Denise Richards was “scooping ice cream at Häagen-Dazs” when she got her big break.
Her first gig came following a model search for Esprit, in which she came in second place — but it got her an agent. After traveling the world as a professional model, Richards, 54, moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
“I started plugging away and working,” Richards shared exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I got a lot of rejections, but when I would get the job, it was so worth [it] to keep going.”
Since then, Richards told Us that she’s “done just about every genre you can think of.” Now, she’s returning to reality TV with her new Bravo reality series, Denise Richards and Her Wild Things. Richards, along with her daughters Sami and Lola Sheen, are featured in the show, which premiered Tuesday, March 4. (Richards shares Sami, 20, and Lola, 19, with ex-husband Charlie Sheen.)
“I love to work, and I love that I’ve been able to do so many different things and still work,” she added. “I just feel very lucky and very blessed that I still work, and it’s just been really great and wonderful.”
Keep scrolling to see how Richards takes Us back through her career:
Growing Up in Illinois (1970s and 1980s)
Dinner at 6 p.m., church on Sunday and camping vacations exemplified Richards’ modest upbringing with Mom, Dad and younger sister Michelle.
“We were the all-American family,” she told Us. “It was very, very different from how my girls are growing up.”
Modeling (1990s)
Richards graced magazine covers and nabbed various ads for Bonne Bell, Max Factor, the Gap and JCPenney. She made a point to hide her blossoming career from her classmates.
“A part of me was shy and private,” Richards explained. But the day after graduating high school, she flew to Japan with a modeling agency and stayed two months.
‘Starship Troopers’ (1997)
The actress called the sci-fi cult classic one of her “favorite memories,” but it was also her first starring role alongside Casper Van Dien and Jake Busey.
“We were all pretty much in the same place in our career, and a lot of us are still close,” she told Us. “We just had so much fun. We were all just new and excited and it was just one of the most fondest memories that I have working.”
‘Wild Things’ (1998)
Richards admitted she was “intimidated” by sharing the screen with Hollywood heavyweights like Neve Campbell, Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon. (Yes, people “still” ask her to sign pictures of the pool kiss between herself and Campbell.)
“I was the unknown on set,” she recalled. “No one knew who the hell I was.”
‘The World Is Not Enough’ (1999)
The actress had not seen a James Bond film when she nabbed the role of Christmas Jones opposite Pierce Brosnan’s 007.
“I asked my agent, ‘Why is it on the news?’ He goes, ‘Because you’re a Bond girl,’” Richards recalled, telling Us it’s an “honor” to have been a part of the “magic.”
‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ (1999)
Playing a pageant queen in this flick allowed Richards a first-time experience.
“I got my first taste of very nice trailers!” she quipped, noting that costars Ellen Barkin and the late Kirstie Alley inspired her on set. “They just made it look so easy.”
‘Friends’ (2001)
As a fan, Richards couldn’t say yes fast enough when she was asked to guest star as Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica’s (Courteney Cox) cousin Cassie — who was able to hypnotize in one slo-mo hair flip.
“I was so excited to work with them,” she recalled, noting that performing in front of the studio audience was a “scary” experience. “[The cast] could do this in their sleep. They were such a well-oiled machine and rehearsed so quickly.”
Marriage to Charlie Sheen (2002 to 2005)
Richards’ decision to pull the plug on her tumultuous union with Sheen while expecting their second baby didn’t just affect her personally.
“That was really hard for my career,” she admitted to Us. “A lot of people didn’t want to hire me.”
Despite their history, things between Richards and Sheen are “good,” she said. “That has been a roller-coaster of a journey, and he’s been one of my biggest teachers of learning a lot about myself actually.”
Covering ‘Playboy’ (2004)
Richards appeared on the cover of Playboy five months postpartum — which was an empowering moment for the star.
“I was definitely nervous doing it,” she said, “I thought, ‘You know what? It’s OK to still be sexy even though I’m a mom and I’m married.’ I still wanted to embrace me being a woman and do something really sexy.”
Lucky in love! Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers found happiness with each other after their respective divorces. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was previously married to actor Charlie Sheen from 2002 to 2006. They share two daughters: Sam and Lola. (Richards later adopted daughter Eloise in 2011.) More than a decade after her […]
Marrying Aaron Phypers (2018)
The couple exchanged vows in a low-key Malibu ceremony planned just days earlier. Richards wore a romper with detachable tulle skirt.
“I didn’t want to wear a traditional gown. It was my second wedding, and I am a beachy girl,” she explained. “I wanted something that was comfortable and I had a lot of mixed reviews from people. Of course, everyone has an opinion, but I loved it.”
‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ (2019 to 2020)
Bravo, Bravo, f—ing Bravo! Richards told Us that she “loved doing the show” despite the drama that came along with it.
“It was a lot of fun, and I especially loved the trips, even though they would get a little crazy,” she shared. “I’ve made a lot of friends from the show — and then some not-so-friends too.”
‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’ (2025)
Richards tapped out of Fox’s military-style competition after jumping from a bridge and rupturing a breast implant.
“I learned I’m stronger than I thought,” she said. “I didn’t, obviously, last long. But just the things that I did do on the show, I’m shocked that I did it.”
For more from Richards, watch the video above and pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.