Molly Ringwald rose to fame as a key member of the Brat Pack, a group of young actors frequently cast together in iconic coming-of-age movies during the 1980s. Her collaborations with director John Hughes, particularly in films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, solidified her status as a teen idol and a defining face of that era in Hollywood.
Recently, the 56-year-old actress opened up about her harrowing experiences while growing up in the entertainment industry, especially after her daughter decided to become an actress. She candidly revealed that she was taken advantage of by older men in Hollywood, shedding light on the darker side of her early career and the challenges she faced as a young star navigating a complex and often predatory environment.
Molly Ringwald shares details of her encounter with sexual predators in Hollywood
During an interview on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, The Breakfast Club star shared a troubling aspect of her past with the host. Despite being a very conservative child, she encountered numerous sexual predators while growing up. Ringwald highlighted that Hollywood was rife with predatory stars and executives, making it nearly impossible for any young actress to avoid them.
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She reflected on her experiences, emphasizing that they happened even though her parents were highly protective. The actress believed that the outcomes could have been much worse without such vigilant parents.
The actress says it is hard convincing her daughter Malthida not to take up acting
Ringwald explained that her attempts to convince her 20-year-old daughter Mathilda, whom she had with her husband Panio Gianopoulos, about the dangers of Hollywood, have been unsuccessful. Despite her efforts to warn her daughter several times, she remains determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
She added that she is having a hard time supporting Mathilda’s decision because of her awkward experience, which made her develop a remarkable survival instinct and a strong sense of self-worth.