Brooke shields' grandmother was Princess Donna Marina Torlonia, Golden Globe Award nominee, Brooke Shields was born in New York City to Teri and Frank Shields. Her grandmother was an Italian princess, Donna Marina Torlonia. Brooke is considered “Hollywood Royalty” herself, having started her career at the wee age of 11 months in an Ivory Soap commercial.

At 12, she branched out to movies, starring in the controversial, Pretty Baby, in which she played a child prostitute. At 14, she became the youngest model to ever appear on the cover of Vogue. A year later, she made her mark in the still-famous/infamous Calvin Klein commercial, with her memorable tagline; “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvin’s? Nothing!”

Her agent, Eileen Ford—founder of the Ford Modeling Agency, stated that “her agencies children’s division was started just for Brooke Shields—she was very professional
and a unique child who looked like an adult and thought like one.” In her teens, she starred in the high-profile feature films, The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love. Both did
very well at the box office. As an adult, she received a degree in French literature and graduated with honors from Princeton University. Brooke found herself in the Broadway debut of Grease for which she won the Theatre Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

The Broadway theatre doors kept opening, with starring roles in Cabaret, Wonderfultown and Chicago. Suddenly Susan catapulted her career from 1996-2000, garnering a Golden Globe nomination and winning her five People’s Choice Awards. Last fall she starred in the world premiere of Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson Theatre. Brooke has also authored New York Times bestsellers, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression and children’s books, Welcome To Your World, Baby and It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad!

Brooke, may I start by saying that I have followed your career since Pretty Baby and I love your work. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to conduct this interview with you and I speak for millions when I say that your kind spirit and steadfast, striking presence in the entertainment industry has become a part of contemporary Americana.
Wow, thank you!

Lets face it; you have what most people dream of—a fantastic career, a cohesive family, a great husband of almost ten years, Chris Henchy and two amazing young daughters, Rowan and Grier. What is the biggest challenge for a working mom trying to fulfill both the demands of family and career?
Knowing that you cannot be everywhere at the same time and trying not to feel guilty for not working when I am with my kids and vice versa.

At the age of 12 you made your mark as an actress in the controversial role in Pretty Baby and you have set a great example while growing up. What do you think of all the former child-stars who are getting into trouble (i.e. -Lindsey Lohan)? How is the temptation different today for young actors?
I always blame the parents first, young people today are not as protected or sequestered as they used to be. It boils down to upbringing and what the parents instill in their
kids from an early age.

You weren’t considered a party girl, how did you stay so grounded?
I stayed on the East Coast and went to professional schools; as education was always my primary focus in my personal life.

Good for you. Why do you think that you have kept working while so many others were unable to make the transition into adult roles?
If I was told “no” in one area, I said yes to a different medium. My priority was to work, grow, learn and not limit myself to one type of medium.

You have been a very caring champion to the gay community, and them of you. What would you like to say to your gay fans about their enduring support?
I was raised and nurtured in a very creative environment but have never discriminated nor felt discriminated against by the gay community. I have always felt that there
is just one world and I am glad the rest of the world is catching up with that reality little by little.

In 1998, you played a lesbian—Lily in The Misadventures of Margaret and also half of a lesbian couple in What Makes a Family about the landmark Florida adoption case and custody battle. As a heterosexual actress portraying those roles, in what ways did it take you out of your comfort zone to play same-sex loving characters?
Any romantic scene is slightly awkward when you are not involved with the other person, but playing half of a same-sex couple was not really out of my comfort zone,
playing a relationship is playing a relationship. I did like not having to kiss stubble!

You have starred on Broadway in revivals of Grease, Cabaret, Wonderful Town and Next to Normal. Last fall I saw you in Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson and thought that you gave a terrific, yet accurately understated performance. Why do you think you have gravitated to musical theatre?
Musical theater was the first place to open its arms to me; it welcomed me into its home and always invites me back. Broadway is one of the only media that is truly about
talent and work ethic.

You are just coming off a two-week run of your first nightclub cabaret at Feinstein’s in the Big Apple with your musical director, Charlie Alterman from Next to Normal. How did it all come to be?
Feinstein’s has been asking me for years and I finally decided to jump in and give it my best. I was just coming off a show and was prepping to return to Broadway. I met Charlie and fell instantly in love and asked if he would consider being my musical director after Next to Normal. Thankfully, he said yes!

Now here you are opening in West Hollywood in a satire. How did you get involved in the premiere of Girls Talk?
I have been directed by Roger Kumble before and happily agreed to do his latest play. I really respect the other women in the cast and love the opportunity to work with
Roger again; so it is a win-win!

I am sure there are several, but what is your favorite role that you have ever played?
Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town and Susan in Suddenly Susan.

In which medium are you most comfortable—film or stage and why?
I am most comfortable in TV sitcoms, because it is a true hybrid of film and stage.

Describe the theme of Girls Talk in one sentence.
Brentwood’s status-climbing mommies who find themselves caught up in a world filled of their own power plays—including nanny poaching, elitist book clubs, and
worst of all . . . preschool applications.

I asked a few friends who are fans of yours, if they had the chance to ask any question, what they would ask you . . . Susanne wrote: “Please tell Brooke that I miss her in Lipstick Jungle!” Does she feel like the climate of the union and the timing cut the run short?

It was a combination of changing power at the network, changing tax incentives in New York and not being able to remedy ratings with DVR.

Pablo Rojas, a phenomenal tango dancer and actor currently living in Argentina: Brooke, you’re famous in Argentina too!! Would you like to work in the Latin market, singing and dancing?
I would be thrilled to be more involved in the Latin community; they have always been very supportive of my career.

Heather, a movie buff wondered: What was it like to work with George Burns in Just You and Me, Kid?
He was very sweet and respectful. He did not undermine me because I was a much younger actor and he would do things like not lighting up his cigar when I was around.
He was a very kind man.

I hope you have a fantastic run and may your life and career continue to flourish. Thank you for taking the time for the interview.

Roger Kumble, who frequently satires the inside world of Hollywood in his plays, “sets his sights on Brentwood’s status-climbing mommies.” According to press notes, “These D-list girls from the ‘90s now find themselves caught up in a world filled of their own power.” Joining Sheilds is Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, Talladega Nights), Andréa Bendewald (Suddenly Susan) and Constance Zimmer (Entourage).

Girls Talk runs through April 24 at The Lee Strasburg Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.
Tickets: 800.595.4849 or tix.com.



Brooke’s Personal Favorite Roles

Susan in Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan was a hit sitcom that ran on NBC from 1996 to 2000 in which Brooke was able to fine-tune her comedy chops. Susan’s former brother-in law, Jack (Judd Nelson) owns a magazine and after she runs out on her fiancé on their wedding day, he agrees to take her back at the magazine. She is thrown into the mix with a bunch of eccentric co-workers: played by Kathy Griffin as a food critic/investigative reporter, Nestor Carbonell as a photographer, David Strickland as a music critic, Andréa Bendewald as an arch-enemy and Barbara Barrie as Nana.

Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town
Much to everyone’s surprise, Brooke landed the role of the plain, yet witty Ruth Sherwood for a five-month revival of Wonderful Town. The role was originally immortalized in the 1953 original production by Rosalind Russell, and went on to win five Tony’Awards. Critic’s felt Brooke worked perfectly in reinventing the man-scaring writer from Ohio who arrives in Manhattan in 1935 as green as a spring tomato. Brooke was able to transform her natural grace into an awkward, gawky and unsteady character.