1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,479 Speaker 1: Hey fam, Hello sunshine. 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 2: Coming up on the bright Side, We're having an honest 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 2: and inspiring conversation with actor, author, and entrepreneur Brooks Shields. 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 2: Her new memoir Brooks Shields Is Not Allowed to Get 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 2: Old is out today and she's here to share her 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: perspective on aging, reinvention, and rewriting the rules for women everywhere. 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 2: It's Tuesday, January fourteenth. I'm Danielle Robe. 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 3: And I'm Simone Boyce, and this is the bright Side 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 3: from Hello Sunshine. 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: Danielle. 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 3: I don't know about you, but I can't stop thinking 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 3: about Demi More's acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. She 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 3: won an award for her performance in The Substance, and 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 3: in this speech she mentioned that decades ago, some producer 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 3: told her that she would only ever be a popcorn star, 16 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 3: basically saying no one would ever take her seriously as 17 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 3: an actor. And it really got me thinking about all 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 3: the ways that I feel like I've been underestimated in 19 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 3: my career, and all the ways that women over fifty, 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 3: famous women over fifty have been underestimated. 21 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: I mean, that speech went absolutely viral, and there was 22 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: a reason it was because so many women saw themselves 23 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: in her in that moment. I mean, I think we 24 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 2: can all see ourselves in the role that she played 25 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: in the substance, because the movie's all about aging, and 26 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: no matter what age you are, when you're a woman, 27 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: I think you think about it, but the idea of 28 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: not being taken seriously because of how you look is 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: just so pervasive. I know I felt it too, Like 30 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 2: what comes up for you? 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 3: So what comes up for me is having either professors 32 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: at journalism school or bosses out in the real world 33 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 3: when I worked at news stations telling me that basically 34 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be taken seriously as a news reporter if 35 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 3: I were curly hair, which is like my natural hair texture, 36 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 3: that's like how it grows out of my head. 37 00:01:59,320 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: Ye. 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 3: It's just like so silly to me in hindsight, Like, 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 3: so because my hair is different, I was born with 40 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 3: different hair, I can't be taken seriously, Like, give me 41 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 3: a break. 42 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: What comes up for you? 43 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: I don't even think like that word different is even 44 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: like the right word to me, Like you were born 45 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: with curly hair. 46 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: It's so ridiculous. 47 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 2: It's crazy. You know, when you're in journalism, you are 48 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: so aware of how you look as a woman even 49 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: men too, to be honest, but I've always had really 50 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: big boobs, Like ever since I've had boobs. 51 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: I was like a late bloomer. They came in eighth grade. 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: And in high school, and all of a sudden, I 53 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 2: woke up one day and was like, WHOA, what are these? 54 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: And as I got older and wanted to be taken 55 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 2: seriously professionally, which is all I cared about, I had 56 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: so many news directors and anchors and co anchors not 57 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: take me seriously. 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: I even you know. 59 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: I worked at a local station in LA and the 60 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: executive producer I walked and I was like editing all 61 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 2: my own pieces, writing, and I walked in one day 62 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: and I was talking to him and asking him questions, 63 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: and he goes, I can't even take you seriously without 64 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: makeup on. And then I was doing a live shot 65 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 2: and the mic we were live, so the mike went 66 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: into my it fell into my breasts, and he said 67 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 2: to everybody the whole studio, like in our inner ear, 68 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 2: ooh that fell down Silicon Valley. And I was mortified. 69 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: And I remember thinking like I just have to go 70 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: on with this shot. But I've had news directors say, like, 71 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: my hair looks like a wet rat. 72 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: I've had so many things. Yeah, so inappropriate. 73 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: It's so inappropriate because honestly, journalists usually don't get paid 74 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 2: that much. What you're doing it because you love the craft, 75 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: you love the work you're doing, you love the people 76 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 2: you're interviewing, and it just makes you feel so small. 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: And I think, just to get back to your original 78 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 2: thought with to me more, it just made her feel 79 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: small and she finally was in her fullness. And I 80 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 2: think you are so spot on that women over fifty 81 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: are being so vocal about that fullness. Now, I'm curious 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 2: as to why the shift is happening. Do you have 83 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 2: any thoughts on that. 84 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: The GENA. 85 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 3: Davis Institute, they've compiled some research on how characters in 86 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 3: this demographic, you know, over fifty are represented on screen, 87 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 3: and it's actually, really it's really bad. 88 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: It's really bad. 89 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 3: So one of the things that they found is that 90 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 3: male characters significantly outnumber females within the fifty plus age 91 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 3: bracket by eighty percent in films, seventy five percent in 92 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 3: broadcast TV. And then when you think about romantic storylines, 93 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 3: we never have really traditionally seen characters over fifty falling 94 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: in love. But what I have been seeing over the 95 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 3: past few years is women like Reese Witherspoon, women like 96 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 3: Anne Hathaway, women like Laura Dern taking ownership over their 97 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 3: careers and saying, if you are not going to give 98 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 3: us the roles, we are going to create them for ourselves. 99 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 3: And I think what we're seeing right now is the 100 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 3: result of that. It's the fruit of that labor. How 101 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: about you, what's your take on all this? I just 102 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 3: want to echo what you're saying. I think representation in 103 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: media and culture is huge. I mean, we had things 104 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: like The White Lotus where Jennifer Coolidge won an Emmy 105 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 3: at sixty two. 106 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: We have Grace and Frankie. 107 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 2: Obviously, I think of like Angela Bassett and Viola Davis, 108 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 2: like people who just stand in their power and are 109 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 2: so embracing of their fullness of who they are. I 110 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: do think it actually that is the media representation is 111 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: running alongside some other things. I think there's been a 112 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: shift in language. When I look at the beauty industry, 113 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: I think women have finally resented terms like anti aging, 114 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: and those terms are being replaced with pro aging, age positive, 115 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: even just neutrality. Of it all, Like I know, I 116 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: refuse to buy any product that says anti aging, no 117 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: matter how good it is, just because I don't want 118 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: to play into that. And I think another huge part 119 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: of this is the economic power of women over fifty now, 120 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: Like this is the first time that we've seen women 121 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: over fifty as a growing force in the economy, and 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: so brands and networks are starting to be forced to 123 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: cater to this demographic because they're recognizing their influence and 124 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: they're buying power. And you know, I took this one 125 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: class in college called political economy, and the professor always 126 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 2: just said, follow the money, Follow the money. 127 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: And so when you're confused. 128 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: Or you don't know why something is happening, follow the money. 129 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,799 Speaker 3: I want to go back to something that you said earlier. 130 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 3: Love of what I'm seeing as well with this narrative 131 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 3: shift and language shift in terms of how we talk 132 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: about beauty products. But part of me sadly wonders if 133 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 3: that's just performative, Danielle, because on the same token, it 134 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 3: feels like ozempic is everywhere. It feels like we're entering 135 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 3: this new phase of undetectable plastic surgery. And I look 136 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 3: around I mean Nicki Glazer made a joke about this 137 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: at the Golden Globes, like, oh my gosh, everyone, you 138 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: look great, Like all the work you've gotten done looks great. 139 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: And I'm not. 140 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 3: Shaming anyone forgetting plastic surgery, but it does feel like, Okay, 141 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 3: are we really are we really discovering our self worth? 142 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 3: Are we really pro aging? Or is this just performative? 143 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: I don't know, maybe it's both, you know, I think 144 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: the pendulum swings. I remember watching Roquel Welch on OPRAH 145 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 2: when I was growing up, and Raquel Welch was like 146 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: the Kim Kardashian of her day. She was such a 147 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: sex symbol. And I'll never forget what she said. She 148 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: said that in her fifties, she walked through a restaurant 149 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: and it was the first time that she noticed that 150 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: nobody turned their head and she just melted like she 151 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: she didn't know who she was because her power came 152 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: from her beauty. And I remember being so young, I 153 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 2: think I was like ten years old watching that, thinking 154 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: I never want that to happen to me, and thinking 155 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: about like where does your power come from? And I 156 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 2: do think that the movie The Substance with Demi is 157 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 2: asking that question actually, you know, like where it does 158 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 2: your power come from? And so even though the idea 159 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 2: of anti aging isn't perfect, or the conversation around it 160 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 2: isn't perfect, like you said, which I think is so true, 161 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 2: I do think at least we're having it like there 162 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: are different perspectives, and there are women like Demi Moore 163 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: was such a huge sex symbol of her day. And 164 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 2: to see her age and talk about aging in this 165 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 2: movie in such a real way, I just think it 166 00:08:58,920 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 2: was really impactful. 167 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,719 Speaker 1: I a thousand percent agree. And I mean when you 168 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: think of sex symbol, it makes me think of our 169 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: guests today. 170 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 2: Definitely, our guest today is at the forefront of this conversation. 171 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: I mean, Brookshield is a woman with so many titles, actor, mom, entrepreneur, author, 172 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: beauty icon and that's just to name a few. 173 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: Simone. She's my forever eyebrow inspiration. 174 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 3: You too, Oh of course, I'm still trying to get 175 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: my eyebrows to look like hers. 176 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 2: She has been in the public eye for almost six 177 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 2: decades and if you remember, she first made waves with 178 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: films like The Blue Lagoon and Pretty Baby, And I 179 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 2: think none of us can forget those Calvin Clyde ads 180 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: that sparked so many conversations around beauty. Honestly, but she's 181 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 2: somebody whose name you've seen rolling in movie credits and 182 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 2: heard on podcasts and now written in pages. She's come 183 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: out with her third memoir and the book is titled 184 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: brookshield Is Not Allowed to Get Old. 185 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: I am so excited to talk to her. 186 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: She's someone that I have just really admired from afar 187 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 3: for a very long time. She's been through so much, 188 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 3: from being objectified and sexualized at such a young age 189 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 3: fourteen when she started in Blue Lagoon, to navigating a 190 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 3: very public divorce and the co parenting after that. So 191 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 3: I'm really curious to hear where she's at now, like 192 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: where her head is at now. 193 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, she's nothing short of dynamics, so I'm excited to 194 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: hear her take on it all. 195 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 3: Well, let's bring her in. Brook Shields, Welcome to the 196 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:29,479 Speaker 3: bright Side. 197 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you for having me. I love the title. Oh, 198 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: thank you so much, thank you. Well, congrats on your 199 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: new book. 200 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 3: We have been reading it and vowing it and I 201 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 3: love the title. I'm immediately drawn to this title, Brooks 202 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 3: Shields is Not Allowed to Get old. So let me 203 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: ask you, why isn't Brooke Shield allowed to get old? 204 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 3: Who is telling you you can't get old? 205 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, society tells women that age is 206 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: bad and getting older is terrible. Det true, not all one, 207 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: and the system mistake and it's you know, and you 208 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: have no value, and so like that's why the beauty 209 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: industry is what the beauty industry is. And I understand it. 210 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: I've been in the public eye for so long and 211 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: people have imprinted on me for different reasons at different times, 212 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: and they've and things have mattered to them, whether it's 213 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: they had a poster on me, or the first movie 214 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: they they were awakening was Blalloon, or it was something 215 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: mattered to them that was in the zeitgeist a long 216 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: long time ago. And when you are that person, you know, 217 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: you are in a way perpetually asked to stay that person. 218 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: You know, you've got to stay fifteen. And those megaups 219 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: are stars that we've lost young get to stay young 220 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: forever in our in our minds and you know, the 221 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: James Dean's and the you know, And so the physicality 222 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: of it is people want me to look the way 223 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: they they thought I looked when I was fifteen, and 224 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: it's important to that, Like, it's an interesting thing, you know, 225 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: but we do it to all women. And I was 226 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: talking to a man and I didn't know and it 227 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: was a social situation and he was trying to impress 228 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:32,199 Speaker 1: me and I mentioned my age, my actual age, and 229 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: his reaction was so it was such a kneek reaction 230 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: to wanting me not to be that age, and he said, 231 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: I really wish you didn't tell me that. You didn't 232 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: need to tell me that, And I was like, dude, WHOA, 233 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: what's your problem? Like? And I just I thought, wow, 234 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: thank you. That is so fascinating. And it's such an interesting, 235 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: you know, psychological conversation to have about women and age 236 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:06,199 Speaker 1: and maturity and experience and what we covet. But then 237 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: if you're me, you feel like you're disappointing people. You know. 238 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I don't I'm not new bile and you know, 239 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't have that attitude, but I've had 240 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: to fight to counter it. And it's personal. 241 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 2: I'm so glad you said personal, because that was actually 242 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 2: my question. You said that it's important to them that 243 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: you're a certain age. 244 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: Is it important to you. 245 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 2: Like, especially in the Brookshield public persona of it all. 246 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: No, I mean, what's the most important to me is 247 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,719 Speaker 1: I'm so much more now than I ever could have 248 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: been as a child and as an inexperienced little girl. 249 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: You know. I yeah, I joke, I wish things were higher, 250 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, I wish they didn't droop the way they do. 251 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: And yeah, that's your ego. Oh and you try to 252 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: try to not make it. You know, everything to you 253 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: and you try to Okay, i'll eat, i'll i'p he'll 254 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: be healthy, i'll work out, I'll do whatever, but it 255 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: can't be my whole identity. So what's important to me 256 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: to be fifty nine is having so much more ahead 257 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: of me and looking at all that I have done 258 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: and just saying good on you, like, look at these kids, 259 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: look at this life, look at your education, Look at 260 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: you're still doing it. You're out there, you're still trying 261 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: to put good in the world and make a difference somehow. 262 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: But you also like yourself so much more. I just 263 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: like who I am, and I'm prouder and I'm sort 264 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: of more emboldened by myself. And every time I get 265 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: through another thing that's a try a Laura, I'm afraid 266 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: or I am getting insecure about something, whatever it is, 267 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: and I go through and I get it and I 268 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: do it and it's done, and then I think, Okay, 269 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: you did that. You did that, and you should be 270 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: really proud of yourself. 271 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: You know, this is your third memoir and you've written 272 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: about being over sexualized a lot as a teenager. I 273 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 2: didn't know you did your first commercial at eleven months, 274 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: which is so wild in a diaper. Well, I can 275 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 2: imagine your views on beauty and self image have evolved 276 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 2: throughout the years. Do you think that Brooke in the 277 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: eighties would recognize Brooke today? 278 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: She couldn't even recognize herself in the eighties, let alone 279 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: what I would become like, I'm so much better now. 280 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: I don't know if I would have been secure enough 281 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: to think that I knew I would be happy because 282 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: I knew I wanted family and children, and like I 283 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: knew I would get that. I believed in it deeply, 284 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: but I didn't know that what my career was if 285 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: I would have one, I don't know if I would 286 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: have would have been like, wow, yeah, she just don't So, 287 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: you know, I don't think I don't know. I just 288 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: think that I would have seen myself there somewhere, but 289 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: I would not have been impressed because I wouldn't have 290 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: known to be. 291 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: What did you mean when you said that eighties Brooke 292 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 3: didn't recognize herself back then? 293 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: Would you say more about that? I didn't even know 294 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: what I tasted in food. I mean I would say, Mom, 295 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: do I like this? And she'd say, oh, yes, you 296 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: love you know, carrots or whatever, and I was so 297 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: like what do I do? I was like a puppy, 298 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: like is okay? Like my dog looks at me like 299 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: everything is like what what do I do? Now? What's next? 300 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: Who do you want me to be? What do I do? 301 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: You know? 302 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: And that's the way I lived. It wasn't until I 303 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: got to college that I was asked in my opinion, 304 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: you know what I thought about the piece of literature 305 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: or something, and was like, what is that? I mean? 306 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: You know? It was such a revelation to me to 307 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: have an idea because you just told what to do 308 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: and that's how you got approval. And but it didn't 309 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: didn't feel imprisoning. It felt like show a found time 310 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: you work really hard, you do what they ask and 311 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: you don't think about it. Even when you're a cheerleader, 312 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: you learn the cheers. You gotta make your own pomp pom, 313 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: so you gotta you know, we do everything I mom 314 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: say or dad say, or society or never, and it's 315 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 1: just let's just go about it. And then you know. 316 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: And then you have an education. You're like, Wow, that's 317 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: unbelievable that I can actually think. Then you have kids 318 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: and you you can't tell me how to raise my kids. 319 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: You can't. I could learn from people, and I've taken 320 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: what I think is good and I've rejected what I 321 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: don't think is good and people that I see doing 322 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: what I think is a good job. But I was like, 323 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: had these kids and I thought, no, I know what's 324 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: that are. But in those younger years, I didn't know 325 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: who I was, And so you don't ever really get 326 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: to know yourself. You know. 327 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: I heard that your daughter calls you the most down 328 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: to earth famous person and she wants you to be 329 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 2: more Brookshields, which I love. I am wondering, though, Brooke, 330 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: if you have any remnants left of that time, And 331 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 2: I'll give you an example, Like I had disordered eating 332 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: when I was in eighth grade, and it was so 333 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 2: long ago, like at this point, I can't even count 334 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,239 Speaker 2: how many years ago, And to this day, there are 335 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 2: still little things that pop up for me. 336 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: And I wasn't famous. 337 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: You were under an unimaginable amount of scrutiny. 338 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: Do you ever have things pop up for you still? 339 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: All the time. I was just working on a set 340 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: with some brilliant, brilliant actresses, and I really don't get 341 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 1: an opportunity to do that. I usually am like the 342 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: lead of something, and I thought I was gonna just 343 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,239 Speaker 1: grow up. I just thought, why are you doing this 344 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 1: to yourself? You don't need to do this. What are 345 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: you doing? Why did you say yes to this? You 346 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: don't even enjoy doing this kind of material, and you're 347 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: punishing yourself because you're gonna suck. And I could feel 348 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: myself dry up emotionally and tears and all that which 349 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: were called for. And I was so afraid of being 350 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:32,479 Speaker 1: horrible in front of people I admired, and I, you know, 351 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: I just I thought, you cannot do this to yourself 352 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: because you are guaranteeing failure. You're gonna stab your own 353 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 1: self in the heart if you don't give yourself some credit. 354 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: You know, you wouldn't have gotten the job if they 355 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: didn't think you could handle it. It's one day. It's 356 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure, and I just canceled it out 357 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: of my head and I just tried to stay as 358 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,239 Speaker 1: in the moment to moment and moment to moment, and 359 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: when it was over, my whole body was like in 360 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: an isometric hold. And I did it, and I got 361 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: a real strong feedback approval. And I didn't ask for it, 362 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 1: and I cried and I was just so relieved, and 363 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: I didn't talk to myself while I was doing it. 364 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: So I took the little judgy voice, and it said, 365 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: shut the fuck up, shut up, shut up. 366 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 2: Well done. It's time for a short break, but don't 367 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 2: go anywhere. We'll be right back to our conversation with Brookshields. 368 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: And we're back with Brookshields. 369 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 3: I'm curious what life is like in Hollywood for you 370 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 3: now as an actor, because you write that in your 371 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 3: book that agents often tell you that because you're of 372 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 3: a certain age, you're no longer a contender for the 373 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 3: certain engre new roles. I do feel like we've been 374 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 3: seeing an up ending of that narrative recently, which is 375 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 3: really exciting. I'm loving these like age gap rom coms. 376 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 3: I'm loving sting older women find sexual and romantic fulfillment 377 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 3: later in life. But I mean you're actually on the ground, Like, 378 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 3: what is it really like for you navigating roles at 379 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 3: this stage? 380 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: I mean it's pretty stereotypical. I do have a place 381 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: that's sort of a niche in some way, a place 382 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: that I have found has a combination of popularity and 383 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: money making for the entity, like the netflixes or whatever, 384 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: and there is something that's like a sweet spot that 385 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: I can occupy. And I'm very happy that I can 386 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 1: do that. During this most recent project with these women 387 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: who are my age and older, you feel it. Everybody's 388 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: really feeling it. And they come with such experience and 389 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 1: such talent, and you know, work ethic from a different era, 390 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: and it's it's very different, and it's it's an adjustment 391 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 1: for all of us. Actually. You know, I was working 392 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: with this younger girl as well, and she was so 393 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: good and I wasn't threatened, I wasn't jealous. I was 394 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: I was just like, wow, congratulate, like you're so good 395 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: and how great is it? You know, And you know, 396 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: I've seen actresses get threatened by younger raptresses, and there 397 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: was none of that from these women, you know, on 398 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: his dinner sixties and seven, maybe seventies something. You know, 399 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: I'm not in the middle of them. But if you 400 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: just you see it, you see it daily, and then 401 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,479 Speaker 1: you see it. There's no respect for the work, you know, 402 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: the work ethic. There's like a sense of entitlement and 403 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: rushing and you just have to go, Okay, the world's changing. 404 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: How do I adapt in it so that I still 405 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,439 Speaker 1: can be fulfilled in doing what I love. Did you 406 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: ever feel threatened by other actors when you were younger, 407 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: feel a sense of competitiveness. I never felt competitive towards 408 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: them because I was always so much younger. But what 409 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: I got from many an actress who was older than 410 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: I was at the time, the threat felt real, and 411 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: it would show in a treatment that was just a 412 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: little broken on their part, you know, it was insecure 413 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: and not their part, and so I would just try 414 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 1: to do you make myself smaller and deflect and deflect, 415 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: and it's just like it. It became another version of 416 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,479 Speaker 1: what is unhealthy to do to yourself, you know. But 417 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: I never felt it towards other people. And then when 418 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: I started being only the lead in things. I just 419 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: became that much more generous to the women around me. 420 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 1: I built them up, and you know, because I didn't. 421 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 1: It's just so unfair to do what we do. And 422 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: I also didn't want to be that. I didn't feel it, 423 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: but I also didn't never wanted to be that type 424 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: of actress. 425 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,199 Speaker 2: It's really cool that you lived through that shift to 426 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 2: be able to see both sides of the coin. I 427 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 2: know it's still the journey is continuing, but there is 428 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 2: such a stark difference. 429 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's so interesting and there's a generosity to it. 430 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: I was listening to my college kids all today. They've 431 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 1: been just like a revolving door of young people in 432 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:06,439 Speaker 1: my house and tequila and high moons, and they were 433 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: talking about someone they know who is not forthcoming with 434 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: helping them with assignments that are supposed to be shared 435 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: assignments or something like that, and we were talking about it. 436 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: We're like, I just don't understand what is helping someone else? 437 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: How does that hurt me? And they were talking about 438 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: they were like, yeah, that one just does that, that 439 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 1: one is in a competition, and I was like, that's 440 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 1: so exhausting, you know, The generosity, I think is what 441 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: you start to feel comes back to you, and it 442 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be at your detriment. 443 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: You know, you mentioned all these kids going through your house. 444 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: I know your youngest is greer. How old is she? 445 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: She's eighteen. How do you talk to her about beauty? Oh? 446 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:00,040 Speaker 1: She talks to me about beauty. I you know she 447 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: she's attached to it. But I do think she's because 448 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: she's also modeling. And you know she's she's very tall. 449 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot she doesn't like about herself, 450 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,879 Speaker 1: which is enough to make you want to stab her 451 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: in the eyes. 452 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, broke, How tall is she? I'm six feet tall, 453 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 3: so I know the tall girl struggle. 454 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: She's six a little over six one on all six 455 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: two yes, And I'm like, you are high heels. You 456 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: wear those high heels, you show those gorgeous gams off, 457 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: and you don't. She goes and I arganta and Mom, 458 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: I was like, you are a tall drink of water. 459 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 1: You aren't beautiful. I was like, you know, the Amazons 460 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: used to run things, you know, And she's like, oh, 461 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: that makes me feel horrible. And I was like, I'm 462 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: not calling you a bad thing. I'm calling you like powerful, 463 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: and yeah, yes, stare. My mother always used to say, 464 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: stand up tall, shoulders back, stand up tall. But you know, 465 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: I tell her that people really do because more beautiful, 466 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: the kinder they are, like it emanates from them, you 467 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: can tell, like it's they just there's something that comes 468 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: through them that I think is you feel it. You 469 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 1: can tell it, and you could see it in the models, 470 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: those that you're just drawn to, and she sees it, 471 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, and she but she really appreciates and loves beauty, 472 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: like she's motivated by it. She's she loves the adornment. 473 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 1: She from the time she was little I used to 474 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: call a little eadie because she would wrap scarves around 475 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: her head and throw things back and be in my 476 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: high heels and you know, walk up to you and say, 477 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 1: I would like to have some breakfast at this moment, 478 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: you know. But it's just so we're always kind of 479 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: making fun of it but also celebrating it. And she 480 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 1: loves it. She's she's I've never seen anybody with more makeup, 481 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: and I've never seen anybody who needs less. But I 482 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: say to her, you know, it's not your currency. It 483 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: is a type of currency, but it's not who you are. 484 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,360 Speaker 1: I said, you have to learn it's use it as 485 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: a job in a way, because you'll find the value 486 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: in it that you need. But it's it does not 487 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: make you a better person. It does not make you superior. 488 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: Does it make you nervous at all though, because you've 489 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 2: worked so hard to define yourself outside of pretty. 490 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a conversation you have to have. And she 491 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: said something to me not too long ago. She said, Mom, 492 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: I had nothing to do with the way I was 493 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: going to come out, like my face was going to come. 494 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: I have nothing to do with this. And I liked 495 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: that because it is a gift to go through life 496 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: looking the way she does. You know. It's people just 497 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: they don't know what to do with themselves when they 498 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: see her, you know. And she's kind of just arresting 499 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: to see. And she wears it with like not pride. 500 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: She holds herself, but she goes out of her way 501 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: to be kind to people. And I see her saying 502 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: to herself, everybody's important, no matter what they look like. 503 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: She spends the time on people, and I think that 504 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: the more you do that, the more you realize that 505 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: a whole person is beautiful and that you know, that's 506 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: what's the value. And she's known very very very beautiful 507 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: people have very bad behavior and she gets it. So 508 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: you know, I said, look, yeah, you're going to be 509 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: able to make a living probably off your face for 510 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: a while. I mean, I did, you know, I get 511 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: it and use it to your advantage if that's what 512 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: you want. But it's not the only thing. And you 513 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,959 Speaker 1: have to have an education and you have to have 514 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: something because there's a time frame actually on it. As 515 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: much as we don't want there to be. I'm not 516 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 1: asked to do beauty campaigns anymore, you know, you know 517 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: what I mean. I mean, I'm I'm my own company now. 518 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: But it's like it just can't be all you are. 519 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 3: We need to take a quick break, but we'll be 520 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 3: right back with Brookshields. 521 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: And we're back with Brookshields. Well. 522 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 3: In thinking about the beauty campaigns that you are a 523 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 3: part of, Brooke, one of the most striking parts of 524 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 3: your book is when you acknowledge that you played a 525 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 3: part and perpetuating some of the toxic beauty standards that 526 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 3: are still around today. And of course it's not fair 527 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 3: to say that it's all on you. You were just you know, 528 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 3: a piece of the story, you know, and a vessel 529 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 3: for the standards that had already been there long before 530 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 3: you got there. But wow, I was like blown away 531 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 3: by the honesty and the bravery of that admission. 532 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: Wow, you know it's just true. It's like, I can't 533 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: be a hypocrite, I can't be a liar, I can't 534 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: be self hitying or and I also know that like 535 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: it served me. You know, it's we got to buy 536 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: a house. You know, my mom is from Newark. Like 537 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: a tree. He's like, you know, it's like there's a 538 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: monetary importance to it. And if I'm howking up something, well, okay, 539 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 1: you know, it's a tool, it's a trade, it's a 540 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 1: you know, I might not be fixing some electricity, but 541 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: I am selling them something. We're all selling something, you know. 542 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: And what I also, what I do think I did 543 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: concurrently is insist that that was not only who I was. 544 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: I would have been, you know, foolish to not take advantage. 545 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,719 Speaker 1: But I insisted on getting an education. I insisted on 546 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: doing charity work, insisted on doing things that were not 547 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: just all me. I insisted on telling the truth. Here 548 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: are my truths that are not beautiful. Here's what I'm 549 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: ashamed that I want to work on that get better. 550 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: And those are the things that I think humanize beauty. 551 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: But you have to fight for them all the time, 552 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: you know. And the more confident I get, I think, 553 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: the better I look. And that's interesting, Brooke. 554 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 3: I I was so drawn to something that you wrote, 555 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 3: continuing on this thread here you said, who knew in 556 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 3: a career where I start as a prostitute at age eleven, 557 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 3: where I played a mother at age fifteen, that valuing 558 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 3: myself at fifty nine would be my most provocative choice. Oh, 559 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 3: I love the word provocative in that context. What does 560 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 3: valuing brook look like right now? It's very big. It 561 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 3: just feels so big. 562 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: And my therapist said to me fifteen years ago or something, 563 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: I want you to live as big as Brook as 564 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: And I was like, that's arrogance. She said, that's where 565 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 1: you are now, that's what you think. And when you 566 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: start feeling it's it's a little overwhelming it first, and 567 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: you go through the like oh, my vein this and 568 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: my dad and then you think, like you know, I've 569 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: I'm feeling this way and I Am going to walk 570 00:33:55,440 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: into the room that is my life and own it 571 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 1: and see what it does, see the effect it has 572 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 1: on you on those around you, and you watch people 573 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: go yeah, okay, yeah, that's it. And I'm gonna be 574 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 1: kind and like and put a smile on someone's face 575 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: and like, that's fabulous. And I know, no, I'm talented. Yeah, 576 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,399 Speaker 1: there's a reason I'm still here. There's a reason why 577 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: I'm still asked to play. And you know, maybe not 578 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: in every room I would like to be asked to 579 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:37,320 Speaker 1: play in, but I'm gona have to go around. And 580 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 1: I'm proud of my life. My kids like, not being 581 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 1: a victim is a provocative choice to people, and it's 582 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: scary to them. It is provocative because it's not culturally 583 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: what we've heard and what we've been said historically and medically. 584 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: And you know, when I had the seizure, you wouldn't 585 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: ask a man if he was restricting his salt for 586 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: dietary reasons. Two men doc mail doctors asked me that question, 587 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,320 Speaker 1: to which I replied, I wrote about it in my book. 588 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: I was fifty eight at the time, I said, a 589 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: fifty eight year old woman, I look younger, bloated. No, 590 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: it fills up my wrinkles so no, I am not 591 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: restricting myself. That's the best comeback ever. I just I 592 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:39,319 Speaker 1: was so angry. I was like my husband was like, 593 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 1: I go down to hold come down. Do not tell 594 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 1: me to calm down. I am insulted, and I've just 595 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:47,880 Speaker 1: had a grandma's seizure where I'm in the er. I 596 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:52,440 Speaker 1: am entitled me chrissed off. But it is true, and 597 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 1: I think we just I don't want to be angry 598 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:57,840 Speaker 1: about it all the time. I just want to shift 599 00:35:57,880 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 1: it Brook. 600 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 2: We have a final question for you, which is are 601 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,799 Speaker 2: you wearing the dress, the shoes, the bag? Are you 602 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 2: dressing like it's the like you are the special occasion? 603 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 1: Now I'm doing it every I'm wearing everything new. I am. 604 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: I've been pulling out all the good stuff so that 605 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:22,839 Speaker 1: she can't get to it first. No, I'm celebrating it. 606 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: I'm not hiding it. I know I'm not vain or arrogant, 607 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 1: and I've worked hard and she's right and i've and 608 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 1: it makes it just puts a little pep in my 609 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: step to put it together and I feel good. I 610 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:37,280 Speaker 1: don't feel like I have to hide anymore. 611 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,320 Speaker 2: I love that, just for context for everybody, Brook's daughter 612 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 2: told her that she has to wear all of the 613 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,320 Speaker 2: beautiful things in her closet. 614 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:48,839 Speaker 1: So I'm glad that you're listening because I'm gonna die, 615 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 1: she said, And I'm gonna get them all anyway. And 616 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 1: I was like, oh god, she goes, I'm not saying sooner, 617 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: and I don't want you to die. But she's like, 618 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: you got dust on things that really should not at 619 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: dust on. Thank you so much. You're so fun. Thank you, Brook, 620 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:08,520 Speaker 1: Thank you, you are delightful. Thank you. 621 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 2: Brookshield is an actor, mom, entrepreneur, and author. Her new memoir, 622 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 2: Brookshields Is Not Allowed to Get Old Thoughts on Aging 623 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:19,720 Speaker 2: as a Woman is out today. 624 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:25,760 Speaker 1: That's it for today's show. 625 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 3: Tomorrow, we're discovering the Cure for People Pleasing with author 626 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:34,200 Speaker 3: and relationships expert doctor Kathleen Smith. Join the conversation using 627 00:37:34,239 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 3: hashtag the bright Side and connect with us on social 628 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 3: media at Hello Sunshine on Instagram and at the bright 629 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:43,439 Speaker 3: Side Pod on TikTok oh, and feel free to tag 630 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 3: us at Simone Boyce and at Danielle Robe. 631 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:49,840 Speaker 2: Listen and follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app, 632 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:52,560 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 633 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. 634 00:37:53,680 --> 00:38:03,480 Speaker 3: Folks, keep looking on the bright side.