Golden Globe-winning actress Brooke Shields was elected president of the Actors' Equity Association, representing over 51,000 professional stage actors and managers.
She succeeds Kate Shindle, the union's president since 2015. Shindle declared last month that she would not seek re-election.
The position of Equity president is a volunteer job, and Shields was elected to a four-year term. The position has formerly been held by several well-known actors, including Ron Silver, Colleen Dewhurst, Ellen Burstyn, and Burgess Meredith.
Shields won with around half the vote. The remaining votes were divided between Equity vice presidents Wydetta Carter and Erin Maureen Koster.
The union announced her victory on Friday and also reported in the Broadway Journal newsletter. A union representative said that the actress was not available for an interview.
In a campaign video posted on YouTube, Shields said that one of her top goals would be advocating for increased government funding for the arts. She claimed she understands the real need to support live theater and has a history of being able to open doors and help.
Shields is best known as a screen actress in 'The Blue Lagoon,' 'Endless Love,' 'Suddenly Susan.' Her Broadway credits include 'Chicago,' 'Grease,' and 'Cabaret.'
Furthermore, about 51,000 members of Equity represent them in contract negotiations across the country. The union was just granted the authority to represent a variety of Disneyland performers last week.
The Broadway League and the union have a conflict over a new contract that governs developmental work or how artists are paid when participating in workshops for shows still in production.
Currently, the union is negotiating a new deal for Off-Broadway workers. Equity has threatened to have its members stop working on such developmental projects if a settlement is not reached by mid-June.
