Brooke Shields Explains Why She Recently Apologized to Dean Cain, Her College Boyfriend

Brooke Shields is opening up about her relationship with Dean Cain, who she dated when they were students at Princeton University.

The 57-year-old actress chatted with People ahead of the release of her Hulu documentary Pretty Baby, which explores how she was sexualized as a child in films like Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon.

The attention on her body and sexuality affected her early relationships, she says, including her romance with Dean.

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“We had a great relationship, broke up, got back together again after three years. And that should have been a delicious time for me of reveling in it and feeling proud and free because I was in love,” she told People. “But it was as if I was just paralyzed from shame, thinking everybody was going to know, thinking of letting my fans down because I had professed one thing.”

At the time of their relationship, Dean was a football player at Princeton, years before he became an actor.

“He just was so loyal and loving and just so in love. And I did not make it easy,” Brooke said.

Brooke says that a few years ago, she apologized to Dean for not enjoying the moment during their relationship.

“I said, ‘I’m sorry for you, and I’m really sorry for me,’” she said.

Brooke also has opened up about being sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive 30 years ago.