Brooke Shields reveals why she interrupted ‘too precious’ Meghan Markle at South by Southwest Festival

American actress Brooke Shields has opened up about the viral moment she cut off the Duchess of Sussex during a panel discussion in front of a packed audience.

The pair were speaking at an International Women’s Day event at last year’s South by Southwest Festival when Markle began recounting her frequently told childhood story about writing a complaint about a sexist ad for dishwashing soap Ivory.

The anecdote, which Markle has shared on several occasions, including a now-edited Vanity Fair cover story, centres on her request to Procter & Gamble to make the commercial gender-neutral.

Ultimately, the company changed their slogan to “People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans”.

As Markle repeated the tale, Shields recalled thinking the moment felt overly serious for the audience.

“She kept saying she was 11!” Shields said during a recent podcast hosted by India Hicks, King Charles’ goddaughter.

“It was just too precious.”

Sensing the mood needed lightening, the Blue Lagoon star interrupted.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry. I’ve got to interrupt you there for one minute,” she recalled saying.

“I was trying not to be rude, but I wanted to be funny because it was so serious.”

Shields then offered a contrasting story from her own childhood, joking that while Markle was writing letters, she was playing a prostitute in the controversial 1978 film Pretty Baby.

“The place went insane,” she said of the audience’s reaction.

“Luckily, it was more relaxed after that.”

Shields, now 60, stressed she didn’t mean to offend the former royal, but felt the conversation needed to shift.

“They’re not going to want to sit here for 45 minutes and listen to anybody be precious or serious.”