Molly Ringwald calls “Secret Life of the American Teenager” the ‘worst’ experience of her career

Emlyn TravisWed, August 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC

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Molly Ringwald on ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’Credit: EverettKey Points -

Molly Ringwald is sharing why The Secret Life of the American Teenager was the “worst” experience of her career.

The actress said there was one rotten apple on set that spoiled the whole series for her.

She did not name the individual.

Okay, who’s the bad actor who ruined The Secret Life of the American Teenager for Molly Ringwald?

During a recent visit to Watch What Happens Live, the Pretty in Pink star played a game where she was asked to rank some of her previous projects. And, well, she immediately knew where to place the hit ABC Family series when it came up.

“The worst is one?” Ringwald double-checked with host Andy Cohen “Okay, that was it. The worst.”

Molly Ringwald attends the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theater on Jan. 26, 2026, in Park City, UtahCredit: Arturo Holmes/Getty

The reveal drew a strong reaction from Cohen and the audience, prompting Ringwald to clarify why The Secret Life wasn’t her favorite.

“It was a hard, I mean… Okay, I love the cast. I love Shailene [Woodley],” the actress said, referencing the show’s lead. “There was one person that was really difficult. And I’m not gonna say who that one person is [but] they brought it down to a one.”

The Secret Life of the American Teenager starred Woodley as a young teen named Amy who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. The show chronicled her experience with teenage pregnancy and motherhood, as well as her complicated relationships with her friends and family.

Ringwald starred as Amy’s mom, Anne, across all five seasons of the show, which aired from 2008 until 2013.  The series also starred Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Steve Schirripa, and more.

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While she may not have the fondest memories of The Secret Life, Ringwald had only positive things to say about working on Pretty in Pink.

“That was pretty great… I’ll give that a 10,” she said, making it her top choice. “It was written for me. [John Hughes] wrote the movie for me and, you know, I actually have a collage that I made myself that’s in the bedroom.”

She added, “Except for the prom dress, I loved all of my costumes.”

Ringwald revealed that she was supposed to make another film with Hughes after Pretty in Pink, but that it ultimately fell through. “Actually, Matthew Broderick and I were supposed to make one together,” she said. “It was called Oil and Vinegar, and we were all set to do it, and then something happened and it didn’t end up [being made].”

Watch Ringwald rank her projects in the clip above.

on Entertainment Weekly

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