Drama Queens - Brooke Shields - part 1

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

What happens when someone who has been looked at her entire life finally gets to decide how she wants to be seen? Brooke Shields reflects on motherhood, friendship, aging, identity, and the complicated gift of growing up in public—offering hard-won wisdom that feels both deeply personal and surprisingly universal.Watch season one of "You're Killing Me" on Acorn TV.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, everyone. It's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Welcome back to Work in Progress, friends. Today we are joined by a woman I adore so much who I've also been lucky enough to call a co-star. She is an exceptional co-worker. She is the sort of woman who mentors all of us through her example.

And she also happens to be someone I've looked up to literally my entire person. life. Today we are joined by the icon Brooke Shields. Brooke has spent her entire life in the public eye from being a child movie star to a model to a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and now wearing her latest hat as the executive producer of Acorn TV's breakout mystery series, you're killing me. She is someone who has continually redefined herself and reclaimed herself and I am just in awe of the woman that she is. Whether she's talking about motherhood, aging, mental health, work, deep reflection, or being the absolute funniest in the room, she is in an era where she seems less interested in meeting other people's expectations

and perhaps more interested in living according to her own values. I am fascinated by a life led by someone who's been looked at her whole life, who's finally deciding how she wants to be seen. So let's dive in today with our dear friend, Brooke Shields. Well, I'm just so excited for all the things for you. I'm loving the new show. I have a million things I want to ask you about. Okay.

Before we jump into the present, which is so full and so gorgeous, I am really curious, especially for you, because you have, I mean, you've been famous your whole life. You know, when you did, you were 11 when you booked Pretty Baby. You've done this incredible act, I think, of love for women and of mothering so many of us in your community in addition to your beautiful daughters by reflecting and sharing in the books you've written and the conversations you've had with us and for us out on these stages, I think, have made us all feel so seen. And I'm really curious for you now,

not just in terms of your advocacy as a woman in the public eye, but for you, Brooke, if you got to walk out in the backyard and encounter yourself at nine or ten years old, what would it feel like to see yourself now with all your wisdom and all your experience do you think that little girl would see herself in you would you see who you are now in her i think i would see who i am now in her i don't know if she would see herself in me because because i think it you know being that young and and sort of like exposed and commented on and in the public eye and fighting for your friendships and school.

And being lucky, actually, that I lived in New York and my mom was, you know, very adamant about my going to real schools and not moving out to, you'll get a high school equivalency test and be a kid actress. I think that helped. But I think I was so desiring of being liked. and I just didn't know that I was enough. And I don't know if you're supposed to know that at that age. I mean, I try to instill that in my children from when they were younger to sort of say like, be you, you are more than you even know, but I want you to know it. And I want you to feel confident.

And it's hard. But if you surround yourself by good people, I had my mom, which was really lucky. But, and I had friends. that were none of them were actresses. And I think that those types of grounding forces helped me navigate not losing myself entirely. But I don't think I would have had the confidence to say like, oh, that you're going to be, you're going to have longevity and you're going to be this and you're going to be looked at like this. I think I would have been, I probably wouldn't have believed in. That's so cool.

you know, you talk about your mom being part of that grounding for you. And now as a mom, when you look back at your early career, do you think you understand things differently about your relationship with her and how those things have informed your own vibe as a mom? I think I've taken actually a lot. You know, I, in one of my, and there was a little girl, one of the first lines in the book is, you know, we spend our lives either running away from or running towards our mothers. You know, and like even the most decorated of soldiers on their deathbed will yell for their mommy.

Do you know what I mean? There's such a profound connection between children and their mothers. But I think mothers and daughters as well, I don't, that's my perspective. But I think I took so much more from her. her than less, her sense of humor, her work ethic, her joy, her appreciation of everything that is given to you or afforded you and friends. And I think that I, that she was actually, for as broken, scarred, alcoholic, scared as she was, she had such deep love. and I really purely felt loved.

And I think that that is, and I didn't feel judged because I was being judged by the world. She sort of said, you know, you're on this, like you are everything, you know. And there is something to be said for that, for children to think that their mother thinks they're the best in the entire universe, you know? And I think that that's what I try to. and I have two girls, which is weird, because they're constantly saying, well, I'm her favorite. Well, no, I am.

And you're like, who do you love more? And you're like, there's no such thing. Yeah. Yeah, you're like, depending on how you act, one of you will be my favorite on any given day. Yeah, exactly. So you better behave. That is so funny.

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Take pride with you anytime, anywhere. Just ask your smart speaker to play IHart Pride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at iHeartRadio.ca. You know, it's so interesting to think about what you're able to hold, right? And I think that's such a marker of healthy evolution in life. When you can hold the good and the bad and give grace to all of it. And, you know, you speak about your mother in that way, in a way that I think is so honest and also so generous.

and I wonder if the desire to do that, do you think it was added to? I think it's a natural thing, right? You want to process your life and be okay with all of it and do the work and be a healthy person. But I think about it for you because for so long, you had so many other people's opinions, and all those opinions were ordered in whatever way

each of those people thought about them, projected onto you. like beauty and innocence and controversy and being sexualized or not being sexualized and glamour and fame and like all these things that that you had to meet when you were also meeting people and do you think that knowing how you had to do the work to take all that stuff apart and then and then be able to hold it all. do you think that also made you in a way like so much better at doing the personal stuff too because you were like oh no I know how to do this I know how to analyze the landscape of something and figure out where I fit in the middle of it

I think that's a very astute way of looking at it because I think I was doing that before I knew I was doing it right so you know you read a room right you just you go you know, it's like a heat-seeking missile and you feel behind you and you're just like, and you're taking the temperature all the time, right? So just to be able to, and I'm proud of being able to navigate that and do that. And I learned it at such a young age that in my, like when I went to school or in my personal life, it made it, you know, I watched other kids, you know, my age sort of,

fight through it all and flounder or get their feelings hurt or, you know, and I would think like, oh, I don't waste the time anymore, you know what I mean? I don't, and I don't feel obligated. It's like to have to be part of that group or this or if somebody doesn't call me back, what did I do? What did I do wrong? What I do wrong? You know, and I would watch that sort of angst in other students. And I would think like, oh, all of this past, this has, history, this navigation, this adult world actually gave me a certain presence and power in really being able to enjoy this and meet people where they are, not where I want them to be, right? And that's very freeing.

Because then you can, you know, you can genuinely like someone. And if you don't or they don't like you, it's okay. You know, it's not the end of the world. And I think that being surrounded and having to be a professional and operating and watching adults act like children. You know, and bad behavior. And you think, oh, my God, don't they see how they're coming across? Why is that okay? And I don't want to be that.

And it, you know, and it allowed me to understand what I didn't want and who I didn't want to be. You know, what I didn't want, what I wanted to reveal and what I hoped to nurture in myself, because you can go any direction if you think about it, you know. And I remember thinking, no, I don't, I want to be the best of myself and I want to be a good person. And I want good people in my life that are there for, I mean, you know, I, in my 60th year, I, all of my different groups of friends, like my high school buddies, my college buddies. my college buddies, like my work buddies, individually, but in their kind of groups, and they don't know each other. Instead of having like a big party with everybody, which would have just made me so uncomfortable, we did specific things. And in each sort of clump, you know, of gals, we all

mentioned, like, I just got a text this morning from one of the girls and said, it's amazing how long we've been friends and I always feel the best me when I'm around you guys. And because there's such, there's such deep connection in years and we've been through so much together. But like there's something so comforting about having long-term friends. And I think that at a very early age, partially because my mother, again, wouldn't let me just give a school up and just work, I was able to have, quote unquote normal friendships, you know? Yeah.

And they're still around today. And it's such a great feeling to be able to say, wow, I've got these quality friends and we've known each other over 40 years. Yeah. Oh, I love that so much. I have a group like that, my three closest friends from high school and I. And it is so special. Not everybody has it.

It's like you talk to people and they're like, you're still friends with them. I know. And I feel so lucky, especially because not everybody is. We had so many people's friendships fractured, but there is this little group of us that started going to school together in the seventh grade. And we have just, like, been on this ride together for so long, and it's so special. And interestingly enough, you know, we have deeper friendships we've all made in our adulthood, you know, where you find your people that are so much.

much like you and they care about all the same things you care about and whatever. And still, like, my one of the girlfriends of the four of us, like, we literally could not be more different people. And we just cackle. Like, when we talk about shit and we realize we are, like, I am day and she is night or vice versa, we just laugh because we're obsessed with each other. And it's so, I don't know, there's something so special about it, about all of it. And I I don't know, it must be really surreal. You know, you were talking about your kids' friends all being over the other day. It must be so crazy to watch your daughters take that whole journey.

You know, you have these babies, and they grow, and you watch them go through middle school and high school and college. And, like, is it so surreal because you've been a woman who's chosen to be so self-reflective and to do the work and also share the work with people to then watch your kids do it. It's like I feel like you are the wisest woman because you've taken inventory of your life in this direction and then you've raised lives in this direction. And like, do you just go, whoa, when you look at your kids? It's wild because they're not me, right? So that's already wild.

You're like, oh, you're a person. I didn't plan that. You know, and they're so different. They are night and day. But then you've watched, like the first time I visited my daughter in college, my older one, and she had inside jokes with people I'd never met and nicknames, and they, you know, kind of came up and run up and tackled her or, you know, gave her a hard time about something.

And I was just like, what, how do you know my daughter? What do you mean? I what you're so not a part of it it's really hard to not want to make it about you and separate and and just let it happen because you don't know who you are anymore right you're not really mom in the same way and they're have these relationships and they're growing up and you you're not needed in the same way which by the way means you did your job right but it must be so hard You're like, oh, no, no, I did not bargain for this. I know I wanted you to be our own person, independent, blah, blah, blah, but not that.

Right. I didn't want you to have friends. And you're just kind of, you know, and then you bring in boyfriends, and there's an intimacy there that you're really excluded from. And you're just like, oh, oh, God, come. I want to put you back in. That is so funny. And it's, but then another interesting thing. happens as they get to become more women, as they're evolving into these more fully flushed

and continuing to evolve women. We had a big, big dinner for the television show as like a mystery murder mystery dinner and it was this beautiful party and seated dinner. And it was, he was amazing. And it was like, I felt so celebrated, but it was, and you know, that's not usually comfortable for me, but there were people that I had known for so many years. And I hadn't seen so many of them. And they all came out to, I mean, to drive to, you know, East Hampton and do this. You know, it's just, I couldn't believe the effort people made. But my girls were sitting there.

And, you know, you play this game and I had never done it before. They were the most vibrant, hysterically funny women who were, laughing and you know every time a clue would happen one of them would go oh like that and it was like they weren't trying to pull attention or or be theatrical they were just present and joyful and they were just so um in the in their skin and they were funny and i watched you know there were like a lot of famous people too like that they would recognize and i watched those people look at these girls And there were three of them. One of, I call my third daughter,

their best friend from grade school. And still, you know, graduated college and they're still best friends. And, you know, and it's so lovely to see. And I watched them being watched by other people with like, they were laughing with them and at them in the best way. And they were engaged and engaging. and you know you don't get to see that that often. And then there was a really beautiful toast made.

And it was, you know, and the CEO of AMC, global media was there. And so it was kind of very business for me. And, you know, I said, this is my boss. And I said to my daughters. And I watched my daughters hear things about me that, you know, I can't say. You know what I mean? And so, and I could see them be proud and also like, okay, yeah, mom's like, that she's, she's, she does a lot. Like, she's okay, she's good.

Like, they looked up to me in a way and then they just took off. Like, they ended up winning the whole game. And it was like, there was, there was like 40 people at this thing and people were taking it very seriously. and they won and then one of the other, the news people was like, but Rowan, we got it too. And Ron was like, okay, you know, what? Good luck. Yeah.

But it was like, it was just really nice. So it's very surreal. But when they want to be around you and they say like, mom, can we, you know, will you come out with us or will you do this with us? And when they're not ashamed of their mommy, you know, It does come back around kind of and you start to sort of, you know, have a cocktail with your daughters. And it's weird, but it's, it's lovely, you know, and it feels good and it feels wonderful that they still enjoy being around me when they want to be. Yeah, I love that.

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Stream the new album 8, available now. I can't wait to send this episode to my mom, because we've been through our own version of, I think, that complicated thing. when you did raise smart independent women, and they go out in their independent world, and it's hard. And there was a period where I was doing the same, and I know it was tough for my mom,

and also it was necessary for my life. And we are in this place now where, yes, she's my parent and I'm her daughter, but also we're more friends, like we're peers. You know, I'm an adult. She's an adult. And whenever I'm home on the West Coast, we go to the flea market together every weekend.

And my mom comes with me and all my friends. And my friends are like, mom's coming. You know, and it's this cool thing. And my mom is back in the space where she was. Oh, my God, we have to. But like my mom's back in the space that she was in when I was, you know, 13, 14, 15, 16, where she was always the mom all my friends wanted to hang out with.

She was the one my friends wanted to ask advice of, which I just know is exactly you. And now she's kind of like, mom gets invited again to the stuff. And it's so fun and it's so sweet. And I don't know, it makes me really nostalgic for her to hear you talking about the stage you're in and the journey with your girls. And it's a trip because it makes me realize how long I've known you. I will never forget, you said something when your kids were little that really solidified. like this thing I talk about a lot now, which is everyone wants to cartoonify motherhood. And I think it does such a disservice to moms.

And I will never forget. It's like it's the most magical thing you've ever done. And it's also the hardest. And anyone who says it's not hard as a traitor. And like you said a thing forever ago. Somebody said like, when did it, you know, when did you really know you were a mom? And you were talking about having one of the babies like up in the air. and that one of them, when you had them up laughing, threw up in your mouth.

And you had to be like, okay, I can't drop the baby. I have to hold this in my mouth. I have to get the baby, you know, settled and then go clean myself up. And it has stayed with me for so long. And there was like, I traumatized you. No, I just was like no one's ever said it out loud and I'll never forget it. It was like, it was like an S&L skit that makes an impact, but I read it. And I will never forget, you know, I don't know what is it, like a year or two years ago,

like a stomach bug's going around pre-K. And I am, you know, holding Ashes, our precious little boy, who's like my favorite little boy literally on the planet. And I got thrown up on in such a way that was like in my mouth, in my eyes, in my hair, down my shirt. And I was like, okay, here we go. Like, I have to,

it's okay. Don't be scared. You're okay. And what do I do? And how do I manage this moment? And I thought about you. And I was like, it's official. It's official.

Like, that's the thing. And you've shared like the funny things and the real things. And, you know, you talked about postpartum before anybody would and like you, I don't know, you've just been so generous with us for so long in ways that I think make women feel seen. And so in all the years I've known you, like over and over again, you do that for me. Oh, gosh, thank you. I mean, it's so cool. I've always, I've always looked up to you and I've always really loved your brain and loved the way you treat people and obviously

your talent that just goes without saying but your intellect and and your willingness to just but really your willingness to sort of believe you know have convictions and speak them and and enter in debate and conversation and and to me like that's just such a beautiful thing in to be a mom and have that you know what I mean and be a friend and be a wife and be a partner and be you know a colleague and all of those things, that what you represent is such a beautiful image for women in particular to own all of the complexities of being a woman. Do you know what I mean? Yes, the beauty, but the intellect, but the sex appeal, but the strength and the vulnerability. And all of that is what makes a woman, do you know what I mean? And to be not afraid to reveal it. And

I mean, I feel like the second I met you, I was like, oh. Yeah, I was like, and then you compounded it by having the white tattoo. And I was like, oh, God, never going to be this cool. And I was just like, you know, that type of model as a female is really, and you share it too. And I'm proud to say that you're my friend, you know. Oh, I just love you, you sweet soul. I am enjoying this conversation so much. Join us for part two so we can ask Brooke all the questions we have about her breakout series. You're Killing Me on Acorn TV. See you for part two.