Brooke Shields - Brooke Shields Pays Tribute To Late Mother

Actress Brooke Shields has publicly paid tribute to her mother following her death at the age of 79 last week (ends04Nov12).

Actress and model Teri Shields, who guided her daughter to fame as a child star, passed away in New York City last Wednesday (31Oct12) after a long battle with illness, reportedly stemming from her struggle with dementia.

The actress' relationship with her mother allegedly became strained in the 1990s, but they reconnected in recent years, and Brooke has now spoken out about the her loss.

In a statement, she writes, "My mother was an enormous part of my life and of who I am today. I loved her, laughed with her, and respected her. And although she had her share of struggles, she was my mom."