Molly Ringwald's Dating Advice For Her Daughter Is Perfect For Everyone To Hear

As the undisputed queen of '80s romcoms, actor Molly Ringwald knows a thing or two about dating. And now that she's a mom to three kids in their teens and 20s, Ringwald has been passing on tips for healthy relationships — especially to her oldest daughter, Mathilda. "The dating advice I always give her is just to be herself," Molly told E! News at the New York premiere of "One Night Only" in August 2026. "And also to respect yourself and not to do anything she doesn't want to do." Mathilda, who was also on the red carpet that night, confirmed that her mother is strict about protecting boundaries: "Oh, she's like, 'No second chances, don't put up with all that.'"

At first glance, this advice might seem kind of obvious. But Glam spoke exclusively to celebrity love coach Nicole Moore, who explained why staying true to yourself can be so challenging in the throes of a budding romance. "Many people find it difficult to be 100% authentic in the beginning of a relationship because they have fears around not being good enough, which causes them to perform in order to win love," Moore reveals.

Making a good impression is one thing, but putting yourself on the back burner is another. It may seem natural to focus your energy outward, showering a new partner with affection, but self-love is the heart of solid relationships — especially when it empowers you to show up as your authentic self. As Moore says, "People with dating anxiety often obsess about how ... to win someone's approval, and they often forget that being themselves is what's most attractive in the first place." Sound a little too familiar? You're not alone. Luckily, Moore details why and how to enact Ringwald's self-respecting dating advice in real life.

Molly Ringwald's number one dating rule is to be yourself. But why is this so critical? Nicole Moore breaks it down. "It's super important to go into a relationship as authentic and honest as possible because that's the only way to ensure that you find a true match," she tells Glam exclusively. "If you hide parts of yourself in order to avoid rejection, for instance, it can severely backfire later, causing lack of trust with a potential partner and also potential disappointment if what you've hidden is a dealbreaker for them."

In essence, you're tricking a partner into loving a version of you that doesn't exist. As Moore suggests, this can have explosive consequences if your expectations are misaligned. Say your potential partner really wants kids, and you don't, but you gloss over that in the early stages of your relationship. Down the road, this can cause a lot of friction and may even be a relationship killer — meaning you've wasted everyone's time, and probably caused yourself unnecessary heartache in the process.

This may be why modern dating trends like clear-coding demand honesty from the get-go. "If you don't state your preferences or dealbreakers early on and just go along with what the other person wants to make them like you, it will end up with you feeling a ton of resentment down the road," says Moore, who confirms that it definitely can feel risky to be open about who you are, but it will also filter out the people who aren't right for you. Being upfront may be uncomfortable, but it can save a lot of time and drama. Fortunately, Moore has tips to speak your truth without hurting anyone's feelings.

As Molly Ringwald recommends (and Nicole Moore strongly seconds), it's important to share your true self and opinions with a new partner. However, brutal honesty isn't always a good thing in a relationship. So how can you balance authenticity and tact? "The best way to bring up that you don't want to do something ... is to first affirm them for wanting what they want rather than denying their need, but then to speak up for yourself and frame your no as self-respect," Moore suggests. "For instance, you can say, 'I hear that what you brought up is something you want to do, and you're not wrong for wanting that. For me, it doesn't feel good to do it, and out of respect for myself, I have to honor that.'"

There may also be opportunities to find a compromise. As Moore explains in our exclusive chat, you and your partner can unpack why their suggestion means so much to them at an emotional level, and the reasons you have for saying no. Then, you can work together to find another way to meet that same emotional need without crossing your own boundaries.

This is a chance to understand whether your goals are truly misaligned — and whether a partner will honor your boundaries. Ultimately, you need to prioritize your well-being and happiness first, and Moore confirms that this kind of self-respect is actually more important than being accomodating at your own expense: "Being self-focused, not selfish, is a very magnetic energy, and when you respect yourself, it tends to draw better treatment from others."