COVERSTORY  06.25

Denise Richards

The Heart Behind the Hollywood Icon

Story by Diana Addison Lyle

In-depth interviews with famous people are important revelations because they cut through the illusory aspect of Hollywood fame. Denise Richards thrives on being able to embrace who she is from the heart, without mirrors or smokescreens.

The Amazonian-size of Denise’s heart shines through in every facet of her life. A behind-the-scenes exploration into the roads this beautiful woman has traveled gives us valuable insight into her compassion, and it is evident in her recently streamed reality show, Denise Richards and her Wild Things (Bravo TV). Denise’s husband Aaron, her three daughters, Sami (21), Lola (19) and Eloise (13), and their three Golden Retrievers – provide a portrait of a family who embrace each other’s unique traits and differences, and who do life unpretentiously.

Denise’s own childhood experience encompasses elements that she’s exceptionally grateful for, and she is providing the same love and support for her own daughters. She paints a picture of her childhood: “I grew up in Illinois in the mid-west. It was very different from California. Mom stayed at home and dad worked a Monday to Friday job. Mom had dinner on the table every night at 6pm – no matter what. We were all expected to be home for dinner at that time. We went to church every Sunday. We were a very close family. My dad worked for Illinois Bell and that was tough because the work was outside, and the winters were brutally cold. An opportunity came for him to move us to California. Obviously, the weather was a plus and so we moved to Oceanside when I was 15 years old. I had just completed my freshman year in Illinois, and it was a huge adjustment for me to go on and complete my 10th-12th grade years in California. While I was excited to be there, it took time for our whole family to adjust to the new environment. Our unity was definitely our strength.”

Denise’s ascension into Hollywood was swift, and she describes her rapidly evolving career:

“I knew that I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t know how I was going to get there. Growing up in a small town in Illinois wasn’t the environment where that could happen, and I didn’t grow up in a Hollywood family. When we moved to California, I was a senior in high school and my mom entered me into a model search competition. A modeling agent from Los Angeles was there as one of the judges and I ended up signing with his agency and started modeling immediately. The day I graduated from high school, I went to Japan and modeled there for two months. From there I went to LA and New York for six months, and then back to Japan, but my heart was always in acting so I made the decision to stay in LA. I got an agent right away and started taking acting classes, and I was fortunate to be able to build my résumé on shows that were popular.”

In terms of the navigation, Denise says,

“I tend to be very spontaneous and when opportunities present themselves, I’m good at recognizing the moment and seizing it.”

Her first major breakthrough was in the 1997 cult classic movie, Starship Troopers, which was Director Paul Verhoeven’s satirical take on militarism, fascism and authoritarianism.

“For me,” Denise explains, “it was always about the moments that happened off camera with other actors while being on location that were pivotally important. Starship Troopers was hands-down that experience for me. We were all at the same level in our burgeoning careers, we were all around the same age in the 6-month shoot, and to this day, most of us are all still close friends. It’s something that’s so nostalgic for us. To go from nobody knowing who we were to becoming well known after the movie’s release was the beginning of an exciting new chapter and it was a great bonding experience for us.”

Since 1997, Starship Troopers has developed a devoted fanbase with people appreciating its unique blend of sci-fi action and commentary on societal issues. We chat about rumors circulating about a Starship Troopers remake and Denise remarks, “I’ve heard that on-and-off for a while, but I don’t know. It would be fun and great if it happened.”

“Aaron and I do a staycation where we’ll go to a hotel and spend valuable alone time with each other – without any distractions”

The reasoning behind her reality show, Denise Richards and her Wild Things is explained more fully:

“My girls were very little when we did the first reality show (Denise Richards: It’s Complicated) years ago, and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills they also did a couple of years ago. It was a big decision for our family, and Alex Baskin, whom I did Housewives of Beverly Hills with – approached me to do a family docu series, and when I told the girls, Sami right away was very excited, because she’s been used to cameras following our family lifelong. Lola, at first, was a little hesitant, but then she thought it would be a good thing to do. For them, they’ve always lived in the shadows of their parents, and they’ve always been known as the daughters of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. They felt it was a great opportunity as they enter adulthood – to have their own voice and to have people get to know them for who they are. I advised them to just be themselves, and I think that when people watch the show, that really comes through. Viewers are discerning when it comes to recognizing authenticity versus fakeness. We all feel that it’s been a great experience.”

The rapidity of shooting and releasing Denise Richards and her Wild Things is illustrated in this timeline that Denise describes:

“We completed shooting the reality show in December 2024, and it was a very quick turnaround between the completion and the airing of the show in March. Sami and Lola started doing talk shows and interviews for the show in that time frame and I’m so proud of how they’ve handled all of that. Sami is moving towards the modeling and acting direction. Lola has started doing her Heavenly podcast. They are so young, and they have so much going for them. It will be exciting to see opportunities unfold.”

In September 2018, Denise married Aaron Phypers on the beach in Malibu. She first met Aaron when she visited his healing center in Malibu to gain therapeutic assistance for her adopted daughter, Eloise’s chromosomal condition. Aaron later went on to formally adopt Eloise with Denise. Their strong marriage is rooted in uncomplicated compatibility and the mutual effort they put into it:

“Every couple is different,” Denise emphasizes, “but for those who have kids, I think it’s important – especially when your kids get older – to carve out one night a week as a couple. Aaron and I do a staycation where we’ll go to a hotel and spend valuable alone time with each other – without any distractions.”

“I think it’s important to always remember that maintaining the strength of the couple is vital,” she continues, “because without that strength, the family can fall apart. Also, a strength in Aaron’s and my relationship is that we don’t try to change each other. My husband is my best friend, we’re very close, and we like being around each other. It’s important to be friends with your partner. I did not have that situation in my first marriage to Charlie, so what Aaron and I have is much more solid. However, like everyone else, we go through stuff, and those challenging times can be overcome if you remain close and connected.”

“When I look at my own daughters, I see their amazing confidence, and I wish that I had had that amount of confidence when I was their age. I was a huge people-pleaser. I was so worried about people’s judgment. Over the years, I’ve learned to be true to who I am, and it’s been so liberating to just not worry about judgment”

Charlie Sheen appeared on some of the episodes of Denise Richards and her Wild Things, as did Brooke Mueller, Charlie’s wife after Denise’s divorce from him in 2006. What is clearly evident is the civility amongst all of them.

“Oh yes,” confirms Denise. “I’m a great proponent of keeping things harmonious in our extended family for the sake of my daughters. They have relationships with Brooke’s sons who are their stepbrothers. No matter the challenges along the way, at the end of the day, I’ve always been an advocate for maintaining cordial relationships with everyone for the sake of our children. It’s not their fault that they have families that didn’t stay together. I’ve always wanted the kids to have close relationships with their siblings. Brooke and I are in a great place, as are Charlie and me. It hasn’t always been that way for all of us, but when the harmony is there, I’ll take it.”

Erica Jane from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is on the reality show, too, and Denise expands on that same theme.

“I really felt that Erica and I had become friends after the first season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. We really liked each other and then in the second season, it seemed to have gone in a different direction. I felt that there were some things that were unresolved between us, so I was glad that she was open to meeting with me. We had lunch and it was good.”

The size of Denise’s heart is powerfully evident in her adoption of Eloise, who is now 13 years old. Not only is Denise a fervent advocate for adoption, but she has gone on to found ‘Quantum Reach Foundation’, a non-profit that finds the best healing innovations for children and animals. She also founded ‘Brave Beginnings’ for premature babies. It provides hospital grants to purchase essential equipment and critical services for newborns. Denise is also the Ambassador for ‘Best Friends Animal Society’ which not only fosters rescues but raises awareness. Additionally, the ‘Eloise’ heel by Shoedazzle provides funds for the Kidney Cancer Association.

Denise’s journey with Eloise provides an enlightening window into who she really is:

“I’ve always wanted to adopt a child,” she explains. “I started the process as a single mom, and then my own mom got really sick, and she passed away. I waited two years before I started up the process again. I didn’t want to wait until I met someone, and it took about 18 months until I adopted Eloise at birth.”

“I didn’t know that she was special needs when she was born. It was only when she was older that I noticed she wasn’t reaching the milestones that a typical little infant would reach. Had I given birth to her, I would have known the differences, but since I didn’t, I thought that every child was different. As she became a toddler, we had her diagnosed and discovered she had a rare disorder, Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p.”

“Eloise is an incredible angel in our lives. Mom had always said to my sister and I growing up that special needs children are angels from God. I really do believe that, and Eloise is such a bright light in our family and an amazing girl.”

“It was always about the moments that happened off camera with other actors while being on location that were pivotally important. Starship Troopers was hands-down that experience for me”

Children and animals are completely defenseless in this world, and that’s where Denise’s compassion and empathy are laser focused.

“I’ve been a huge animal advocate my whole life, and even as a teenager, I started volunteering at Humane Societies. My mom always rescued our dogs when we were growing up, and we hoped to open up a sanctuary one day. Donating my time and helping animals has been a lifelong passion of mine. Every Monday I used to go to a high-kill shelter in Los Angeles; pull out as many dogs as possible and transport them to ‘Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’ in Utah, which is an amazing facility. In my heart, helping children and animals is something I feel compelled to do. The rewards with Eloise are so evident, and every time I’ve rescued a dog, they end up rescuing me.”

Denise has learned valuable life lessons since she first began her Hollywood career. She was Dr. Christmas Jones, a Bond Girl with Pearce Brosnan, in The World is Not Enough. The excitement of jetting off to exotic James Bond locations is something she has always appreciated. She was also in the international hit movie, Love Actually, in which she played the part of Carla. But traveling the world has a more profound meaning for her now.

“I traveled the world and started so young when I was only 18 years old. While I appreciated the broadening of my perspectives back then because travel is such an eye-opener to different people and cultures, I’ve been able to add another dimension to that perspective: as a woman in entertainment and a businesswoman, I’ve learned that I have the power of choice, and my confidence has built so much through the years. When I look at my own daughters, I see their amazing confidence, and I wish, sometimes, that I had had that amount of confidence when I was their age. I was a huge people-pleaser when I was their age. I was so careful about what I said, because I was so worried about people’s judgment. Over the years, I’ve learned to be true to who I am, and it’s been so liberating to just not worry about judgment. The older I get, the more determined I am to live my life in a way that is healthy for me, and I think that world travel encourages us to be less judgmental. People are different across the world, and we should let them be who they are.”

On that globe-trotting topic, Denise enthuses passionately about her love of Italy.

“It’s absolutely my favorite vacation destination. I LOVE Italy, the people, the food, and the fact that their priority is their family and friends. They enjoy life and take the time to enhance their quality of life. Visiting there is something I love.”

The Italian theme reigns supremely when we move on to the topic of favorite food dishes.

“I’m very simple with food and ingredients,” says Denise. “I love farm to table. I’m good with a homemade pasta and a fresh tomato sauce. Those simple pleasures make my world go round.”

We end our chat on an expansive note: I wonder how we can contribute to making the world a better place. Denise answers unhesitatingly.

“Sami and Lola have always been known as the daughters of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. Denise Richards and her Wild Things was a great opportunity as they enter adulthood – to have their own voice and to have people get to know them for who they are”

“Being kind on a daily basis. It doesn’t cost us anything to simply be kind to others. It would also be so wonderful if people could stop judging others. Social media has become the platform for everyone’s judgment. Being kind is a far better approach to life.”

Christmas and summer are Denise’s two favorite seasons of the year, and it turns out that the two are often intertwined because she usually films her annual Christmas movies in the height of summer. Her latest movie was A Christmas Frequency, and she adds, “I love the spirit of Christmas, and I’m definitely a summer girl. I’ve been so fortunate to have gone to such great locations while shooting movies in the summer.”

In that light, her family’s 2025 summer plans are germinating.

“Lola has never been to London so I’m hoping we can do a trip there this summer. We go to Hawaii a lot, and now that my girls are older, they volunteer to accompany us somewhere special.”

Denise Richards has always been authentically herself and has never wavered from her values, nor has Hollywood success and fame altered her unshakeable DNA bedrock. The balance between her professional accomplishments and her massive heart are a powerful human combination and therein lies this unique beauty’s strength.