Molly Ringwald Says She Was 'Taken Advantage Of' By 'Predators' As Young Hollywood Actress

Molly Ringwald, famous for her role in "The Breakfast Club," opened up about her early experiences as a young actress in the challenging film and TV industry.

She began her acting journey on stage at just five years old.

By the age of 11, Molly had already made the transition to television, securing her first TV role.

By 16, she was a well-known face in Hollywood, thanks to her leading role in the 1984 hit "Sixteen Candles."

She continued to land significant roles during her teenage years, starring in “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.”

Molly recently discussed the earlier part of her career on Mark Maron's podcast, specifically in episode 1542, which first aired on May 27.

She reflected on how she hadn't anticipated the rapid pace at which her career would take off after "Sixteen Candles," stating that things "exploded" unexpectedly.

"I didn't know that my life was going to change," she remarked. "But it definitely did."

Despite her success, Molly’s time in Hollywood wasn't completely positive.

Molly Ringwald starred in 'The Breakfast Club' Universal Pictures

She shared that she often felt isolated, not quite fitting into the Hollywood community.

She described herself as a "shy, introverted person" who preferred staying out of the club scene, realizing she was "just too young" for that lifestyle.

Moreover, Molly talked about the darker side of the industry, where she found herself in precarious situations and felt taken advantage of. 

She adds: "You can't be a young actress in Hollywood and not have predators around.

"[...] I was definitely in questionable situations, but I do have an incredible survival instinct [...] and managed to sort of figure out a way to protect myself, but it can be harrowing." 

Concerns for her own daughter, who is now 20 and entering the same industry, weigh heavily on Molly.

She admitted to trying to steer her daughter towards a different career path, but acknowledged the difficulty of the situation.

Ringwald says there were 'lots of predators' around when she was a young actor in Hollywood John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

She also mentioned that her parents weren’t fully aware of what they were getting into when she started her Hollywood journey.

At about 24, Molly moved to France for a film project, intending to return, but she fell in love with the country and chose to stay, desiring a break from her non-stop working life.

"I feel like I really needed to get out of America. [...] I'd been working so long I didn't really have any experience of not being a person always looked at.

"[...] I felt like I needed to know what it felt like to not be that girl," she shared, reflecting on her need to escape the constant attention.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America.

Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org.

You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.