Celebrity

Brooke Shields Takes Charge Of Her Story In ‘Pretty Baby’

Published

1 year ago

2023-04-03

NEW YORK — Brooke Shields has been dubbed “beautiful, smart, and famous” since she was a baby, but a new documentary explains why it took her decades to believe in her abilities.

“Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” is a firsthand examination of her success as a model, actor, author, and now lifestyle entrepreneur, despite being sexualized and objectified at a young age and managing her alcoholic mother — the original “momager,” Teri Shields — with a dazzling array of archival photos and footage, and in-depth interviews with Shields.

“Pretty Baby,” like other recent documentaries on Britney Spears and Pamela Anderson, contains a cringeworthy barrage of media clips in which mostly older men reduce her to a pretty face and are uninterested in her responses to their queries. The film, which will be released in two parts on Hulu on Monday, examines how women were treated in the 1980s and 1990s, with Shields disclosing she was the victim of a sexual assault by a Hollywood executive after graduating from college.

Shields recently spoke with The Associated Press about what she learned from the project, how she gained confidence after being shamed for her personal choices, and how she views her future.

The responses have been modified for length and clarity.

AP: In the series, you state, “I’m fully owning my identity.” What do you mean?

Shields: For so long, I made myself small, either to be relatable or to avoid being menacing or humbled, you know? Don’t be a jerk. Don’t be conceited. Have individuals who admire you. Everyone should be treated with respect. This was how I grew up, and I was awarded for it. It’s fine to give myself a gentle slap on the back. It’s fine to state I have talent because I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. It’s not just because I’m clever or have a certain appearance. I’ve kept working and challenging myself, and I never felt confident enough to say it aloud. I’d always desired other people’s approval for my talent, never imagining I could give it to myself.

AP: The documentary outlines the press’s years of scrutiny of you; how have you felt promoting the series?

Shields: I noticed no one desired my answers when I was a little girl. They wished to base their story on the soundbite I gave them. And, as is my wont, I refused to give it to them in my manner. I no longer feel on the defensive because I’ve realized that I’m not at the mercy of others. Looking back, I can see that’s what I was doing, and I don’t have to do it anymore, which is very liberating, but it took 40-something years. (laughs).

AP: What was the most difficult aspect of the program to reveal?

SHIELDS: I was concerned about the #MeToo movement simply because I didn’t want it reduced to a story. But I knew that if I didn’t, I’d feel like a phony or inauthentic. I hadn’t been able to speak about it until now, and it felt like you owed it to yourself. And I just prayed that out of two hours and however many minutes, the one brief story — I mean, I knew it would be clickbait — I wouldn’t be let down by the press again.

AP: Does it sound like compartmentalizing was a survival strategy for you?

SHIELDS: I believe that occurs with an alcoholic’s child. You do learn to categorize, you know. You care about someone broken and suffering from a disease they can’t seem to manage. But you can’t afford for their affection to be fake. So, when things felt…out of control, I would become very orderly, which became my center, my meditation, redoing my Filofax or refolding my socks.

AP: Brooke, You recently founded a business dedicated to celebrating women’s lives after age 40. What makes that so essential to you?

SHIELDS: I decided at a young age that if I were going to speak about anything, it would be about issues that could benefit others. How can I not feel alone? I’ve wondered over the years. I can tell my story, and I’m confident it will resonate with someone else. Before COVID, I was healthy, worked out frequently, and felt good. I was so relaxed about everything. My children are fine. I enjoy my existence. I’m pleased with it.

The irony was that nothing was addressing me when I glanced outside myself. You know how your agents tell you, ‘Well, you’re of a certain age…’ I’m not deceased, and I’m not buried, come on! I was taken aback. It would help to recognize how difficult it is to reach this age with your wits about you, decent people in your life, and how much more there is.

AP: What are your current ambitions?

SHIELDS: To appear on another TV program. I’m desperate to find the correct (one) because “Suddenly Susan” was such a revelation to me, and it was the happiest time of my life. And I want to relive the experience because it was a very healthy, pure location for me. And I adored it.

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Kevin Spacey Denies “New Allegations” of Inappropriate Behavior

Published

5 hours ago

2024-05-04

Geoff Thomas

Kevin Spacey said he has struggled to get back to work: Getty Images

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has denied new allegations of inappropriate behavior from men in a British television documentary airing next week. After his acquittal last year in a London court, Spacey told journalist Dan Wootton online that he had hard to return to work.

in the interview “Kevin Spacey: Right Of Reply” that aired late Friday on Wootton’s YouTube channel.

Four men accused Spacey of sexual assault 20 years ago, but a London jury acquitted him in July. The court victory was his second since defeating “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp’s $40 million New York case in 2022.

Channel 4 in Britain and Max in the U.S. will carry the documentary “Spacey Unmasked” on May 6 and 7.

The actor indicated in an interview that the documentary will contain men’s 1976–2013 testimony.

Spacey, who won Oscars for “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” stated, “I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about

“Never have I said that if someone gives me sexual favors, I will help them with their career,” he told AP.

Old Vic Theatre in London: Getty Images

Kevin Spacey, who was creative director of the Old Vic Theatre in London from 2004 to 2015, said that he was a “flirt” with 20-something males and made “clumsy” approaches.

“I’ve clearly hooked up with some men, who thought a relationship with me might help them advance in their careers,” he stated. “But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, a plan that was only going to fail because I wasn’t involved.”

Kevin Spacey said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had “repeatedly requested” that Channel 4 give him more than seven days to react to their documentary charges.

Spacey said the channel declined “on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymized and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me.”

“Each time I have been given time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” he said. Spacey called his acquittal a “life sentence” and said he struggled to return to work.

Since the #MeToo movement began in 2017, his acting career has suffered. He lost his Netflix leadership role as Frank Underwood in “House of Cards”.

Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty on 9 Sexual Misconduct Charges

Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty on 9 Sexual Misconduct Charges

Celebrity

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Published

10 hours ago

2024-05-04

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Washington — On Friday, “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill visited the White House with President Joe Biden, leaving with a pair of the president’s aviator sunglasses and a newfound respect for the job.

“I love the merch,” he added, removing his glasses briefly at the White House daily press briefing following his meeting with Biden. Hamill, 72, famous for playing Luke Skywalker, joked with reporters that he’d answer a few questions as long as they weren’t about “Star Wars.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

“I was honored to be asked to come to the White House to meet the president,” he told reporters. He’d been to the White House previously, during the Carter and Obama administrations, but he’d never seen the Oval Office, which he described as impressive. According to Hamill, Biden displayed photographs and other memorabilia from the Oval Office.

Hamill claimed Biden told him to call him “Joe,” to which Hamill responded with an alternative suggestion: “Can I call you Joe-bi-Wan Kenobi?”

“He liked that,” said Hamill, who also portrayed the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Both Mark and the White House were hazy about the cause for his visit. But Mark, a Democrat and Biden supporter with a sizable social media following, has been posting about the president’s reelection campaign this week.

“May 1 Not Quench Your Thirst For Biden’s Re-election!” he tweeted on May 1.

On Friday, he wrote, “May 3 be absurd that the guy who tried to steal a fair election is allowed to run again,” referring to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

May 4 is unofficially known as “Star Wars” Day, partly due to the famous Jedi line “May the Force Be With You.” The pun is “May 4 be with you.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Mark also provided his voice for “Air Alert,” a downloadable program linked to Ukraine’s air defense system. His voice warns citizens to take cover if Russia launches another aerial strike on Ukraine.

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Published

10 hours ago

2024-05-04

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

LONDON — Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor, has denied new charges of inappropriate behavior by men who will appear in a British television documentary airing next week.

In an online interview with journalist Dan Wootton, Spacey stated that he has never done anything unlawful and has struggled to return to work since being convicted of criminal charges in a London court last year.

“I can’t go through this again, allowing myself to be baselessly attacked without defending myself,” he said in the “Kevin Spacey: Right Of Reply” interview, which aired late Friday on Wootton’s YouTube channel.

AP – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Last July, a London jury cleared Spacey of sexual assault charges stemming from 20-year-old allegations made by four men. The court triumph was his second since defending himself against a $40 million lawsuit filed in New York in 2022 by “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp.

The documentary “Spacey Unmasked” will be shown on Channel 4 in Britain on May 6 and 7 and on Max in the United States.

The actor mentioned during the interview that the program will feature men’s evidence about events between 1976 and 2013.

“I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me,” said Spacey, who received Academy Award nominations for “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty.”

“I’ve never told someone that if they give me sexual favors, then I will help them out with their career, never,” he said.

Rolling Stone – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Spacey, the creative director of the Old Vic Theatre in London from 2004 to 2015, said that he was a “flirt” with men in their twenties and occasionally made “clumsy” advances.

“I’ve clearly hooked up with some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me,” he went on to say. But there was no conversation with me. It was all part of their plan, a plan that was always destined to fail because I wasn’t in on the deal.”

The actor also stated on X, formerly Twitter, that he had “repeatedly requested” that Channel 4 give him more than seven days to reply to the claims brought against him in their program.

Spacey said that the network turned down his request “on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymized and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me.”

“Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” he said.

ABC – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Spacey said he had struggled to return to work since being acquitted of all criminal charges, characterizing the experience as a “life sentence.”

His acting career had suffered since 2017 when he was publicly accused of inappropriate behavior at the start of the #MeToo movement. He then lost his starring role as Frank Underwood in the Netflix thriller “House of Cards”.

SOURCE – (AP)