Brooke Shields

I loved Lipstick Jungle and was so sad when it got canceled. Are you still in touch with your costars Lindsay Price and Kim Raver?
There aren’t three days that go by without us all either talking or seeing each other or e-mailing or texting! We’re friends now for the long haul because of the experience we had. We couldn’t be more different in personalities, but we just laughed and had so much fun together.

Is it rare to find that chemistry on the set?
I don’t usually have issues with people because I don’t allow myself to get caught up in gossip and jealousy. I don’t have time for that. But I’ve heard about tensions on various sets. I think [Lindsay, Kim and I] realized that we were a team. No one was trying to usurp anyone [else’s place]. We knew we needed each other to make the show work.

You overcame a long battle with postpartum depression. Do those feelings ever resurface?
They’re completely in the past. I think that biochemically I was imbalanced, and that was the main issue. I didn’t experience it at all with my second child. I was just at a very different physiological state. Postpartum depression is out in the world and people are talking about it. It’s less personal. I don’t fear it anymore.

What advice do you have for someone who’s experiencing PPD?
I’d say the most important thing is, don’t try to soldier through it. If you have any inkling that you are feeling anything less than what you believe is your true self, tell your doctor. You can do it in private; no one has to know. Women try and suffer in silence because they're embarrassed that they don’t feel happy or elated or connected [to their child]. You’re told this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life, and if you don’t feel that way, then you think something is wrong with you. It gets worse before it gets better, so it’s just a matter of dealing with it head-on.

I came across this Funny or Die video of you. Hilarious! Did you start using that phrase, “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” with your kids?
We use it obsessively just because of that video! My husband wrote that—he actually co-created Funny or Die [along with Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and others]. They did the "Landlord" video with Will Ferrell and that little girl Pearl, and then my husband suggested doing a video with Pearl’s older sister, who plays my daughter in the video. It was a lot of fun!

What are your favorite things to do when you’re not busy being a mom?
I love watching movies. My husband and I love to entertain and have barbecues. I love going to the theater. There’s just so much to do in New York. And projects! I love projects, like scrapbooking and knitting—people make fun of me for it. My mind is always on a million things at once, so on a set I will just stop and knit for a while so I can focus.

How do you and your husband stay in sync?
He’s a master at keeping us as grounded as possible. We never let too much time go by without talking. If we’re not with each other, we speak many times a day. We e-mail all the time. You just have to be active about creating time together. Not only does he make it a point to ask me how my day went, he also makes sure to ask how I’m feeling.

What’s up next for you?
Currently, I’m working on a new kids’ movie for Nickelodeon [The Boy Who Cried Werewolf]. The character I play is going to shock people. I don’t look anything like myself—I have this heavy dialect. When you become a mom, you want to do things that your kids will like. You have a different respect for kid-oriented projects, so I’m excited about this one.

Are your kids thrilled that you’re doing stuff they can watch?
They’re super excited about Hannah Montana [on which Shields has appeared as Miley’s deceased mom]. They aren’t so sure about my new project though. My younger daughter saw a picture of me [in costume] and said, “I don’t want you to go be this mean lady!” I tried to convince her it was funny, but she’s not a fan.

Of all your diverse projects, which is your favorite?
Two stick out for me the most: Suddenly Susan and the musical Wonderful Town. I was just completely confident and uninhibited in both of them. I adore doing comedy, and no matter how hard they were, I felt that I was on my game in both of those. They were pure joy.

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