Molly Ringwald Opens Up About How Her Teenage Twins Are ‘Seriously’ Preparing For Their College Years

Nov 06, 2026 by apost team

Molly Ringwald knows what it feels like to grow up in the spotlight. Now, decades after becoming one of Hollywood's most recognizable young stars, the actress is watching her own children prepare for the next big chapter of their lives.

Best known for her roles in iconic '80s films such as "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," and "Pretty in Pink," Ringwald has continued to build her career across film and television. She currently stars in "Yellowjackets," while also balancing life as a mother of three.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 58-year-old actress opened up about her family with husband Panio Gianopoulos, an author and editor. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mathilda, in October 2003, followed by twins Adele and Roman in January 2009.

Ringwald and Gianopoulo first met online in the early 2000s before getting married in a private ceremony in July 2007. Their relationship has now lasted more than two decades, and the actress says maintaining that connection requires consistent effort.

"I think the secret is to make sure that you take care of your relationship, to communicate," she told PEOPLE.

The actress has also been reflecting on her own experiences as she watches her children approach major milestones. Ringwald became famous as a teenager, with her performances helping define a generation of coming-of-age movies. She describes herself as the "poster child" for Generation X, a generation whose formative years were closely tied to 1980s culture.

Her perspective on growing up has naturally evolved over the years. Having experienced adolescence while navigating Hollywood, she now looks at that stage of life from a very different position.

With her youngest children approaching adulthood, Ringwald is getting a front-row seat to the opportunities and challenges of preparing for what comes next. 

Ringwald's 17-year-old twins, Adele and Roman, are now beginning to think about their lives beyond secondary education. The actress told PEOPLE that both are exploring their college options and preparing for the next steps in their academic journeys.

"I have two juniors in high school. I went through it with my eldest, who is still in college, and the other two are now getting ready to do visits and SATs and all of that stuff," she said.

The proud mother added that her twins have been taking their studies seriously and are looking forward to what lies ahead.

"They're really good students, and they take it really seriously," Ringwald said. "And I think they're excited about their futures. I know I am."

Watching Adele and Roman navigate these years has also brought Ringwald back to her own teenage experiences. While she became a Hollywood star during her adolescence, she admits her high school years were far from effortless.

"Every day I just do a little, 'Thank you I'm not going to school,' because I really, really struggled with that," she told PEOPLE.

The actress believes that despite the many changes in education and teenage culture over the decades, some of the pressures of growing up remain familiar.

"High school is really hard, and it really seems like a lot of it hasn't changed," she said. "A lot of it has changed, but there are certain things that have not changed at all."

For Ringwald, seeing her children prepare for college is an opportunity to support them through a chapter she remembers all too well. And although she's excited to see where they go next, the actress seems perfectly happy to leave her own high school days in the past.  

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