Molly Ringwald has credited her “emotional, headstrong daughter” for choosing to forge her own path as an actress, while condemning continued criticism of so-called nepo-babies.
Ringwald, now 56 and the mother of three children with her husband Panio Gianopoulos, was raised outside the performing arts industry by her mother Adele, a chef, and her father Robert, a visually impaired jazz pianist.
But she became a household name in the 1980s thanks to her starring roles in a series of enduringly popular coming-of-age films, including Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.
Eldest daughter Mathilda, 20, has since embarked on her own career in front of the camera, and her mother praised her for refusing to adopt her famous surname and opting for the less familiar Gianopoulos.
she told him sunday time magazine: ‘She and I are emotional and stubborn. When she was learning to walk, if we helped her take a couple of steps, she would stop and say, “Do it yourself,” and she would come back and do it again.
Molly Ringwald has credited her ‘stubborn daughter’ Mathilda for choosing to forge her own path as an actress, while condemning continued criticism of so-called nepo-babies.
Ringwald became a household name in the 1980s thanks to her starring roles in a number of popular coming-of-age films, including Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club (pictured).
“That remains her attitude today, also in her acting career. She took Gianopoulos, the name of her father, instead of Ringwald. I said, “Are you sure? Ringwald is much easier to spell and he might open some doors.” But she was adamant.
Ringwald also criticizes the condemnation of children who choose to follow in the footsteps of a famous parent, particularly those who work in the acting, modeling or music industry.
And he added: ‘The nepo baby thing is ridiculous. Of course, if you have a parent in the industry, it’s something you’ve heard about and might be genetically predisposed to.
‘I’ve spoken to Mathilda about how to navigate the spotlight, but everyone experiences it differently. Some people don’t mind living out loud. I’m not one of those people and I don’t think she is either. We’re basically a family of introverts who have had to learn to be more extroverted because of what we do.’
The Riverdale star, also mother to 14-year-old twins Adele and Roman, received the award at the 41st Miami Film Festival at the Chapman Conference Center on Sunday.
Introducing Ringwald, Variety’s executive vice president of global content and executive editor Steve Gaydos said: “It’s important to remember that Molly Ringwald was once the iconic young star of John Hughes’ angst-driven teen comedies like Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club. .
‘He first starred in Paul Mazursky’s contemporary update of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. This is important because the secret to Ringwald’s early success and career longevity is the simple fact that she has always been one of the most talented and versatile actresses in American film and television.
“Her dazzling work this year as Joanna Carson in Ryan Murphy’s hit TV series Feud is proof enough that Ringwald’s reach and insight remain intact, and audiences can continue to expect wonderful new surprises from one of its stars. favorites”.
Actress Mathilda, left, is Ringwald’s eldest daughter with her husband Panio Gianopoulos, right.
The Riverdale star, also mother to 14-year-old twins Adele and Roman, received the award at the 41st Miami Film Festival at the Chapman Conference Center on Sunday.
He added: “The Miami Film Festival is pleased to continue our partnership with Variety to host notable awards tributes.
‘We couldn’t be more excited to honor Molly Ringwald; Not only does her career span generations of audiences, but she also has the ability to intoxicate and delight those who watch her with outstanding performances.
‘His iconic career in film and television is worth admiring, including my favourite, The Breakfast Club. “We are honored to celebrate the exceptional and enduring career of Molly Ringwald,” said the festival’s director of programming.
In February, Ringwald and Gianopoulos, who married in 2007, celebrated 23 years together.
The Golden Globe nominee went on to explain that she “always knew” she “wanted to have kids, but it took her “a while” to start a family with her husband, whom she met online in the early 2000s.
During an appearance on SiriusXM radio in 2021, he talked about raising three children and whether he sat down to watch any of his old movies with them.
‘It’s definitely a different time. “People ask me if I’ve seen them with my kids, and I saw the first one… with Mathilda,” she said.
“And it was such an emotional experience that I didn’t find the strength to watch it with my other two children.”
In February, Ringwald and Gianopoulos, who married in 2007, celebrated 23 years together (pictured with Mathilda and Roman in 2014)
The actress as Claire Standish, a high school brat, with her co-star Emilio Estevez as jock Andrew Clark in director John Hughes’ 1987 classic, The Breakfast Club.