Brooke Shields hints at the truth behind child stardom in Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields teaser

Hollywood is so rife with stories about the exploitation of child stars that it would be difficult to say which case is the most infamous, or which child entertainer-to-adult performer narrative is the most high profile. Nevertheless, Brooke Shields is someone who would come close to the top of the list. Her story, that of a young girl oversexualized by the entertainment industry and forced to grow up in the public eye, is the subject of a new two-part documentary, Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby, premiering April 3 on Hulu.

“The film follows Shields through her extraordinary childhood and complex relationship with her mother and manager, Teri Shields,” reads a synopsis for the doc. “Shields’ professional career began at only 11 months old, working as a child model before starring in Louis Malle’s controversial film Pretty Baby at the age of 12. She became the face of the eighties with Calvin Klein jeans ads, and leading roles in The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love, navigating the unrelenting scrutiny of the press and a culture that wanted to commodify her. After defying stereotypes by going to college, Shields re-enters the entertainment industry as an adult, but it isn’t until she begins to trust herself and her instincts that she’s able to find her identity and voice.”