Kim Basinger never expected her daughter to follow in her footsteps.

The 60-year-old star was surprised when Ireland Baldwin, whose father is her ex-husband Alec Baldwin, signed a deal with IMG Models and a professional management firm earlier this year, because she always tried to protect the 18-year-old beauty by giving her a normal childhood.

The 'L.A. Confidential' actress told People magazine: ''She grew up in the limelight but I tried to provide stability and a quieter world.

''You just want them to follow their own path, and she totally did this on her own.''

But Kim supports Ireland's dreams of becoming a supermodel.

The Oscar-winning actress explained: ''I think she wanted to stick her foot in and see what it would bring. And she's doing extremely well.''

Kim, who is filming her fourth movie this year, also opened up about her decision to reignite her own career after learning to overcome her anxiety without medication.

She said: ''In this business you can be at the top of the world and at the bottom of the barrel, and you're grape juice. I've been at both ends. It can make you become what you really are.

''Now I wake up and enjoy life. I didn't want to live on drugs. I wanted to face everything I was afraid of.''

She added: ''I've been so blessed because I've had such longevity. I'm not a big red-carpet girl. But I love the work.''

Kim's new movie 'Grudge Match' with Robert De Niro will be released in the US on Christmas Day.