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Molly Ringwald

Actor

Molly Ringwald

Born February 18, 1968 in Roseville, California, USA58 films

Molly Kathleen Ringwald (born February 18, 1968) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. She was cast in her first major role as Molly in the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life (1979–80) after a casting director saw her playing an orphan in a stage production of the musical Annie. She and several other members of the original Facts of Life cast were let go when the show was reworked by the network. She subsequently made her motion-picture debut as Miranda in the independent film Tempest (1982), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year.

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Ringwald is primarily known for her collaborations with filmmaker John Hughes. She established herself as a teen icon after appearing in the successful Hughes films Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Pretty in Pink (1986). She later starred in The Pick-up Artist (1987), Fresh Horses (1988), and For Keeps (1988). She starred in many films in the 1990s, most notably Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story (1992), The Stand (1994), and Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994 short film – precursor to Sling Blade). Ringwald had regular roles on the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008 - 2013) as Anne Juergens, Riverdale(2017 - 2023) as Mary Andrews, and Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024) as Joanne Carson. She is also recognized by younger audiences for her role as Sara Flynn in The Kissing Booth movies.

Ringwald was part of the "Brat Pack", and she was ranked number one on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars.

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The best way into Molly Ringwald's work
The Breakfast Club posterFirst watchThe Breakfast Club19857.7as Claire StandishFive high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Kissing Booth 2 poster7.6The Kissing Booth 22020The Kissing Booth poster7.2The Kissing Booth2018The Kissing Booth 3 poster6.9The Kissing Booth 32021Sixteen Candles poster6.7Sixteen Candles1984Pretty in Pink poster6.7Pretty in Pink1986Not Another Teen Movie poster5.8Not Another Teen Movie2001King Cobra poster5.8King Cobra2016One Night Only poster6.5One Night Only2026

Filmography

58 films as actor
  1. TBAColumbarium
  2. TBACrazy Sunshine: The Mess We Made
  3. 2026One Night OnlyLinda
  4. 2026Run AmokAunt Val
  5. 2025MontaukWolcott
  6. 2023Catherine & MichaelNaomi
  7. 2023Bad ThingsMiss Auerbach
  8. 2023PursuedCarol
  9. 2022A Brief History of UsNarrator (voice)
  10. 2021The Kissing Booth 3Mrs. Flynn
  11. 2020The Kissing Booth 2Mrs. Flynn
  12. 2019All These Small MomentsCarla Sheffield
  13. 2018SiberiaGabby
  14. 2018The Kissing BoothMrs. Flynn
  15. 2017SPF-18Linda Sanders
  16. 2016King CobraAmy
  17. 2015Jem and the HologramsAunt Bailey
  18. 2015Bad NightThe Collector
  19. 2014Wishin' and Hopin'Madame Frechette
  20. 2014MePepper Folly
  21. 2006Molly: An American Girl on the Home FrontHelen McIntire
  22. 2006The Wives He ForgotCharlotte Saint John
  23. 2002The Big TimeMarion Powers
  24. 2002Cowboy UpConnie
  25. 2001Not Another Teen MovieFlight Attendant
  26. 2000In the WeedsChloe
  27. 2000The Giving TreePenelope
  28. 2000CutVanessa Turnbill / Chloe
  29. 1999KimberlyNancy
  30. 1999Teaching Mrs. TingleMiss Banks
  31. 1999Requiem for MurderAnne Winslow
  32. 1998Twice Upon a TimeBeth Sager
  33. 1998Since You've Been GoneClaire the Fan
  34. 1998TiteyAnne Frank (voice)
  35. 1997Office KillerKim Poole
  36. 1996BajaBebe Stone
  37. 1996Enfants de salaudSusan
  38. 1995MaliciousMelissa Nelson
  39. 1995Seven SundaysJanet Gifford
  40. 1994Some Folks Call It a Sling BladeTeresa Tatum
  41. 1993Face the MusicLisa Hunter
  42. 1992Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz StoryAlison Gertz
  43. 1990Betsy's WeddingBetsy Hopper
  44. 1990Women and Men: Stories of SeductionKit (segment "Dusk Before Fireworks")
  45. 1990Strike It RichCary
  46. 1988Fresh HorsesJewel
  47. 1988King LearCordelia
  48. 1988For KeepsDarcy Elliot Bobrucz
  49. 1987The Pick-up ArtistRandy Jensen
  50. 1987P.K. and the KidP.K. Bayette
  51. 1986Johnny AppleseedJenny Smith
  52. 1986Pretty in PinkAndie Walsh
  53. 1985The Breakfast ClubClaire Standish
  54. 1985SurvivingLonnie
  55. 1984Sixteen CandlesSamantha Baker
  56. 1983Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden ZoneNikki
  57. 1983Packin' It InMelissa Webber
  58. 1982TempestMiranda