25 amazing photos of a young Brooke Shields (2024)

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Brooke Shields is front and center in the new two-part Hulu documentary "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," which debuts on April 3, 2023. The project — which takes its name from the 1978 film that marked her first big breakthrough — traces her early years in Hollywood and examines how the focus on her appearance impacted her later in life. "The entirety of my life, it was 'she's a pretty face' over and over and over and over again — and that always just seared me," says the model-actress in a trailer for the documentary. "I'm amazed that I survived any of it," she later adds. In honor of the documentary's debut, we're taking a look back at 25 incredible photos from early in Brooke's career, starting with this shot…

Brooke Shields looked solemn in a promotional photo for 1978's "Pretty Baby," which made her a star at age 12.

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MORE: Brooke Shields' life in pictures

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Brooke Shields starred as the daughter of a prostitute played by Susan Sarandon in the 1978 drama "Pretty Baby." She was just 12 when she took on the title role in the film, which is based on a true story.

MORE: Brooke Shields and more of the all-time most iconic child stars

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A 15-year-old Brooke Shields made her runway debut for Valentino in Rome in 1981.

MORE: Stars who just don't seem to age

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Brooke Shields starred alongside Christopher Atkins in the 1980 cult coming-of-age romantic drama "The Blue Lagoon," which performed well at the box office in spite of dismal reviews from critics.

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Brooke Shields and close pal Michael Jackson held hands during the 1984 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (The pop star was the biggest winner that night, taking home eight awards.)

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A pint-sized Brooke Shields posed for a photo with rocker Gene Simmons — as his KISS alter ego, the Demon — at a party in Los Angeles in 1978.

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Brooke Shields cuddled a koala in the 1983 NBC special "Animals Are the Funniest People."

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Brooke Shields smiled alongside her mom, Teri Shields, at a 1983 co*cktail party in New York City.

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Brooke Shields stepped out with pal, fellow child star and rumored boyfriend Scott Baio in 1979. (Both actors later insisted they were only ever just friends.)

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Brooke Shields cozied up to Gonzo while guest starring on "The Muppet Show" in 1980.

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Martin Hewitt's on-screen alter ego gazed adoringly at Brooke Shields as the object of his affection in the 1981 drama "Endless Love."

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Brooke Shields' father, Frank Shields, gave her a proud peck on the forehead at the 1981 premiere of her film "Endless Love" in New York City.

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Brooke Shields posed with her diploma during her graduation ceremony from New Jersey's Princeton University in 1987.

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Brooke Shields looked glamorous while out and about in New York City sometime in the mid-1980s.

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Brooke Shields got a lift from Chuck Berry at the 1979 Disco Music Awards.

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Brooke Shields sported a straw hat in a pretty portrait from early in her career.

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Brooke Shields posed with her father, Frank Shields, at her high school graduation ceremony in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1983.

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In 1979, Brooke Shields presented the Oscar for best supporting actress to Maggie Smith for her work in "California Suite." (They posed together backstage later in the evening.)

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Brooke Shields' on-screen alter ego, an aspiring hot rod racer, disguised herself as a man in the 1983 adventure film "Sahara."

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Brooke Shields made the A-list when she was just 13! In 1978, she was all smiles while attending a Halloween party in Los Angeles with fellow stars Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda and Kristy McNichol.

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Cute or creepy?! In 1985, Brooke Shields teamed up with Bob Hope and Emmanuel Lewis to portray dolls in a sketch for NBC's "The Bob Hope Christmas Show" TV special.

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Brooke Shields rocked floral-print shorts while roller skating in an undated photo from early in her career.

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Brooke Shields chatted with Classic Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall at a 1979 charity event for the NYPD in New York City.

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A baby-faced Brooke Shields smiled sweetly in a promotional photo for the 1979 comedy "Just You and Me, Kid."

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Brooke Shields and Michael Jackson — who were extremely close friends during their teen years — were all smiles at the 1981 Oscars.