Molly Ringwald is the queen of ’80s teen movies. That doesn’t mean there aren’t career decisions that she regrets. Ringwald, 58, revealed there is an iconic romantic movie that she declined. She’s also back in a new rom-com.
Molly Ringwald Declined ‘Ghost’ Starring Demi Moore
The “Sixteen Candles” star appeared on “Watch What Happens Live!” and played a game in which she answered questions about her career. She revealed that she declined “Ghost,” and the role of Molly Jensen went to Demi Moore.
She agreed when Andy Cohen said the movie would’ve “changed the entire trajectory” of her career. “I know. It was just not meant to be,” the actress responded. Ringwald acknowledges that Moore was great in it.
“Ghost” starts with Mark Wheat (Patrick Swayze) murdered. He reaches out to his lover, Molly, with the help of medium Oda Mae’s (Whoopi Goldberg). Tony Goldwyn plays the movie’s villain.
Ringwald told Variety that she felt dismissed and limited by the “Brat Pack” label. Her transition from teen movies to adult roles was a rough one.
“I feel like that was kind of a way to dismiss us,” she said. “But I got really close on a couple movies. I met with Mike Nichols for ‘Working Girl’ and Jonathan Demme for ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ but ultimately I was too young.”
Molly Ringwald Is in a New Rom-Com ‘One Night Only’
“One Night Only” is a rom-com that takes place on the one night when sex is legal. New Yorkers seem to be in a rush to find a partner. Owen (Callum Turner) is the owner of a pizzeria and considers staying home. Molly Ringwald plays his mother and encourages him to go out. He spends the night with his friend Allie (Monica Barbaro). Deadline asked Ringwald what the difference is between rom-coms today and the ’80s.
“Yeah, it’s different because times have changed,” the movie star answered. “But I feel like essentially what makes a good rom-com is the chemistry of the two people, and if that’s not there, then I feel like it just doesn’t work. And I feel like Monica and Callum have crazy good chemistry together, and you want to see them together. That’s really what makes it work.”
Her character also has a partner played by LeVar Burton. Ringwald teased that her character, Linda, is “against type” with LRM Online. Burton of “Reading Rainbow” made sure she took a book home from set. It was a music book that she hadn’t seen since childhood.
Ringwald has focused on movies lately after playing a mother on television. She was on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” as the mother of Shailene Woodley’s character. The “Pretty in Pink” star later played Mary Andrews on “Riverdale.”
The icon wasn’t in “Ghost,” but her legacy doesn’t need it since it’s already cemented. She continues to work with interesting stars decades after the John Hughes movies. She also worked with Demi Moore in Ryan Murphy’s “Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.”
