From being the youngest model to grace a magazine cover to fighting postpartum depression, Brooke Shields has always shown dignity and flair. She has been controversy’s favourite child, whether acting as a child prostitute in Pretty Baby (1978) at the age of 12 or saying the controversial tagline for Calvin Klein jeans at the age of 14, “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing?.”
Born on 31 May, 1965, in New York, Shields’ modelling career started very early. She had a children’s division opened especially for her by the modelling agent Eileen Ford when she was just a child. Her first assignment as a model was for Ivory soap when she was still an infant. So began a career of glitz and glamour, and she has never looked back.
Fame has never eluded Shields. She appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine at both 14 and 16 years old. She has even appeared on the magazine’s cover three times in a row. She came to be known as an actress with her first major film Blue Lagoon (1980) and went on to star in many others including Endless Love (1981) and Sahara (2005).
Despite her popularity and financial success, Shields decided to take a break from her film career in 1983 to pursue her education. She went to Princeton University and majored in French Literature.
Shields has won many accolades for her stunning looks. She was Time magazine’s “Face of the Eighties” not to mention being chosen many times to be in People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and “50 Most Intriguing People” lists. In 1997, she also won a People’s Choice Award as Favourite Female Performer for her role in the television series Suddenly Susan.
In 1997 she married the tennis player Andre Agassi. They split after two years, and she was then married again to writer Chris Henchy. She now has two children and wrote a book called Down Came The Rain, which spoke of her experience with postpartum depression and the antidepressant pill, Paxil. Though she was criticized for outspokenness, she stood by her claim that if it wasn’t for the pill she wouldn’t have become the good mother she is today.
Shields has accomplished an astonishing amount in her 42 years. From modelling and films to producing television sitcoms and authoring a book, she has seen it all. The latest feather in her cap is her acting performance in the drama series Lipstick Jungle (2008).
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