46 Years After The Blue Lagoon This is What Brooke Shields & Christopher Atkins Look Like Today

When “The Blue Lagoon” first came to theaters in 1980, it became an instant yet controversial classic. Starring a 14-year-old Brooke Shields and the up-and-coming Christopher Atkins, this survival romance meets coming-of-age tale tells the story of two shipwrecked kids growing up together on a tropical island. The film was controversial because of its mature themes with young teens, but also cemented both actors as A-listers and household names for years to come. Now, 46 years later, you might be wondering…what came of those young stars, and where are they today?

What happened to Brooke Shields?

Before she made a name for herself as an actor in Hollywood, Brooke Shields was already a known name in fashion. After the movie exploded in popularity, Shields continued to flourish in a decades-long career that spanned fashion, film, TV, Broadway, and writing.

In 2026, at 61 years old, she’s just as busy. She recently starred in the mystery series “You’re Killing Me” on Acorn TV, playing novelist and amateur sleuth Allie Chandler. She also played Lana in Netflix’s “Mother of the Bride” and joined the cast in Ryan Murphy’s “All Fair.” The actor has also become a vocal advocate for women in midlife, discussing taboo topics like menopause, aging, and confidence in interviews as well as through a variety of her entrepreneurial ventures. One of them is the haircare brand Commence, specifically designed for women in midlife.

Beyond her acting and business ventures, Shields is a proud mother to her daughters, Rowan and Grier, whom she shares with her longtime husband, Chris Henchy. On social media, she gives fans glimpses into her life and her shockingly youthful appearance—even almost half a century later, she’s just as stunning.

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What happened to Christopher Atkins?

“The Blue Lagoon” was this actor’s debut, and a spectacular one at that. He was just 18 years old when he earned a Golden Globe nomination for portraying Richard Lestrange, and that soon snowballed into him becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the 80s. Following the success of the movie, Atkins appeared in a variety of TV shows and movies, including “Dallas,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “The Pirate Movie.” Fun fact: he also posed nude in Playgirl!