Denise Lee Richards (born February 17, 1971)[1] is an American actress, model and TV personality.[2] She rose to prominence with roles in the science fiction filmStarship Troopers (1997), the erotic thriller filmWild Things (1998), and theJames Bond filmThe World Is Not Enough (1999). Her performance asBond girlChristmas Jones in the latter, while criticized, gave Richards her mainstream breakthrough.
Richards was born inDowners Grove, Illinois,[1] to Joni (née Braden), acoffee shop owner, and Irv Richards, a telephone engineer.[8] Her mother died of cancer in November 2007.[9] She has said that her ancestry includes German and French heritage.[10] Richards has a younger sister, Michelle.[1] She grew up in both Downers Grove andMokena, Illinois. As a child, she was the "only girl on the baseball team".[11]
When Richards was 15 years old, her family moved toOceanside, California. In 1989, she graduated fromEl Camino High School.[1] She was voted best looking in her high schoolyearbook.[12] Richards was raisedCatholic.[13] After her high school graduation, she began working as a model and traveled to cities such asParis,New York, andTokyo to do photo shoots and commercials.[1]
Richards began her career as a teenager in modeling and appeared in print ads forBonne Bell cosmetics in 1991.[14][15] She also appeared on the cover ofTeen magazine; in an instructional video, "Modeling: What It Takes"; and later inMax Factor's Premiere 2Kadvertising campaign.[16][17]
Her first starring role in a wide theatrical release wasStarship Troopers in 1997 for which Richards was nominated for theBlockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Newcomer. The film grossed a total of $121.2 million worldwide. In 2012,Slant Magazine ranked the film at number 20 on its list of the 100 Best Films of the 1990s.[18] She followed this with a role in the erotic thriller filmWild Things (1998) alongsideKevin Bacon,Matt Dillon andNeve Campbell.[19][20]Variety praised Richards's transition from good-girl-type roles to manipulativevillainess and the review continued to include her as part of "an ensemble that appears to be enjoying the challenge of offbeat roles and unusual material. There's not a wrong note struck by the game group of players."[21] In 2016,Glamour praised the film's female characters by describing Richards and Neve Campbell as "two of the most well-rounded, fascinating, and exciting characters to ever grace the screen."[22]
Richards was cast as the nuclear physicistChristmas Jones in theJames Bond filmThe World Is Not Enough (1999). Though she considered her role "brainy", "athletic", and having depth of character,[23] she was criticized as not credible in the role.[24][25] Her outfit, which often comprised a low-cut tank top and tight shorts, elicited unfavorable comments.[26] Richards stated that a lot of viewers "made fun of" the character's attire but that "These Bond girls are so outrageous and if I did really look like a scientist, the Bond fans would have been disappointed."[27] Richards was nominated for theBlockbuster Entertainment Award for Favourite Actress – Action, for the film. Later that year, Richards starred alongsideKirsten Dunst in the beauty pageant satire,Drop Dead Gorgeous. The film has gained new fans with time and is regarded as acult film. Richards, playing a spoiled princess, was praised for her performance byLos Angeles Times for being "as rightly nasty as she is pretty".[28]
In 2005, Richards had a lead role as publicist Jolene in the short-livedUPN soap operaSex, Love & Secrets.[34] The series focused on rich young adults living inSilver Lake, Los Angeles, and their secrets involving sex and love.[35] She starred in the ensemble drama filmEdmond (2005) alongsideWilliam H. Macy andMena Suvari. In 2008, she reunited with herWild Things on-screen motherTheresa Russell in the drama filmJolene (2008). Her reality showDenise Richards: It's Complicated debuted onE! on May 26, 2008. The series followed the daily lives of Richards, her daughters Sam and Lola, and her married younger sister Michelle and father Irv.[36]Entertainment Weekly published a review and wrote that "It's Complicated is one of those "celebs, they're just like us!" shows in which we're expected to enjoy watching a famous pampered person doing things we don't want to do either."[37] The series concluded after two seasons on July 26, 2009.[38]
In 2010, she joinedParamount Network's sitcomBlue Mountain State as Debra Simon.[41] The series is about a fictional university, Blue Mountain State, and itsfootball team, the "Mountain Goats". It portrays certain aspects of American university life, including American football, sex, drinking, and partying. In February 2012, it was reported thatBlue Mountain State would not be renewed for a fourth season.[42] Over the years, due in large part to being streamable onNetflix, the series has developed acult following. In July 2011, Richards published a memoirThe Real Girl Next Door, aNew York Times Best Seller.[43][44] Richards decided to write a book because she "wanted to do something inspirational for other people going through challenging times," she toldHuffPost in 2011.[45] In September 2011, Richards reportedly turned down $100,000 to appear as an ex-girlfriend at Charlie Sheen's funeral inTwo and a Half Men.[46] A month later, she began filming a guest spot for an episode for the sixth season ofNBC comedy series30 Rock.[47] Richards was part ofTV Guide Network's show,Hollywood Moms' Club, which aired in November 2011.[48][49]
Richards played Kate Needleman in the comedy filmMadea's Witness Protection (2012), which grossed $67 million at the box office.[50]Madea's Witness Protection was filmed inAtlanta in early 2012 and was released through34th Street Films andLionsgate. In 2012, Richards joined the cast ofABC Family's mystery-thriller television seriesTwisted.[51] In 2015, she appeared in two films,Operation: Neighborhood Watch! andChristmas Trade. In 2016, she made a guest appearance as herself inThe CW'sJane the Virgin, in the episode "Chapter Fifty-One." She portrayed Kat Faust in the musical thriller filmAmerican Satan (2017), for which Richards was nominated for the Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at theNortheast Film Festival.[52] Later that year, Richards portrayed Temple Hampton in an episode ofBravo's comedy-drama seriesGirlfriends' Guide to Divorce. She starred in the supernatural horror filmThe Toybox (2018) oppositeMischa Barton.[53] The film is about a family who go on a summer road trip in a used RV and get stranded in the desert by a supernatural force that is slowly killing them off.[53][54] She portrayed Karen in the faith-based filmThe Prayer Box (2018), released on October 20, 2018.[55] In August 2018, Richards announced that she would be joining theBravo reality series,The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, for the show's ninth season, which premiered on February 12, 2019.[56][57]Vanity Fair described her addition to the series by saying: "She might be one of the most famous people to join theHousewives franchise, someone who was a legitimate household name before becoming a reality star. Now, that doesn't always translate to on-screen gold, but it is a nice little coup forBravo."[58]The New York Times wrote that Richards "brought a refreshing and occasionally disarming dose of reality" to the series.[59] On May 31, 2019,The Daily Beast wrote that "Richards's appearance on the show is the best kind of surprise, one that reveals that a celebrity is not who we may have assumed them to be. She's an extremely warm, loving parent, without a hint of narcissism or vapidity about her."[60]Fox News called her "an instant fan favorite" when she joined the show in 2019.[61]In 2019, she joined the cast ofCBS's soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful as Shauna Fulton.[7][62][63][64] "Shauna is a fun-loving, hard-working single mother fromLas Vegas who aspires to live life to its absolute fullest," executive producer and headwriter Bradley Bell toldPeople magazine.[65] In July 2019, it was announced that Richards had joined the cast ofFox Broadcasting's comedy-drama television seriesBH90210 in a guest role, playing a fictionalized version of herself.[66][67][68] She portrayed overly-ambitious mother Candice inLifetime television filmThe Secret Lives of Cheerleaders, released on September 2, 2019.[69][70] "I think the story's about this girl that's trying to fit in and makes some bad choices and then, knowing right from wrong, decided to make a better choice," Richards toldParade.[71] On November 4, 2019, Richards appeared as a guest model on the game showThe Price Is Right.[72][73] Richards played Valerie in the Christmas filmMy Adventures with Santa (2019) oppositePatrick Muldoon.[74] The film was released in limited theaters on November 15, 2019.[75]
Richards returned forThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' tenth season, which premiered on April 15, 2020.[76] On September 10, 2020, her representative confirmed that Richards is leaving the series after two seasons.[77] In late 2020, Richards traveled toSpain to begin filming adventure drama seriesGlow & Darkness, portraying the role of Countess of Champagne.[78][79][80][81] In 2020, she appeared in five films:Money Plane, Switched, Reality Queen!, Alpha Code andTimecrafters: The Treasure of Pirate's Cove. Theheist filmMoney Plane was released to video-on-demand services on July 10, 2020, byQuiver Distribution.[82] InSwitched, released on September 4, 2020, Richards portrayed Victoria Sharp, the mother of a school bully.[83][84] On August 28, 2021, she played Amanda in Lifetime's thriller filmKiller Cheer Mom.[85][86][87] The film follows a high school junior named Riley, who moved to a new town with her dad and stepmom, Amanda (Richards).[88][89]
On November 15, 2024,Fox announced that Richards would be one of fifteen contestants to appear on the third season of reality quasi-military training television seriesSpecial Forces: World's Toughest Test.[90]
Richards launched her self-titled fragrance in spring 2012.[94][95] In November 2019, Richards announced that she has developed a skincare line with CBme Beauty.[96][97]
Richards has worked withBest Friends Animal Society on several projects, including its Pup My Ride program, which transports small dogs from high-killanimal shelters to other parts of the US where there is a greater demand for small dogs. She promoted Best Friends Animal Society's Save Them All campaign in 2014.[112] "I've been involved with Best Friends Animal Society since 2009 and I've seen firsthand the differences they've made and the countless lives they've saved," Richards said.[112] She has regularly appeared onAccess Hollywood's monthly pet segment showcasing shelter dogs rescued by Best Friends and available for adoption.[113][114] While assisting with relief efforts in New York followingHurricane Sandy, she worked together withNorth Shore Animal League, and adopted a puppy from a Long Island shelter.[115][116]
She has walked the runway for charity fashion shows, such asSusan G. Komen's 8th Annual Fashion For The Cure, Clothes Off Your Back Benefit andThe Heart Truth's Red Dress Fall 2011 Collections.[117] In January 2012, she launched her first collaboration with fashion subscription serviceShoeDazzle to design the "Eloise" heel and raised over $15,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association.[7][118] In December 2012, she designed two shoes for ShoeDazzle as part of their Celebrity Shoe Design Program for Charity. Profits from the shoe sales went to the Kidney Cancer Association.[119] After Richards lost her mother to kidney cancer, she dedicated her time to raising awareness and helping the Kidney Cancer Association.[120] In November 2015, Richards and her daughters spentThanksgiving volunteering and serving food for homeless families.[121][122]
In June 2018, she joined The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's summer theatrical PSA campaign to benefit Brave Beginnings, which funds vital neonatal equipment to U.S. hospitals.[7] Richards filmed a public service announcement that was played at movie theaters nationwide.[123]
Richards's appearance has often been the subject of media attention. In 1999, she was ranked No. 9 inMaxim's 50 Sexiest Women. In 2001, she was voted #2 inFHM's 100 Sexiest Women, #5 inFHM's100 Sexiest Women and #19 inAskMen.com's 50 Most Beautiful Women. She was named one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time" byMen's Health.[124] In 2002, Richards was ranked at number 21 inStuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World." In 2011,Men's Health ranked her at number 61 on their list of "100 Hottest Women of All Time."Shape magazine ranked her at number 7 on their list of "10 of Our Fave Bond Girls: Then and Now."[125]
Richards became engaged to actorCharlie Sheen on December 26, 2001, and they were married on June 15, 2002, at the estate ofSpin City creatorGary David Goldberg.[126] They have two daughters together.[127][128] In March 2005, while pregnant with their second child, Richards filed for divorce from Sheen.[129] She sought a restraining order against Sheen, alleging death threats against her.[130] On April 19, 2006, Richards filed formal legal papers seeking a divorce from Sheen under the laws of the state of California.[131] The divorce was finalized on November 30, 2006; Sheen was ordered to stay 300 feet away from his ex-wife and their daughters, except during supervised visits.[132] In May 2010, Sheen surrendered legal custody of Sam and Lola to Richards. They previously had joint legal custody of their daughters. According to a source, Richards wanted sole legal custody, given Sheen's "marital turmoil, sobriety issues, and criminal problems" and he did not fight it. Under their divorce agreement, she had primary physical custody and he had visitation rights.[133][134]
By mid-2012, Richards and Sheen were on good terms,[135] often spending time together with their children. In 2012, Sheen made a cameo appearance in her movieMadea's Witness Protection, while Richards appeared in Sheen's television seriesAnger Management.[136] In a move supported by Sheen, in May 2013, Richards was awarded temporary custody of his twin sons born in 2009 to Sheen and his wifeBrooke Mueller, after the children were removed from Mueller's home bychild protective services due to concerns over drug use.[137]
In June 2011, Richards adopted a third daughter, Eloise Joni Richards,[138] as a single parent.[139] Her middle name honors Richards' deceased mother.[140] Richards adopted her at birth, following a two-year adoption process.[141][142] Eloise has a rare chromosomal disorder,Monosomy 8p, which affects her speech.[143] Richards has worked on learning sign language to communicate with her daughter.[144]
In December 2017, Richards began dating Aaron Phypers before his divorce fromNicollette Sheridan was finalized.[145] On September 8, 2018, Richards and Phypers married inMalibu, California.[146] In May 2019, Richards announced that Phypers was adopting her youngest daughter, Eloise.[147] On July 7, 2025, Phypers filed for divorce from Richards inLos Angeles, citingirreconcilable differences and listing their date of separation as July 4.[148]
Richards joinedOnlyFans as a content creator in June 2022, as a gesture of support for her daughter Sami, who had attracted criticism for launching her own account.[149] She said that she believed "the creators of [OnlyFans] really took the best of every platform of social media and put it into one site," because as a creator, "you own your content. The other sites, they can sell your content."[150] Richards earns a significant income via the site.[151] Her friend,Tori Spelling, later admitted to subscribing with a pseudonymous account and spending over $400 on content and tips in two days.[152]
In July 2025, Richards was granted a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, whom she accused of repeated domestic violence. According to court documents, Richards claimed she had been subjected to physical assault, strangulation, multiple concussions, and death threats. She also alleged that Phypers had engaged in digital surveillance of her private communications. One of the incidents reportedly occurred in early July, shortly before Phypers filed for divorce. He has strongly denied all allegations.[153] In November 2025, Richards was granted a five-year restraining order against Phypers.[154] Though Richards was still paying the bills for their rented home, Richards had moved out but stopped paying the rent for seven months in 2025. On December 30, 2025, a judge evicted both of them because neither had showed up in court.[155]
^Thomas, Rebecca (November 19, 1999)."One girl is not enough".BBC News.Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. RetrievedDecember 23, 2007.
^Lisanti, Tom; Paul, Louis (2002).Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962–1973. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.ISBN978-0-7864-1194-8.
^Spencer, Ashley (July 23, 2020)."The unbelievable believability of Denise Richards".The Washington Post. RetrievedAugust 31, 2021.Because Eloise has a neurological condition and is nonverbal, they're working on sign language and in the process of getting her a guide dog, as well as collaborating on the nonprofit Quantum Reach Foundation that aims to help children and animals.
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