‘I Don’t Get It’: Shailene Woodley Admits She ‘Didn’t Know’ Who Molly Ringwald Was On Secret Life Of The American Teenager

As someone who grew up in a different era, I find Shailene Woodley’s admission about not knowing Molly Ringwald to be quite amusing yet relatable. It’s fascinating how our personal experiences shape our perspectives, and for Shailene, it was her lack of exposure to television that led to this interesting encounter.


During her time on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Shailene Woodley shared a surprising discovery – when she initially collaborated with her on-screen mother, Molly Ringwald, she wasn’t familiar with who Molly was!

In a recent conversation with Vanity Fair’s Scene Selection, Woodley admitted her unawareness about Ringwald’s influential role in the entertainment industry.

At an interview, Woodley, who played Amy Juergens on the ABC Family drama from 2008 to 2013, admitted that she wasn’t aware Ringwald was a famous ’80s teen idol. “I had no idea who Molly Ringwald was,” Woodley explained. She mentioned that when she was 15, her upbringing was not heavy on television or classic ’80s movies. “I didn’t have much exposure to TV at 15,” she stated.

Despite her parents’ friends being thrilled that she was collaborating with Molly Ringwald, Woodley didn’t comprehend the excitement. “Each of my parents’ friends would say something like ‘You’re working with Molly Ringwald!’ And I would respond ‘I don’t know who that is… I just don’t understand,'” Woodley explained.

She mentioned never having watched The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, or any of Ringwald’s famous films directed by John Hughes, which had cemented her as a pop culture icon.

It’s worth noting that Woodley found her lack of prior acquaintance with Ringwald beneficial for their professional bond. As she put it, “I came to see her more like a loving elder sister figure.

Influenced neither by Ringwald’s former stardom nor its glare, Woodley found herself forming an honest connection with her co-star. According to Woodley, Ringwald was exceptionally mindful of preserving Woodley’s youthful authenticity as a young actress, thereby allowing her to remain true to her teenage persona.

Molly took care of me like that, and I’m incredibly grateful,” Woodley expressed. She opened up about the challenges of growing up in Hollywood and commended Ringwald for preventing her from feeling pressured to mature too quickly. In acknowledging Ringwald’s influence, Woodley highlighted how her guidance assisted her in handling the entertainment industry during her adolescent years.

Additionally, Woodley pondered over the wider insights she gathered during her tenure on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, a significant television position that marked the start of her career.

The television show provided her with valuable lessons on storytelling, including the kinds of themes she wished to communicate globally. “I picked up quite a bit,” Woodley stated. In doing so, she discovered which stories resonated with her personally and which ones she wanted to steer clear of.

By the time The Secret Life of the American Teenager started airing, Molly Ringwald had already become a widely recognized actress. During the 1980s, she gained popularity through her roles in John Hughes’ movies such as The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink. Her convincing portrayal of teenagers facing real-life issues made her an icon for many people growing up during that era.

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2024-11-01 10:22