Brooke Shields Reveals the Pay-It-Forward Response She Has When Others Tell Her Something 'Complimentary'

Mar. 15, 2025

Brooks Shields in October 2024.Photo:Taylor Hill/Getty

Taylor Hill/Getty

Brooke Shieldsis all about paying kindness forward.While appearing on the Jan. 13 episode of theCall It What It Ispodcast, the actress, 59, spoke with co-hostsJessica CapshawandCamilla Luddingtonabout the response she has when others compliment her.“When anybody says anything complimentary, I immediately turn it back around, and I say, ‘Youare so beautiful,’ " Shields said.“It never fails,” she continued. “The person will go, ‘Thank you,’ and I’ll be like, ‘Have a great day,’ and I walk on. A little goes a long way.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Brooke Shields on ‘The Tonight Show’ in January 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC /GettyAccording to Shields, spreading kindness to others — whether they are someone she knows or complete strangers — is super important to her.“I can smile at a stranger, I can make someone feel valued and special, and that is really important to do when you can, when you have the power to do it,” she explained.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!TheBrooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Oldauthor also detailed the importance of always respecting others, as well as oneself.“Respect is a huge, huge thing to integrate into your lives, and that is respect for yourself without arrogance, because I used to equate that with arrogance, and respect for others, others' time and others' feelings at that moment,” she said. “Just try to be aware of them.“Brooke Shields in June 2024.Nina Westervelt/CBS via GettyStill, Shields said there have been instances in the past when she has gotten backhanded compliments from others that didn’t align with her views on kindness.“If I’m walking on the street … usually someone will say, ‘Oh, you’restillbeautiful,“The Mother of the Bridestar said.But Shields said those instances don’t deter her from leading with kindness, and she even feels that there is a push towards more people doing the same.“It didn’t use to be so cool to be kind, and now it does feel like there’s a culture and a movement toward kindness,” she said. “Not in all circles, but in quite a few.”

Brooke Shieldsis all about paying kindness forward.

While appearing on the Jan. 13 episode of theCall It What It Ispodcast, the actress, 59, spoke with co-hostsJessica CapshawandCamilla Luddingtonabout the response she has when others compliment her.

“When anybody says anything complimentary, I immediately turn it back around, and I say, ‘Youare so beautiful,’ " Shields said.

“It never fails,” she continued. “The person will go, ‘Thank you,’ and I’ll be like, ‘Have a great day,’ and I walk on. A little goes a long way.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brooke Shields on ‘The Tonight Show’ in January 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC /Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC /Getty

According to Shields, spreading kindness to others — whether they are someone she knows or complete strangers — is super important to her.

“I can smile at a stranger, I can make someone feel valued and special, and that is really important to do when you can, when you have the power to do it,” she explained.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

TheBrooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Oldauthor also detailed the importance of always respecting others, as well as oneself.

“Respect is a huge, huge thing to integrate into your lives, and that is respect for yourself without arrogance, because I used to equate that with arrogance, and respect for others, others’ time and others' feelings at that moment,” she said. “Just try to be aware of them.”

Brooke Shields in June 2024.Nina Westervelt/CBS via Getty

Nina Westervelt/CBS via Getty

Still, Shields said there have been instances in the past when she has gotten backhanded compliments from others that didn’t align with her views on kindness.

“If I’m walking on the street … usually someone will say, ‘Oh, you’restillbeautiful,“The Mother of the Bridestar said.

But Shields said those instances don’t deter her from leading with kindness, and she even feels that there is a push towards more people doing the same.

“It didn’t use to be so cool to be kind, and now it does feel like there’s a culture and a movement toward kindness,” she said. “Not in all circles, but in quite a few.”

source: people.com