Brooke Shields admitted that she experienced “suffering” due to her late mother's alcoholism.
Shields spoke about her relationship with her mother, Teri Shields, in her memoir titled Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Grow Old. Terry died in October 2012 after a long illness due to dementia.
“My mother always described herself as a non-judgmental person—she really hung her hat on that—but that's not how I came across,” Shields wrote in her memoir.
“I always felt like I was going to get in trouble for something, or that I was wrong, and I was often waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is a result of being raised by an alcoholic.”
She continued: “My mother's alcoholism was a constant source of torment for me, and I was always a bit moody and nervous.”
“Working, even though I knew the industry and public opinion were fickle, I felt settled in the sense that when I was on set, the space was contained and there were rules you had to adhere to. You and your schedule were always accounted for. That was liberating in a way.” .
Shields' mother worked as her manager when the actress was just 11 months old. While Shields felt “settled” during filming, she didn't know what to expect from her mother at home.
“On the other hand, at home with my mom, I never knew what was going to happen,” the “Mother of the Bride” star admitted. “Plans will change at any moment. And so will the mood.”
When it came time to raise her children with husband Chris Henchy, Shields wanted to do things differently.
“I wanted to protect my children from living with feelings of instability, uncertainty, or fear, so I built routines and rituals whenever I could,” she explained in her memoir. “I encouraged them to be honest and stubborn instead of being shy. I encouraged them to express their opinions.”
“I wanted them to know that nothing is off limits, and that we can talk about anything,” Shields continued. “That doesn't mean there weren't consequences, but we were discussing why they acted a certain way.”
However, her relationship with her late mother was “complicated.”
“I've gone to her my whole life for absolutely everything,” the model wrote, according to the Daily Mail. “Yes, I was afraid of being judged or scolded. Yes, I felt guilty whenever I thought my behavior would disappoint her.
“However, the attraction to her was very strong,” she added.
“There was a magnetic field surrounding her, and even when I knew better, I was always being pulled back. Love is a very powerful motivator.”
Shields' relationship with her mother and her career were explored in the documentary “Pretty Baby,” which premiered in 2023.
The film largely focused on the controversy that occurred while she was working and modeling at a young age.
There was backlash to Shields' Calvin Klein jeans campaign, her role as a child prostitute at the age of 11, and the sex scene she filmed in the film “Endless Love” at the age of 16.
In 1981, Shields lost a lawsuit against photographer Gary Gross. He photographed Shields nude when he was 10 years old and later sold the photos.
