Brooke Shields shocked attendees at the Sundance Film Festival with revelations of being s**ually assaulted in her 20s during the screening of her new documentary, “Pretty Baby.” In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Shields disclosed that a prominent Hollywood figure was responsible for the assault more than 30 years ago.
Reflecting on the traumatic incident, Shields expressed, “It has taken me a considerable amount of time to come to terms with it.
I find myself angrier now than I was capable of feeling back then.
When fear grips you, it is entirely justified.
These situations instill immense dread even without physical violence.”
The actress shared that she kept silent about the assault until the release of her documentary because she believed “no one would believe her,” noting, “Back then, people were dismissive of such stories.
I had convinced myself that my career would be over if I spoke up.”
The assault occurred during what Shields described as the “nadir of my professional life.” Fresh out of Princeton University, she arranged a meeting with a high-ranking Hollywood individual, which transpired as a formal dinner meeting.
“I was under the impression that I was there to discuss a potential movie role,” Shields recounted.
The evening culminated with the executive escorting her to his hotel room, where the assault took place.
Shields admitted, “I didn't resist.
I simply froze,” and later shouldered the blame for the ordeal.
“I repeatedly told myself, ‘I shouldn't have agreed to that.
Why did I accompany him?
I shouldn't have had that drink during dinner,'” Shields lamented.
“It became all too easy to detach myself from reality, as it had become a recurring pattern.
With only fight or flight as options, fighting was out of the question, so I disconnected.
‘You're not present.
It never occurred.'”
In her comprehensive two-part documentary, praised by Variety as “captivating” and “masterful” following its premiere at Sundance, Shields sheds light for the first time on her initial encounters in the realm of Hollywood.
The film traces her evolution from a child model in advertisements to her objectification in films, commencing at 12 years old in “Pretty Baby” (1978) and subsequently at 15 in “The Blue Lagoon” (1980).
Renowned filmmaker Lana Wilson directs the documentary, acclaimed for her work on the Taylor Swift feature “Miss Americana.”
“Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby” will make
