People News

Brooke Shields mourning the loss of her mother

Nov 6, 2012, 17:01 GMT

Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields' mother has died.

The actress' 79-year-old mum, Teri Shields, died last Wednesday (31.10.12) from a long illness related to dementia, a spokesperson told the New York Times newspaper.

The single mother began managing and promoting Brooke when she was 11 months old, kick-starting her career with a Dove advert and a Calvin Klein campaign when she was 15.

Teri - whose full name was Theresa Anna Lillian Schmon - also controversially allowed for Brooke to be photographed nude age 10 and star as a child prostitute in controversial film 'Pretty Baby' in 1978 when she was 12.

She insisted at the time she wasn't exploiting her child, but was actually making the most of her striking looks.

Teri said: 'Fortunately, Brooke was at an age where she couldn't talk back ... One, they see total innocence, which is totally there. And two, they have the sexy child too, they have the sexy person - that appeals to them.'

Brooke began managing her modelling and acting career herself in her 20s and has since claimed her relationship with her mother suffered as a consequence.

Speaking in 1994, she revealed: 'I grew up in an alcoholic household. I'm the caretaker who wants to make everything better, and you can only do that for so long, or so I've been told.'