Denise Richards is a mom to three daughters, Lola and Sami Sheen (whom she shares with her ex, Charlie Sheen), and her adopted daughter, Eloise Joni Richards. Although she has had many jobs over the years and a successful acting career, one of the roles that defines her most is as a mother, and fans will get a better glimpse into the actress’s life thanks to her new reality TV show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things (set to premiere next month). But before we tune in, Richards has reflected on her career, including how she endured harassment as a young star.
Hollywood is often celebrated for its glitz and glamor, but fame has a dark side, and the industry is more toxic than many realize. Thanks to the #MeToo movement and others like it, the sexism and mistreatment of women in the industry were exposed. This empowered actresses to share their stories and take a stand — something many felt they could not do in their early careers.
Richards is one of these women, and she recently admitted in an interview with People that she was harassed as a young star. She wanted to file a sexual harassment lawsuit at the time, but fearing backlash, she chose to keep silent. She described herself as “vulnerable” and reflected on how she was told that if she spoke out, she would be “blacklisted.”
Denise Richards Praises Her Daughters For Their Strength As She Finds Her Voice
Richards remarked that her daughters would handle things differently if they were in a similar position. “I look at my daughters doing our show and being such strong women,” she told People. “If I had that, I think I would’ve been able to handle it a little differently.”
She continued, “I wish I had the confidence that they have because I would never be able to stand out for myself the way they do. I didn’t, and I’m so proud of them. I’m so proud that they say what’s on their mind. They sometimes don’t have a filter, and a lot of the time, that is such a good thing.”
She also notes how their approach to life differed from her own. As a young actress, she described herself as a “people pleaser” and could not always speak her mind. In contrast, her daughters have been raised to feel they can share their opinions and raise their voices if needed.
Richards has praised her daughters for their strength, but she is stronger than she may realize. She is a survivor who has carved a successful career for herself despite her experiences. She had ambition and drive. And her positive attitude could be attributed to her late mother, Joni. In her interview, the Wild Things actress told People about how her mom made her “such a survivor.” She added, “My mom always said, ‘This too shall pass.’ I have been through it, but a lot of people have.”
Good for Denise Richards that she has the courage to share her story.
