Brooke Shields: A Survivor's Story and Lessons for Her Daughters
Brooke Shields, the former child star, is opening up about her painful experiences with her controlling alcoholic mother, surviving sexual assault in her 20s, and the empowering lessons she shares with her two daughters.
In her new Hulu documentary, Pretty Baby, Shields candidly discusses the abuse and sexual assault she faced in the past and how becoming a mother to two daughters has changed her. “Having daughters changed me... I try to learn from my experience and protect my girls now,” she says.
The documentary features numerous disturbing moments from Shields' early career, including an uncomfortable television appearance in the 1970s when host Mike Douglas openly ogled her.
The film delves into Shields' journey as a prematurely sexualized child model and actress exploited by Hollywood, and her turbulent relationship with her alcoholic mother, Teri.
Now 57, Shields has two teenage daughters, Rowan, 19, and Grier, 16, a budding model, with her husband of 22 years, director Chris Henchy. A source tells Star, “She’s always wanted to shield her daughters from the spotlight. She’s tried to instill values like honesty, respect and courage, and has taught them to really value themselves above all else.”
Pretty Baby reveals the difficult moments in Shields' life, including her complicated relationship with her mother and a sexual assault by a powerful Hollywood executive.
Shields recounts the impact of these experiences on her romantic relationships, including her relationship with college classmate Dean Cain and her failed marriage to tennis player Andre Agassi.
After finding love with her husband Chris, Brooke Shields has worked to raise her daughters with a strong sense of self-worth and an understanding of the importance of trusting their instincts. A source close to Shields shares, “She wants Rowan and Grier to trust their instincts. And anyone who spends five minutes with the girls can see Brooke’s done a very good job.”