Molly Ringwald slams ‘ridiculous’ nepo-baby criticism but admits she urged actress daughter Mathilda Gianopoulos, 20, to take her name because ‘it might open some doors’

Molly Ringwald has credited her “emotional and strong-willed daughter” with choosing her own path as an actress, while condemning ongoing criticism of so-called nepo babies.

Ringwald, now 56 and a mother of three with husband Panio Gianopoulos, was raised outside the performing arts industry by her mother Adele, a chef, and father Robert, a visually impaired jazz pianist.

But in the 1980s she became a household name thanks to starring roles in a series of enduringly popular coming-of-age films, including Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.

Eldest daughter Mathilda, 20, has since embarked on her own career in front of the camera, and her mother has praised her for refusing to adopt her famous surname and instead opting for the lesser-known Gianopoulos.

She told me Sunday Times magazine: ‘She and I are both emotional and idiosyncratic. When she was learning to walk, when we helped her a few steps, she would stop and say, “Just do it myself,” and go back and do it again.

Ringwald became a household name in the 1980s thanks to starring roles in a series of popular coming-of-age films, including Pretty In Pink and The Breakfast Club (pictured)

‘That is still her attitude today, also in her acting career. She took Gianopoulos, her father’s name, instead of Ringwald. I said, “Are you sure? Ringwald is so much easier to spell and it could open doors.” But she was adamant.”

Ringwald is also critical of the condemnation leveled at children who choose to follow in the footsteps of a famous parent, especially in the acting, modeling or music industries.

She added: “The nepo baby thing is ridiculous. If you have a parent in the industry, this is obviously something you’ve heard of and may have a genetic predisposition to.

‘I talked to Mathilda about navigating the spotlight, but everyone experiences it differently. Some people don’t mind living out loud completely. I’m not one of those people and I don’t think they are either. We’re basically a family of introverts who have had to learn to be extroverts through what we do.”

The Riverdale star, who is also the parent of 14-year-old twins Adele and Roman, received the award on Sunday at the 41st Miami Film Festival at the Chapman Conference Center.

Introducing Ringwald, Variety EVP Global Content and Executive Editor Steve Gaydos said: “It’s important to remember that Molly Ringwald was previously the iconic young star of John Hughes’ teen angst-driven comedies like Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club .

‘She first starred in Paul Mazursky’s contemporary update of Shakespeare’s Tempest. This is important because the secret of Ringwald’s early success and long career lies in the simple fact that she has always been one of the most gifted and versatile actresses in American film and television.

“Her dazzling work this year as Joanna Carson in Ryan Murphy’s hit TV series Feud is proof enough that Ringwald’s range and acumen remain intact, and that audiences can continue to expect new and wonderful surprises from one of their favorite stars.”

Actress Mathilda, left, is Ringwald’s eldest child with husband Panio Gianopoulos, right

The Riverdale star, who is also the parent of 14-year-old twins Adele and Roman, received the award on Sunday at the 41st Miami Film Festival at the Chapman Conference Center.

He added, “The Miami Film Festival is excited to continue our partnership with Variety and host remarkable awards shows.

“We couldn’t be more excited to honor Molly Ringwald; her career is one that not only spans generations of audiences, but also has the ability to stun and delight audiences with outstanding performances.

‘Her iconic career in film and television is worth admiring, including my favorite The Breakfast Club. We are honored to celebrate the exceptional and enduring career of Molly Ringwald,” said the festival’s program director.

In February, Ringwald and Gianopoulos, who married in 2007, celebrated 23 years together.

The Golden Globe nominee went on to explain that she “always knew” she “wanted to have kids,” but it took “a while” for her to start a family with her husband, whom she met online in the early 2000s.

During a 2021 appearance on SiriusXM’s Radio, she discussed raising three children and whether she ever watched any of her old movies with them.

“It’s definitely a different time. People ask me if I watched them with my kids, and I watched the first one too… with Mathilda,” she said.

“And it was such an emotional experience that I couldn’t find the strength to watch it with my other two children.”

In February, Ringwald and Gianopoulos, who married in 2007, celebrated 23 years together (pictured with Mathilda and Roman in 2014)

The actress as high school student Claire Standish with co-star Emilio Estevez as athlete Andrew Clark in director John Hughes’ 1987 classic The Breakfast Club