Brooke Shields first found success as a teen model, later flourishing as an actor with more than 100 acting credits. Brooke’s mom, Teri Shields, managed her for much of her career. Unfortunately, Brooke’s relationship with her mom didn’t mirror her many professional highs. In 2014, Brooke wrote about their tumultuous, heartbreaking bond in “There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me.” Shield’s book, according to the New York Post, was written in response to a New York Times obituary for Teri, which lambasted the career choices she made for Brooke, like allowing her to star in the film “Pretty Baby,” which was widely controversial. “Who the f**k did this guy think he was to write about a woman he never knew?” asked Brooke of the piece.
And while Brooke attempted to offer up a different side to Teri, they did deal with serious hurdles — especially Teri’s drinking problem. “The movie business kept me afloat and sane,” wrote Brooke in her memoir, according to the Independent. “My mother’s drinking superseded my stardom … I craved opportunity and I craved my mother’s sobriety. I never understood the connection between the two.” During an interview reported by Variety, Brooke expounded on her upbringing. “I also said goodbye to her every time she drank. She wasn’t present. I knew who she was capable of being because it was in there … I feel sad that she’s missing out on this.”
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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).
