Molly Ringwald

Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky

Wondery

Society & Culture

4.6 • 728 Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with the incomparable Molly Ringwald, the actress who defined a generation and shaped '80s pop culture forever. In this intimate conversation, Molly pulls back the curtain on her meteoric rise to fame, sharing candid revelations about navigating Hollywood as a teenage icon. She offers a fascinating glimpse into her creative partnership with legendary director John Hughes, and reveals the untold story of how her own headshot unexpectedly inspired the classic ""Pretty in Pink."" Plus, Molly reflects on her years in Paris, where she rediscovered herself away from the American spotlight. Don't miss this nostalgic yet deeply personal episode with the original teen queen who continues to captivate audiences decades later.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wonderie Plus subscribers can listen to reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky early and ad free right now.
0:06.4	Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:10.3	Or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts.
0:19.2	Hi guys, it's Monica.
0:38.8	In today's episode, I spoke with my soulful friend, Molly Ringwald. We met back in 1999 through A Mutual Friend, who just happened to be the inspiration for one of the most iconic characters of the 80s, Ducky from Pretty and Pink. You may know her from her other work to The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, or more recently Ryan Murphy's feud Capote v. The Swans.
0:45.9	And while I've known Molly for 25 years, I had never actually talked to her about being
0:51.1	catapulted into fame at such a young age. And so as someone who became well-known
0:56.9	overnight unintentionally, I was interested to talk to Molly about how she navigated becoming a
1:03.8	superstar after acting in a string of coming-of-age films. Anyway, I hope you find something to
1:09.7	connect to in our conversation, and thanks for
1:12.0	joining us on Reclaiming. sponsoring Audible. Visit audible.com slash reclaiming to find your next listen.
1:29.6	Thank you to our sponsor Reformation.
1:31.9	Visit reformation.com to see why they're my go-to for stylish and sustainable fashion.
1:40.3	Thank you so much for doing this.
1:42.3	Welcome to Recoming.
1:43.6	Thank you. So happy to be here.
1:46.0	Oh, thanks, Molly. It's funny because I was thinking about how, on the way over, that we were doing this in New York and how, if we were in L.A., I would have worn my Molly shoes because I don't think you know that every time I see you, I like copy some outfit thing that you have some aspect.
2:05.1	And I bought these red, healed espedrilles a few years ago because I remembered you wearing healed esperdrills with jeans and a cute top somewhere.
2:15.9	And I was like, that's so cute.
2:17.3	Oh, my God.
2:18.3	And I've only worn the shoes once, though.
2:19.8	I had no idea.
	...

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