Denise Richards has had her share of celebrated screen moments. There’s that bit in 1997’s Starship Troopers where she’s trying not to throw up while dissecting slimy alien bugs. (“We humans like to think we’re nature’s finest achievement, but it just isn’t true.” “Eeeuu!”) She puts Pierce Brosnan’s Bond in his place as the Lara-Croft-esque Dr Christmas Jones in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. (“Doctor Jones. Christmas Jones. No jokes, I’ve heard them all.”) She has also guest-starred in Saved by the Bell, Married With Children, Doogie Howser MD, Beverly Hills 90210, Seinfeld, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Melrose Place and as Ross and Monica’s cousin Cassie in Friends. After marrying Charlie Sheen in 2002, Richards guested in Spin City and Two and a Half Men. After their divorce, Sheen cameoed alongside Richards in Tyler Perry’s 2012 movie Madea’s Witness Protection, while Richards returned the favour in Sheen’s television series Anger Management. And let’s not forget that time in 2018 when she was guest announcer on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
But when it comes to Denise Richards moments, there’s none more memorable (particularly for former teenage boys) than the bit in 1998’s Wild Things where Richards, Neve Campbell and Matt Dillon get hot and heavy in the swimming pool. Wild Things revolves around a pair of high-school rivals – spoiled rich girl Richards and trailer park bad girl Campbell – and their slightly dim guidance counsellor Dillon. Kevin Bacon and Bill Murray are in it too. Not unlike 1995’s Showgirls, Wild Things is probably best remembered for its status as a trash classic, bringing sexual taboos into the mainstream in a way that couldn’t be repeated by dodgy follow-ups Wild Things 2 (2004), 2005’s Wild Things: Diamonds in the Rough or (ahem) 2010’s Wild Things: Foursome.
So to help celebrate the re-release of Wild Things, featuring the steamier 115-minute “Unrated Edition” from 2004 – calm down, it’s mainly extra scene-setting bits – Richards has kindly agreed to take questions from the highbrow, Guardian-reading public. So, keep it clean, but get cracking as we’ll need your questions in the comments below by 6pm this Thursday 9 June as Richards is making a flying visit, and we’ll print her answers here in Film & Music and online very soon.
• Wild Things is out now on digital platforms.
