At 60, Brooke Shields is entering a new era. She is starring in and executive producing a murder mystery series called You’re Killing Me, which premieres May 18 on Acorn TV. She is launching her own company, Commence, to empower women over 40. And she is watching her two daughters, Rowan and Grier, find their own paths in the world.
This is not the Brooke Shields of the 1980s, photographed as a teen idol on magazine covers. This is a woman who has spent decades learning to claim her own voice. Here is a look at her latest projects, her family, and the career she has built on her own terms.
What Is Brooke Shields’ New Series ‘You’re Killing Me’ About?
Shields headlines a six-episode murder mystery series that premieres Monday, May 18, on Acorn TV. She plays Allison “Allie” Chandler, a bestselling novelist living in a quaint New England town called Founder’s Cove, Maine. Her character writes the popular Selena St. Cloud book series and enjoys a comfortable, successful life. But when a close friend is murdered, she forms an unlikely alliance with Andi, an aspiring writer and podcaster played by Amalia Williamson, to track down the killer.
The show’s official description compares Allie to Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote, another bestselling novelist living in a charming Maine town with a surprisingly high murder rate. The series is created by Robin Bernheim, a longtime friend of Shields who first worked with her on a 1992 episode of Quantum Leap. Tom Cavanagh, known for The Flash and Ed, also stars as Jack, the new lead detective who is trying to adjust to small-town life.
The show has been described as a blend of mystery and comedy, with the generational gap between Allie and Andi providing plenty of laughs. Williamson told TV Insider that the two characters are not instant best friends. “They’re so different in so many ways at the beginning and then as they work more closely together, they discover just how much they need each other to succeed”. Shields added that their relationship “has definitely grown from adversarial and slightly contentious to a closeness that still has its ups and downs and humorous bits”.
Shields Opens Up About Motherhood and Her Daughters Rowan and Grier
Away from the cameras, Shields has built a steady family life. She has been married to writer and producer Chris Henchy since April 2001. The couple recently celebrated their 25-year anniversary on April 4, 2026. They have two daughters: Rowan Francis Henchy, 22, and Grier Hammond Henchy, 20.
Shields has been open about watching her daughters grow into confident, independent adults. At the New York City premiere of You’re Killing Me on May 7, she brought Rowan along, and her daughter helped interview her for AMC’s social team.
Shields told PEOPLE magazine that seeing her daughters find their own way is a “bizarre feeling”. She also said, “You know, they’re okay and, and then you just get so proud of them, not of anything you did, but you just get proud of them, you know, for being their own people and being confident and, and trying things that they didn’t know they knew how to do”.
Rowan is making her own steps into the entertainment world. She appears in season 2 of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC, and Shields makes a cameo in the trailer to support her. In April, the mother-daughter duo attended the Animal Haven’s Benefit for the Animals together in coordinated gowns. Rowan also sat down with her mother for an exclusive interview for Extra ahead of Mother’s Day, where Shields told her, “You make me the happiest being a mother”.
Shields has also reflected on how her parenting style has changed. She admitted to becoming “more lenient” with her daughters over time. During an appearance on Today with Jenna and Friends, she joked about how holiday plans have been overtaken by her daughters’ social lives. “There’s boyfriend situations, and there’s only so many beds. And it’s a discussion,” she said.
How Shields Built Her Career and Her $40 Million Net Worth
Brooke Shields’ career spans more than five decades. She started as a child model and became a controversial teen star in films like Pretty Baby (1978) and The Blue Lagoon (1980). She later proved her comedic range on the long-running sitcom Suddenly Susan and in dramas like Lipstick Jungle. She has also performed on Broadway.
In 2023, she released the two-part Hulu documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, directed by Lana Wilson. The documentary became ABC News’ most-watched Hulu debut ever. It explored her early sexualization beginning at age 9, the modeling and acting career that followed, and the urgent conversations she inspires around what society expects of women. The documentary received a standing ovation at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Her long career has resulted in an estimated net worth of $40 million, which includes her combined earnings with her husband. She has told Reuters that she has no plans to retire. “They are going to have to pull me off the stage,” she said. “Work is a huge part of my identity, having done it for 53 years now”.
Shields’ Mental Health Advocacy and Her Message About Aging
Beyond her entertainment work, Shields has become a prominent advocate for mental health. She has spoken openly about her experience with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Rowan. She wrote a book about her journey, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, and continues to advocate for mothers facing the same struggle. She has said, “If I’m true about this claim that I want to help, I have to do this”.
Shields has also been candid about aging in Hollywood. In interviews tied to You’re Killing Me, she discussed the pressure women face to stay perpetually young. She has said that women become more formidable and elegant with age. She recently launched her own company, Commence, a haircare line aimed at empowering women over 40 to redefine their own narratives. Her message is clear: confidence and self-worth come from within, not from staying young forever.
Where to Watch ‘You’re Killing Me’
You’re Killing Me premieres Monday, May 18, 2026, on Acorn TV. All six episodes will be available to stream. Acorn TV is available through its own app and as a channel on Amazon Prime Video.
Sources for this article:
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ACORN TV Press Materials
