'The Blue Lagoon actress has battled postpartum depression in the past, and an insulting comment from Tom Cruise only made her situation worse.
Brooke Shields is one of the most beautiful stars in Hollywood, and she won critical acclaim at age 12 for the 1978 film 'Pretty Baby'.
In addition to acting, she is the proud mother of Rowan, 18, and Grier, 15. The actress shares her beautiful daughters with her husband, Chris Henchy, a renowned screenwriter.
Brooke Shield's Fight against depression
The couple, who married in 2001, welcomed Rowan in 2003 and Grier in 2006. In an earlier interview with TV host Oprah Winfrey, Shields revealed that giving birth to her first child wasn't easy.
"It was so dramatic, and it wasn't glorious," she said.
Shields recalled how many women say that giving birth is the most amazing moment. But what she felt was far from perfect.
When she saw Henchy cradling Rowan in the hospital's delivery room, Shields said she felt rage. She was also mad at her husband for being happy.
The actress said that she was jealous that her husband could enjoy the precious moment with pure joy, while she dealt with the difficulties of childbirth. When they returned home after being released, Shields said her feelings darkened.
Her bad mood left the veteran actress unable to bond with her baby girl. She was crying hysterically with mixed feelings of rage and self-hatred. She admitted that she "had no desire" to care for her little daughter.
The celebrity came to think that she felt the "baby blues", but she experienced something worse. Although she was overwhelmed by her own emotions, she didn't know that Henchy noticed her actions.
Chris cried and asked her wife what was wrong since she had never sung or expressed love to her baby. He also wondered why his wife acted differently from other mothers.
Shields said she thought she still had "postpartum blues" until friends of hers ratified her suspicions. She has been prescribed antidepressants after a visit to her doctor's office.
Concerned about taking such medications, Ella Shields said she felt embarrassed and humiliated at first. But her partner encouraged her and begged her to comply with the treatment for the sake of her family.
She reluctantly agreed to take antidepressants. Fortunately, it worked wonders for her mental health. Over time, she began to calm down and feel closer to Rowan. Since then, she has established a special bond with her lovely daughter.
Her experience with postpartum depression encouraged Brooke to urge mothers not to ignore the symptoms. She advised them to pay attention to her feelings and seek medical help.
While the public welcomed her suggestion, actor Tom Cruise did not support her taking antidepressants. The Hollywood heartthrob was linked to the group called 'Scientology'.
Words from Tom Cruise
Cruise's old religion forbade him from using "mind-altering substances." Instead of taking mood-altering drugs, she suggested that women should take "vitamins and exercise."
In a 2005 interview, Tom said in response to Shields' prescription, "I don't agree with that, and I think there's an ever-improving quality of life."
The "Edge of Tomorrow" actor clarified that psychiatry was a "pseudoscience." He also claimed that Brooke was "irresponsible" for taking antidepressants to treat postpartum depression.
Brooke Shields's Answer
Cruise's comments drew criticism, and Shields lashed out at him. He said he should focus on saving the world from alien invasions and letting women with postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them.
Through the pages of The New York Times, Shields pointed out that her comments showed how he did not understand the condition and childbirth in general.
He noted that experts estimated that at least one in ten women suffered from it, and usually in silence. He stressed that his experience was real and personal.
It is worth noting that during her appearance on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', the actress shared how Cruise apologized to her. She revealed that he went to her house and gave her "a sincere apology."
The movie actor regretted dragging her into all the controversy. For her part, Shields said she was impressed with Cruise's sincerity during his apology.
At the time, she said that she didn't feel any need to defend herself against her and that the 'Jack Reacher' actor wasn't trying to talk her into anything. She wholeheartedly accepted her apology.
