Denise Richards has been in the limelight for almost three decades. She started a modeling career when she was just a teenager. That soon turned into a few 'guest star' roles on television shows. Then, she went on to become one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. By 1999, she had reached the pinnacle of her career, by starring alongside Pierce Brosnan as Bond Girl, Christmas Jones, in the 007 flick, The World Is Not Enough.
She went on to marry (and divorce) actor Charlie Sheen, who was the father of her two daughters (she adopted a third daughter afterward), before trying out a new venture - reality television.
These days, Denise can be seen making appearances on Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she reportedly earns $4 million for her efforts. But what else is there to know about the woman, besides the fun fact that she once starred in an episode of Friends?
Here's all you need to know...
20 She Has Two Kids With Charlie Sheen
Denise was famously married to Two and a Half Men star, Charlie Sheen, between 2002 and 2006. During their time together, the former couple welcomed two daughters into the world - Lola, and Sam.
Denise has custody of both kids, but Charlie is said to be an active father who's very involved in the lives of his daughters.
19 She Once Had A Hard Time Landing Acting Roles
Denise had already been making a great living from her modelling jobs, but she knew that acting was something she wanted to pursue. But the transition from appearing on magazine covers to being taken seriously in Los Angeles, where she was competing with plenty of other talented women her age, was a challenge.
18 She Guest-Starred On Friends
In 2001, the mother-of-three guest-starred in an episode of the former NBC sitcom, Friends. Denise Richards played Ross and Monica Geller’s cousin, Cassie Geller, in the episode titled, “The One with Ross and Monica’s Cousin.”
When it first aired, fans were very happy with Denise’s performance on the show, and it seemed surprising that she wasn’t invited back.
17 She Bared All For Playboy Magazine
Denise is no stranger to posing in front of the cameras - after all, she started her career as a model. By 2004, however, the actress had taken on a number of photoshoots that were much racier than her previous work. In December of that year, she posed for Playboy magazine, just five months after giving birth.
16 She First Met Charlie Sheen On The Set Of Loaded Weapon 1
Denise first met Charlie Sheen when they crossed paths on the set of Loaded Weapon 1 in 1991, but it wasn’t until almost a decade later that things between the two turned serious. They would go on to get married and have kids. She’s always said that she found Charlie Sheen very charming when she was first introduced to him.
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15 She Once Had Her Own Reality Show On E!
Following her divorce from Charlie Sheen, Denise landed herself a reality show on the E! network, titled Denise Richards: It’s Complicated. It premiered in May 2008, and Charlie went on to describe the move as “greedy, vain and exploitative.” The two also went to court, as Sheen refused to allow his daughters to appear on the show. Denise ended up winning the case.
14 She Adopted A Third Daughter, Eloise Joni, In 2011
In June 2011, Denise Richards was ready to expand her family and became keen on the idea of adopting a child. That same month, she adopted Eloise Joni and had her hands full as a single parent. The middle name of her adopted daughter is the same name as Denise’s mother, who passed away from cancer in December 2007.
13 She’s Passionate About Animals - Best Friends Animal Society
Many people don’t know that Denise is very passionate about animals and their well-being. She’s previously partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to help raise money, through fundraising campaigns, for animals who’ve been abandoned and abused. Denise also adopted a rescue dog from a Long Island shelter, following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
12 She Played The Leading Role Of Being A Bond Girl In The 007 Series
In 1999, Denise landed the biggest role of her career; playing alongside Pierce Brosnan in the 1999 James Bond flick, The World is Not Enough. Richards played the character of Dr. Christmas Jones, but apparently fans didn’t like the film, nor the chosen Bond Girl. She went on to win the award for “Worst Supporting Actress” at the 1999 Razzie Awards.
11 She’s A Midwest Girl At Heart
It’s no secret that Denise spends most of her time in Los Angeles, but she was actually raised in Illinois, which offers quite a different lifestyle than the one the talented star enjoys in Hollywood. She spent the first 15 years of her life in a town called Downers Grove until her family relocated to Oceanside, California.
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10 She Earned A Lot Of Money Appearing On Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
For the ninth series of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, producers reportedly paid Denise an astounding $4 million to appear on the show as a regular cast member. The move made her one of the highest-paid celebrities to appear on the show, just $1 million bucks shy of what Nene Leakes’ supposedly makes on the Atlanta version.
9 She Got Her Big Break From Modeling When She Was A Teenager
Before acting became a full-time career for Denise, she was a full-time model, appearing on magazine covers, in music videos, in commercials, and more. The connections she made from working in that creative field eased her transition to acting in a bunch of blockbuster flicks...but modeling was where it all started for her.
8 Her First Major Role Was in Starship Troopers
Her breakthrough came when she was offered the part of sci-fi soldier, Carmen Ibanez, in the hit movie, Starship Troopers. The 1997 motion picture, based on Robert A. Heinlein’s book, opened the door for her land further opportunities in films, such as Scary Movie and Drop Dead Gorgeous.
7 She Owns Millions In Real Estate
Not too long after parting ways with Charlie Sheen, Denise put her Hidden Hills home on sale for an impressive $4.25 million. She was also said to have owned another property in Hollywood Hills worth $4.4 million. She also has a stable of luxury vehicles, including a Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz, which are valued at $70,000 each.
6 She Doesn’t Read Things Written About Her In The Press
Denise isn’t someone who likes to read what’s been said about her in the press. Instead, she tries to stay away from tabloids, especially since she became the topic of discussion following her divorce from Charlie. She was quite literally on the cover of a tabloid magazine every week, so it’s understandable why she’d want to avoid reading fabricated lies.
RELATED: 20 Photos Of Charlie Sheen And His Too-Gorgeous-For-Him Girlfriends
5 She Tells Herself To Keep A Positive Attitude All The Time
She previously told Closer that she has to suck it up and be a positive role model for her kids. “Suck it up — because they didn’t ask to be born into a family that splits and shouldn’t have to deal with parents at each other’s throats. I’m not one where you bash your ex in front of your children. It’s very disrespectful to the kids.”
4 She Had A Tough Time Being A Mother
The public interest, dealing with her chaotic love life at the time, and juggling motherhood and a career, could have all been too much for Denise - especially after the loss of her mother. But to that, she told Women on the Fence:
"I knew over time it would pass. It didn’t pass as quickly as I would have liked (laughing), but I knew I had to stay focused on really blocking a lot of that stuff out and being the best mom I could be.”
3 She Prefers Being An Actress To Being A Model
While modeling was a great career path for Denise in her younger years, she always knew that more career longevity was possible in the world of filmmaking. Plus, she says that making movies was always her true passion: “To this day, I love being on set with filmmakers, the actors, the crew. I love working. It has always been my passion that has kept me motivated through rejection."
2 She Says She's Finally Found 'The One'
While she’s had her fair share of bad luck with men in Hollywood, Denise has previously claimed to be the happiest woman with her husband, Aaron Phypers. Within weeks after first meeting one another, the couple made the shock announcement that they were getting married. Given that they’re still together, it seemed they knew what others couldn’t see.
1 Her Tell-All Memoir, The Real Girl Next Door, Was Released In 2011
Denise released her tell-all memoir, The Real Girl Next Door, in 2011, discussing everything from dealing with the death of her mother to raising two children with Charlie Sheen. She mentioned things concerning the actor’s paranoia...he had a bulletproof door installed in their home and a closet with a fire pole in it, to name just a few examples of his cautious attitude.