reaction after seeing her performance. "He said, 'Everybody's making fun of me. You made a fool of me by that behavior,' I'm, like, 'It's comedy!'" After allegedly storming out of the "Friends" taping, the tennis player reportedly went home and exhibited some violent and destructive behavior. "Smashed all his trophies," Shields claimed to The New Yorker. "Who wins for that?" 

Shields told the publication that she believed Agassi's alleged actions may have been due to his drug use, but The New Yorker couldn't confirm if this was the case.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

In "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," the movie star and model got candid about her desire to start a family after she married TV producer Chris Henchy in 2001. The couple decided to try in vitro fertilization, but when Shields first became pregnant, she sadly had a miscarriage after three months. "I was like, something's wrong with me," Shields said of the harrowing experience. "I'm not meant to be a mother." Shields did fall pregnant again after the couple tried IVF an additional six times. She and Henchy welcomed their daughter, Rowan, in 2003, with their second daughter, Grier, arriving in 2006.

In her 2005 book "Down Came the Rain; My Journey Through Postpartum Depression," Shields revealed her experience with postpartum depression following the birth of Rowan. In a 2007 interview with Life (via People), Shields opened up about her pregnancies, and was asked if she had PPD after the birth of her second daughter, too. "No [I didn't]," she told Life. "I didn't have IVF, either. I went in to start IVF, and I was already pregnant. All our jaws dropped. So biochemically I was in a different spot. But if it had come back, I would have been prepared; I wouldn't have been blindsided." 

Shields' decision to be open about her fertility journey will undoubtedly resonate with people all over the world who have been going through the same thing.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

1988's "Dangerous Liaisons" is the movie that helped established Uma Thurman as a future star, especially as she starred alongside Hollywood greats like Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, and John Malkovich. But in April 2023, Brooke Shields revealed that she was up for the very role that made Thurman famous, telling Variety, "They told me it came down to me and someone else." She continued, "They said the other person was this girl not many people knew about. It was Uma Thurman." While Shields was initially upset about the studio's decision to cast Thurman over her, she's since gained a different perspective on the moment: "At that time and that age, it felt so personal, but I've learned over time not to take it personally because 'no' outweighs 'yes' extensively in this business."

As for whether Thurman's casting may have caused a feud to develop, Shields was quick to put any rumblings of discord to rest. In fact, Shields even told Variety that she became friends with the "Kill Bill" star in the years after the 1988 film was released. The pair have even been photographed together on more than one occasion, proving that Shields doesn't hold a grudge against the fellow actor. Still, it's interesting to imagine what "Dangerous Liaisons" might have been like if Shields had won the role that ultimately went to Thurman.

As a child star, Brooke Shields had a rather tumultuous life at times, as previously mentioned. And in an interview with The Times, the "Nip/Tuck" guest star elaborated on the way in which her mother, Teri Shields, orchestrated her career. Unfortunately, Brooke has been forced to contend with some of the decisions Teri made on her behalf, such as when she organized for a then 10-year-old Brooke to pose naked in the "Playboy" book "Sugar and Spice." Discussing her own decision to omit details of the incident from her previously released memoirs, Brooke told The Times, "It was too much for me to cop to that, really. ... Writing about it just broke me. It was her that I was protecting." 

Despite being placed in some admittedly shocking situations as a child, Brooke found it difficult to blame her mother, Teri, for her actions while acting as her daughter's manager. "Everyone always wanted me to be angry with her, but anger was just too sad for me to take when I looked at how insecure she was," Brooke told The Times. 

In 2009, British art gallery the Tate Modern stopped displaying one of the nude photographs of Brooke Shields following widespread protests, as reported by The Guardian. However, photographer Garry Gross previously won a court case against the actor in 1983, which allowed him to continue selling and marketing the underage photos, per The New York Times.

As a young Hollywood star, Brooke Shields found herself thrown into the spotlight, which included being subjected to some uncomfortable interviews. For instance, in 1981, when Shields was 15 years old, she was interviewed by ABC News anchor Barbara Walters, and the experience has stuck with the actor to this day. Shields told "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in April 2023, "The way the press treated us ... whether it's asking me my measurements on nation-wide television, asking me to stand up — Barbara Walters did that and compared herself to me." She continued, "Just sort of the approach they had in asking me questions as a 12-year-old was really just unconscionable."

Shields' experience of having her body discussed on an international platform is unfortunately all too common for women, which makes it all the more crucial that she is able to call out the challenging behavior all these years later. Discussing the famous interview during an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in November 2022, Shields recounted (via People), "I stand up and she's comparing herself to this little girl and I thought, 'This isn't right. I don't understand what this is.' But I behaved and smiled and felt like so taken advantage of in so many ways." 

As a pre-teen, Shields was unfortunately placed into some unacceptable positions, and her body was faced with intense scrutiny, which is simply not okay.

Brooke Shields' first marriage to tennis star Andre Agassi ended in 1999 when the pair filed for divorce, as previously mentioned. Soon after, Shields started dating television producer Chris Henchy, but before the pair married in 2001, they had a short break from one another. In a March 2023 interview with People, Shields revealed that she split from Henchy, fearing that she was on the rebound after her failed relationship with Agassi. 

"I hadn't spent any time sowing my oats," she told People. "I was like, 'Oh I can sow my oats now, this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to sow oats.'" However, being single didn't work out quite as Shields had planned, and she didn't end up hooking up with anyone. "I literally got, like, rejected," she told the publication. "People were like, 'No, we're not going to do that.'"

It apparently wasn't long before Shields realized that she didn't actually want to be single. In fact, the Skims model discovered that she wasn't prepared to let go of Henchy, as she still wanted to talk to him constantly. "I was calling him all the time, and he said, '... You don't get to call me every day, because you broke up with me.'" The thought of losing Henchy forced Shields to reevaluate being single, and as a result, the pair soon reunited. In April 2023, they celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary.