Additional Coverage:
- Brooke Shields has found a job she ‘doesn’t resent’—the model and screen actor is fighting for stage actors’ well-being (newsbreak.com)
Brooke Shields, traditionally celebrated for her on-screen achievements, is now turning her attention toward supporting the theatrical community. In a promotional video for her candidacy for President of the Actors’ Equity Association, Shields shared her lifelong experience with fame and expressed her desire to use her high profile for a cause close to her heart.
After a successful election in late May, Shields now leads the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents over 51,000 actors and stage managers, as their president for the next four years. Despite the demands of her new role, Shields is eager to face the challenges ahead, highlighting her intention to leverage her public image for the benefit of the theatre community that welcomed her with open arms despite her lack of traditional Broadway training.
Shields has transitioned from a supermodel and TV star to taking on roles in Broadway productions such as “The Addams Family” and “Cabaret,” showcasing her versatility as an actress. She won the presidency against candidates with more extensive union backgrounds, embracing a steep learning process with determination.
The fight for fair treatment in Hollywood continues, with Shields and other ’90s icons like Fran Drescher of “The Nanny” fame advocating for better conditions for union members. The recent Hollywood strikes brought issues like fair wages, streaming residuals, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry to the forefront, with some progress made in negotiating new contracts for screen actors and writers.
Within the theater community, the battle for fair wages persists, with the Actors’ Equity Association recently striking against developmental work to push for better compensation. High-profile figures like Idina Menzel and Bette Midler have also voiced concerns over AI in the industry.
As Shields steps into her role, she acknowledges the ongoing struggle for living wages and better conditions for theater artists, emphasizing the importance of ongoing dialogue and collective action to protect the future of the industry during these changing times.