Brooke Shields is talking about aging in Hollywood in the May issue of More Magazine (story via US Magazine). I realize that Brooke has a really loyal fanbase, but I’ve never been her biggest fan. She seems nice enough, and I was totally on her side with the whole Tom Cruise/post-partum depression stuff, but I tend to think she’s over-rated as an actress and as a beauty. So when I hear her complain about aging, I feel like “Jeez, cry me a river, Brooke. Stop whining.” But, hey, that’s just me.

Brooke says “it occurred to me recently that I wasn’t 26!” Yeah, that happens. It happened to me when I turned 27 years old. Of course, I have a young face and I still get carded at the liquor store. Brooke also says, in regards to parts for women over 40: “There aren’t a lot of movies out there for my age… They’re still stopping at the mid-30s. Then you’re Diane Keaton or Glenn Close.” I know what point Brooke is trying to make, but did she just compare herself to Diane Keaton and Glenn Close?

In a revealing new interview, Brooke Shields – who turns 44 next month – says her age is making it hard for her to land roles in Hollywood.

“For years, I’ve been the youngest person on the set, and it occurred to me recently that I wasn’t 26!” she tells May’s More Magazine. “I’d read a script and say, ‘Oh, that’s a great character, that’s something I’d love to do.’ And they’d say, ‘Um, no, we’re thinking of you for the mother.’ And then I’d say, ‘Oh, of course! Of course! I knew that.'”

“There aren’t a lot of movies out there for my age,” adds Shields, whose NBC show Lipstick Jungle was canceled last year after two seasons. “They’re still stopping at the mid-30s. Then you’re Diane Keaton or Glenn Close.” (Keaton is 63; Close, 62.)

Shields — who, at age 14, became the youngest fashion model ever to appear on Vogue and went on to be a Calvin Klein model — says she sees ageism in advertising too.

“I always find it funny that so much skin cream advertising features, like, Jessica Alba,” she says. “She’s gorgeous, and 12! Okay? They’re all that age! I don’t care how much La Mer I put on my skin, I’m not going to have Jessica Alba’s face!”

When it comes to her body, Shields says, “I’m proud of my longevity more than anything else. There’s a lot to be said for endurance. I’m trying to find the beauty in the whole picture rather than the crow’s feet.”

She adds, “Sure, I wish I had the face I had a decade ago, but I don’t. People say, ‘I love my wrinkles.’ I don’t love my wrinkles – come on!”

[From US Magazine]

I’ll give Brooke some credit – she looks lovely and healthy for her age. She obviously strives to take care of herself, and it shows. But whenever I hear someone like her complaining about not getting good roles, all I can think is that the roles have dried up partially because those women aren’t the most talented. Yes, there’s prevalent ageism and sexism in Hollywood. Yes, more women should be more empowered at all levels of Hollywood to make more and better films that feature strong women at every age. But if you waste your time on crap like Lipstick Jungle, I don’t really care about your career.

Here’s Brooke at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2009 Spring Gala held at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on April 6th. Images thanks to WENN.com .