Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Brooke Shields

How Brooke Shields built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Brooke Shields is an American actress who began her career as a child model. She gained significant attention at age 12 for her role in the film *Pretty Baby* (1978), which featured nude scenes shot when she was 11. Shields continued modeling and starred in dramas such as *The Blue Lagoon* (1980) and *Endless Love* (1981) during her late teens and early twenties. She is known for her early entry into the entertainment industry and the controversies surrounding her early roles.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1978: Pretty Baby film release

In 1978, Brooke Shields starred as a child actor in the film Pretty Baby.

1996: Friends and Suddenly Susan roles

In 1996, Brooke Shields played Joey Tribbiani's stalker in an episode of the sitcom "Friends". This role directly led to her being cast in the title role of the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan".

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1997: People's Choice Award

In 1997, Brooke Shields won a People's Choice Award in the category of Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series for her role in "Suddenly Susan".

1998: The Misadventures of Margaret

In 1998, Brooke Shields played Lily, a lesbian character, in the film "The Misadventures of Margaret".

2000: End of Suddenly Susan

In 2000, Brooke Shields finished her role as the main character in the television show "Suddenly Susan".

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July 2001: Broadway and Lifetime films

Beginning in July 2001, Brooke Shields portrayed Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret for four months and she also starred in Lifetime's "What Makes a Family", a true story about a lesbian couple.

2003: Wonderful Town revival

In 2003, Brooke Shields was in the revival of Wonderful Town, although she did not take on the role until September 2004.

September 2004: Wonderful Town Performance

In September 2004, Brooke Shields replaced Donna Murphy in the role of Ruth Sherwood in the 2003 revival of "Wonderful Town" until the show closed four months later.

2004: That '70s Show Guest Appearances

In 2004, Brooke Shields made recurring guest appearances on "That '70s Show", playing Pam Burkhart, who was briefly involved with Donna's father.

2004: Death of Hannah Montana character

In 2004, Brooke Shields played Susan Stewart, the mother to the main character Miley Stewart on the show Hannah Montana. Her character died in 2004.

April 2005: Roxie Hart in Chicago

In April 2005, Brooke Shields played Roxie Hart in a production of "Chicago" at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End.

May 2005: Publicizing Postpartum Depression Battle

Between April and May 2005, Brooke Shields spoke to magazines such as Guideposts and appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to publicize her battle with postpartum depression.

July 1, 2005: War of Words Op-Ed

On July 1, 2005, Brooke Shields responded to Tom Cruise's criticism with an op-ed titled "War of Words" in The New York Times, defending her use of medication for postpartum depression.

2005: Entourage appearance

In 2005, Brooke Shields appeared in a second-season episode of HBO's "Entourage", entitled "Blue Balls Lagoon".

2006: Down Came the Rain Book Release

In 2006, Brooke Shields penned the book "Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression".

2007: Hannah Montana Guest Appearance

In 2007, Brooke Shields made a guest appearance on Disney's "Hannah Montana", playing Susan Stewart, the protagonist's deceased mother.

2008: Lipstick Jungle role

In 2008, Brooke Shields returned to prime time television in the drama "Lipstick Jungle".

2010: The Middle and Who Do You Think You Are?

Starting in 2010, Brooke Shields made guest appearances on "The Middle" and appeared on "Who Do You Think You Are?", discovering her distant relation to French royalty.

June 28, 2011: Morticia Addams on Broadway

On June 28, 2011, Brooke Shields took over the role of Morticia Addams in the Broadway musical "The Addams Family".

2013: Guest Co-host and Law & Order Role

Starting in 2013, Brooke Shields became an occasional guest co-host on the 9:00 hour of Today on NBC, and also recurred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Sheila Porter.

2015: There Was a Little Girl Book Release

In 2015, Brooke Shields published "There Was a Little Girl", about her relationship with her mother.

2022: Now What? Podcast Launch

In 2022, Brooke Shields launched a podcast called "Now What?", which focuses on how people respond to adversity.

January 2023: Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields Documentary Inspired

In January 2023, the documentary "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields" was inspired by the 1978 film "Pretty Baby" where Brooke Shields was filmed nude in sexual situations as a child actor.

March 2023: Vogue profile

In March 2023, Chloe Malle discussed the film Pretty Baby and the documentary it inspired, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields in Vogue magazine.

April 2023: Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields Documentary

In April 2023, the two-part documentary series "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields", directed by Lana Wilson, aired on Hulu, examining Brooke Shields' life and career.