EXCLUSIVE! Brooke Shields Shares Her Biggest Inspirations: “My Career Has Been Born Out of Not Sitting Still”
Brooke Shields grew up in front of the camera, so the spotlight is nothing new for her. But with the upcoming premiere of her crime drama Allie & Andi in 2026 and her burgeoning business partnerships outside the entertainment industry, Shields is once again capturing our attention. She’s also reminding us that even at 60, it’s still more than possible to make headlines and dive into a whole new venture.
From her iconic roles in Pretty Baby, The Blue Lagoon and Suddenly Susan to those unforgettable Calvin Klein jeans ads, Shields has spent decades building a diverse and dynamic career. Beyond acting, she is a bestselling author, an animal advocate and the founder of a hair-care brand, which she launched in 2024. To say that she’s versatile is an understatement.
So what keeps her motivated to try new things and stay busier than ever? In a recent interview with Reader’s Digest, Shields opens up about the passions that continue to drive her, her favorite behind-the-scenes memories and the moments that changed her life. Read on for a glimpse into Shield’s world that will inspire you to start your own next chapter, no matter where you are in life.
This video interview took place on July 15, 2025, and has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reader’s Digest: You have long been a champion of animal welfare, even becoming the chief brand officer for the pet wellness brand Prospect Pet in 2023. What first sparked your passion for pet advocacy, and how have your own pets influenced your commitment to the cause?
Brooke Shields: My love for pets and animals has been absolutely forever. I’ve always had some type of pet, and they’ve always been very important, unconditional and lovingly sweet in my life.
I had a dog named Pepper. Recently, she got sick and passed away. It spurred me to understand what I was feeding my dog and what I could have done differently. Now that my kids are older, my relationship with our pet is even more in the forefront. So it’s really influenced the knowledge that I’ve gained from talking to Prospect Pet, which started on a farm in Maine. Their belief in being transparent, clean and conscious was so important to me. They told me that animals are getting cancer more, and there’s more testing being done. We’re realizing that they deserve as much attention to their health as humans do. That incident brought me into the mindset of saying, “Oh, wait a minute. I need to really think about what I’m putting in my dog’s body and on my dog’s food.”
Reader’s Digest: You have a dog named Tuzi. Does she have any quirky habits or fun diva moments?
Brooke Shields: Everything that she does is quirky and weird and diva-like. You cannot put anything on the floor because she will eat it. She ate a plastic shopping bag. She ate a phone. She ate a lamp. She eats any shoes she can get her little mouth on, and she’s not teething anymore. She’s 2. I provide her with every type of chew toy that you can imagine. I think I need to tire her out more. She’s also a snorer.
Reader’s Digest: Dogs are always so much fun! Now let’s talk about your career, which has spanned modeling, acting, writing and entrepreneurship. What drives you to keep exploring new roles and industries? How do you choose what’s next?
Brooke Shields: A lot of times, it chooses me. I didn’t set out with some intricate plan as to how I was gonna jump around. It usually came from necessity. Movies get tired of you. So you think, Am I going to just sit here and wait, or can I explore Broadway? Can I explore theater and TV?
The versatility of my career has just been born out of not sitting still. I’m a creative. I am an artist, and I want to keep doing what I do. If I don’t know how to do it, I want to learn how to do it. Writing books is really important to me during periods of time that I’m not on a show or doing a film. Broadway has been great. I‘m an ambitious person, but I’m also deeply creative. If I can’t have an outlet for it, I really start to panic and get really edgy.
Reader’s Digest: Is there a favorite memory, whether on set, at home or in your advocacy work, that continues to inspire you today?
Brooke Shields: I have them all the time. I remember doing [the TV show] Friends, and there was one moment that I was trusted by the showrunner. She had told me not to do something, and I begged her to do it. She said no, so I just had to do what she wanted.
During a break, she kind of yelled at me to put it back in. I ended up doing this little crazy thing that I wanted to do, and it changed the course of my career. I thought, Trust your instincts, Brooke. You’ve had a long career, not because you’re not talented but because you have something to offer, so trust yourself. It’s something I keep with me all the time.
Rapid response with Brooke Shields
Want more fun tidbits about Shields? Check out her answers below.
Reader’s Digest: Cats or dogs?
Brooke Shields: Dogs.
Reader’s Digest: Aisle seat or window?
Brooke Shields: Aisle.
Reader’s Digest: Mornings or nights?
Brooke Shields: Mornings.
Reader’s Digest: Would you travel to the past or the future?
Brooke Shields: The past.
Reader’s Digest: What is your favorite breakfast food?
Brooke Shields: I love really good granola and milk.
Reader’s Digest: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Brooke Shields: Like yourself more. Be kinder to yourself, and you don’t always have to say yes.
*Editor’s note: Reader’s Digest does not endorse any specific products or services.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this interview with Brooke Shields, Reader’s Digest Associate Editor Mariah Thomas tapped her experiences as a celebrity interviewer, lifestyle writer and editor of more than five years. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
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