If, like me, you grew up on a diet of The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles, you’ll have a particular emotional pull towards Molly Ringwald.
The actress exists in the public imagination as the essence of teenagedom. In adulthood, as well as acting, Ringwald became a writer, author, musician and all round class act.
I recently interviewed her for The Sunday Times and she kindly stuck around to share some of her favourite recommendations. Enjoy.
Tell me about a book that you've recently read and loved.
The Custom of the Century by Edith Wharton. I heard that Sofia Coppola was going to adapt it and was so excited. And then apparently it fell through because the studio felt that the protagonist, Undine Spragg was unsympathetic which I find aggravating! It's what makes her so alluring. Rather than being a tragic figure who is used up and spit out by society, she's the one that uses society and thrives on her own terms. She is such a delicious anti-hero. I hope that Sofia sticks with it.
Is there a book you re-visit again and again?
Light Years by James Salter. His writing is so beautiful. Poetic and precise. I get swept in and I love his descriptions of the place. In fact, I chose the area where we live after falling in love with the way he wrote about it.
What are your writing habits - good and bad?
Procrastination Procrastination Procrastination. I basically just try to write whenever I can because finding a way to psych myself into it takes time. For my birthday, my husband bought me a device that is basically a word processor. No internet. And you can't really edit on it so I'm really looking forward to working with it. You can save up to 3 different documents and it automatically backs up. It forces the idea of a terrible first draft. I'm here for it!
What are your reading habits? (Mine include re-reading the same books again and again and folding up the bottom corners when there’s a bit I love) Â
There are books that I read with my eyes, and ones that I listen and re-listen to on audio. I'm much pickier with audio so if I don't like the reading I'll abandon it, and buy a hard copy. Likewise, if I really love a book that I'm reading on a kindle, I'll buy a hard copy. I'm a corner folder downer as well-but mostly to keep my place. If I really love something, I'll copy it down.
Are you a podcast person?Â
I am. I love Search Engine, Ghost Story, Le Goût de M, You're Wrong About, Las Culturistas and Pod Save America.
What's an under-appreciated film you've seen that you'd encourage people to seek out?
There's a French Belgian film with a wonderful redheaded actress on a plane. I don't remember the name of it, but I was struck by the actress, and I understand that it was a female writer director. Anyway, if you happen to find it, let me know because I'd love to see it again.  [Reader, I couldn’t find it but if you know the film, share in the comments!]
Another is the French film Ponette starring a 4 year old Victoire Thivisol (who I'm not sure is even acting any longer). It's an exploration into the mind of a child after someone close to them (in this case her mother) dies. It really is like watching an acting prodigy like I've never seen.
What are you watching on TV at the moment?Â
I'm watching the live action version of Avatar: Last Airbender with my kids because we all loved the animated series so much. I also just watched a good documentary on Frank Zappa.
Are you counting down to the next season of anything? (For me, it's Severance)
Definitely looking forward to Severance. Also always look forward to Black Mirror and basically anything Charlie Brooker does.
Which song best evokes what it felt like to be young and starting out in your career?
That's a really hard one because I listened to so much. I'll choose one that I actually listened to at the time which is by Elvis Costello called This Year's Girl. The lyrics are strikingly apropos.
Which song are you playing on repeat at the moment?
Best Behaviour by Gustaf
Molly stars in Feud: Capote Vs the Swans on FX/ Disney+ from April 17
Read my interview with Molly and her daughter, Mathilda in The Sunday Times.
Are you watching Feud? What’s your favourite 80s movie? Share in the comments.
A few extra bits from me:
I hadn’t seen Blue Lights but there were lots of fawning reviews of the second series which has just started (iPlayer) so I watched series one last weekend and it’s as excellent as everyone says.
At this stage, there is nothing new to add to the Taylor Swift discourse but this episode of my all-time favourite podcast features an interesting, sensible conversation about the new album and what it all means. Existentially.
I know, I know. I need to watch Baby Reindeer. It’s on the To Do list.
See you next time!
Hannah
Love Molly! And Black Mirror - they should really get her in an episode
I live for Stevie’s lovelorn baking. It will break me if he turns out to be a creep in a future episode. (No spoilers, I’m currently watching once a week on BBC1 as I have the mental age of 79.)