Brooke Shields: Growing Old in Hollywood Is a Nightmare

The issue of whether an actress is no longer valuable past a certain age has often been raised by women in showbiz, but a specific conclusion has not yet been reached. And neither will it be too soon, because it all depends on how one reacts to the conditions imposed by the industry, Brooke Shields says in her latest interview for More magazine, as cited by Us Weekly.

However, having to grow old in the industry is no walk in the park, the star says. She’ll be 44 years old next month and, although she’s not happy with her wrinkles, she has learned to accept them. Of course, that does not change the fact that the industry is increasingly harsher towards women who are in their prime, as they say, discarding them and focusing instead either on young girls or on older women.

“For years, I’ve been the youngest person on the set, and it occurred to me recently that I wasn’t 26! I’d read a script and say, ‘Oh, that’s a great character, that’s something I’d love to do.’ And they’d say, ‘Um, no, we’re thinking of you for the mother.’ And then I’d say, ‘Oh, of course! Of course! I knew that’.” Shields says of how the parts stopped coming. “There aren’t a lot of movies out there for my age. They’re still stopping at the mid-30s. Then you’re Diane Keaton [62] or Glenn Close [63].” the actress adds.

And it’s not only the movie industry that shows marked traces of ageism, the actress further explains. Advertising too is filled with such instances, starting from products that use Jessica Alba’s face for promotion to the entire industry seeming oblivious to the fact that all the women in commercials are nothing but young girls – so it’s only natural that the products they sell appear more efficient.

Nevertheless, Brooke Shields, who shot to fame as the first 14-year-girl to become a Calvin Klein model, is not afraid of growing old. That does not mean she likes it either, because no one really likes seeing the years pile on, the actress says with blunt honesty. “I’m proud of my longevity more than anything else. There’s a lot to be said for endurance. I’m trying to find the beauty in the whole picture rather than the crow’s feet. Sure, I wish I had the face I had a decade ago, but I don’t. People say, ‘I love my wrinkles.’ I don’t love my wrinkles – come on!” Brooke Shields further explains.