Brooke Shields Reflects on Meghan Markle

In a recent discussion on India Hicks’ podcast, actress Brooke Shields, now 60, shared her impressions of Meghan Markle during a panel at the South by Southwest Festival last year. The occasion coincided with International Women’s Day, where moderator Katie Couric prompted discussions on gender equality.

Shields recounted how Markle, upon being asked about her advocacy for women at a young age, shared a story from when she was 11. She recalled challenging a company about an advertisement that implied only women should wash dishes. Markle was vocal about her beliefs even then, which I think is, well, quite admirable.

“Katie asks Meghan the first question, and you can tell she’s passionate about this,” Shields said. Reflecting on the panel, she mentioned feeling that some of the conversation, which focused on personal anecdotes, was perhaps a bit too sentimental for her liking. “It’s too precious… I wouldn’t want to hear them being all precious or serious for 45 minutes,” she noted jokingly.

During the discussion, Shields found herself wanting to interject. “I just had to say something,” she explained. She felt it was important to highlight their differences, to remind the audience that everyone’s journey is unique. This moment sparked laughter among attendees, lightening the mood.

As an actress famously sexualized at a young age—starring in films like “Pretty Baby” at 11—Shields opened up about the pressures of Hollywood. Those experiences were, frankly, overwhelming at times. She expressed, “I was at the center of it. I was advertising it.” Yet, she also acknowledged her luck in having protective and strong parents, which kept her grounded amid the chaos of fame. “I always went to a normal school,” she said, emphasizing the importance of community in navigating her early career.

Shields spoke candidly about her past, admitting she did not conform to the statistics you often hear about child stars in Hollywood. Instead, she credited her family for her resilience: “I had this kind of community around me that protected me,” she reflected. Asking, I wonder how many others had similar experiences.

Hollywood’s tendency to, in a way, “eat” young talent is a serious conversation, and it’s one that Shields has navigated throughout her career.