80s Interview: Molly Ringwald

Real Teens

What are your memories of making films like Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles ?

I loved working with John Hughes, there was really nobody who was writing movies like that for teenagers – that were intelligent. So it was really extraordinary to be a part of those movies.

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Comeback

Your costumes were pretty iconic and if you walk into any Topshop now there’s hundreds of girls dressed like you…

I know! I really can’t believe it! The '80s have never really gone out of style. People have been saying the '80s are coming back since they were gone. I think it’s just because it was so colourful. All the layers and the patterns and all of that stuff – it makes people feel good.

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Fugly Fashion

Do you still have any of those outfits?

I do. I kept the entire wardrobe from Pretty In Pink except for the prom dress (above). Because I hated it! I kind of love it now, and wish I had it because it’s such a bizarre dress. When I got it I was kinda horrified! We changed the end of the movie and had to re-shoot it and I lobbied, "Can we please have a different dress?" But I was stuck with it.

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Lipstick Trick

Can you still do the lipstick party trick from The Breakfast Club ?

[ Laughs ] It’s all movie magic. That really ignited everyone’s imagination but if you look at the movie, I’m not really doing anything. I put the lipstick in my cleavage and then my lipstick’s all done. No-one actually sees me doing it – but it’s so intriguing!

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Indie Lover

What’s the difference between working in the '80s and now?

I think it’s harder to get smaller movies made. Character films are sorta relegated to independent movies now. So the kind of movies I want to make are going to be shot on video because people want their movies to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

And those are usually the comic book movies. I saw Avatar and liked it, but the movies that stick with me are things like Rachel Getting Married and character-nuanced performances.

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Looking Back

Is it important to embrace your past?

There doesn’t seem to be any reason not to. I’m proud of the movies I’m in but I don’t live in the past either.

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Decade Dilemma

What’s your favourite ‘80s movie?

I think that the ‘70s were more creative than the ‘80s – most of my favourite films are from the ‘70s, like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (above) and Dog Day Afternoon . And I loved Remains Of The Day and Red – but they’re both early ‘90s!

For more '80s goodness check out the latest issue of Total Film , on sale 28 October .

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