Brooke Shields spent sleepless nights in 'anguish' while helping late mom Teri battle alcohol addiction
PARK CITY, UTAH: Brooke Shields endured many sleepless nights and was reportedly in ‘anguish’ as she tried to help her late mother, Teri Shields, overcome her drinking addiction. The 57-year-old star reflects on her complex relationship with her mother in the upcoming documentary, ‘Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields’, which also sheds light on her childhood, rise to fame, and traumatic sexual assault.
Brooke made her career debut as a child model before she starred in 1978’s 'Pretty Baby' at the age of 12. She famously landed in Calvin Klein jeans ads and leading roles in ‘The Blue Lagoon’ and ‘Endless Love’, which took her career to new heights. However, behind the glitz and glamor of her life, Brooke dealt with turmoil in her family that pushed her to a breaking point, according to Radar Online.
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'I'm not going to do it anymore'
"I don't want to have another night where I can't sleep. I'm not going to do it anymore. I just can't," the 'Wanda Nevada' actor said as Teri's alcohol addiction became troublesome and a cause for concern. "Every time the phone rings at a certain hour, I'm convinced it's the police telling me my mother is on the side of the road," she continued. In the late 1990s, the actress revealed to 20/20's Diane Sawyer that her mother's drinking habit persisted despite her relentless efforts.
Brooke also added that Teri's troubled friend and co-star David Strickland had attempted to help her remain on track before he killed himself in a Las Vegas hotel room. Teri eventually addressed Brooke’s remarks and said she didn't think it was necessary to go public. "However, that's Brooke's opinion and I respect it," said Teri. She added, "I'm an alcoholic, but I'm in recovery," crediting her progress to the 12-step program. Further, a source claimed that Teri got treatment at Bergen Regional Medical Center.
'My mother was an enormous part of my life'
"Alcoholism is a disease and Brooke understands that. It's been a battle for me, but I think I'm finally about to handle it, thanks to 12-step," Teri continued. She added, "I go once, sometimes twice a day, to the program at Sacred Heart Church just a few blocks from my home. It's comforting to know that there are other people in the same boat. This is a very happy time in my life. Things are good now."
Moreover, a friend claimed that Teri's decision to "get treatment" and "finally acknowledge" her issue was beneficial. She tragically died at the age of 79 in 2012 after suffering from dementia. "My mother was an enormous part of my life and of who I am today," Brooke said at that time. The actress added, "I loved her, laughed with her, and respected her. And although she had her share of struggles, she was my mom."