Actress Brooke Shields will visit Springfield this fall for the MSU conference

In front of the camera since she was a child, actress Brooke Shields will be in Springfield this fall to discuss her life and her rise to fame. She will also talk about overcoming challenges.

Shields will headline the Missouri State Public Affairs Conference, speaking at 7 p.m., Sept. 24, at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

The three-day conference will take place from September 24-26. This year’s theme is “Between One and Many: Considering Community and Individualism.”

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required as the event is made possible by both the Missouri State Foundation and KY3.

“Through her powerful message, Brooke encourages audiences to celebrate their own unique paths and find the courage to follow their dreams at any age,” Brent Dunn, the foundation’s executive director, said in a news release Monday. “Like a real icon. and trailblazer, she proves that with determination and a positive outlook, anything is possible.”

Shields is an actress, model, author and entrepreneur.

The child star and model became a start with two early films, “Pretty Baby,” which came out in 1978, and 1980’s “The Blue Lagoon.” In addition to other films, she has appeared in numerous TV shows, including “Murphy Brown,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Law & Order,” “That ’70 Show,” “Friends,” and “The Simpsons.”

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Her recent film Mother of the Bride opposite Benjamin Bratt was #1 on Netflix.

Shields has become known for empowering women of all ages and is preparing to release a book about aging and self-discovery, the release said.

The event is free, but tickets to a special VIP reception with Shields starting at 5 p.m. Sept. 24 will cost $150 and include:

• A photo opportunity with Shields.

• An autographed copy of There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me.

• Cocktails, drinks and appetizers.

• Special seats reserved for the main speech.

For more information, call 417-836-4143.

This article originally appeared on the Springfield News-Leader: Actress Brooke Shields to speak at MSU Public Affairs Conference