Whether you loved Sixteen Candles or Pretty in Pink, Molly Ringwald was the IT girl of the 1980s. She was one of the most beloved actors of her time, a part of the Brat Pack along with John Hughes’ other stars like Ally Sheedy. But, over time, Ringwald slipped down the ranks of Hollywood stardom and went from IT-girl to has-been.

While most famous actresses struggle to find work and continue their careers after they’re no longer considered “hot,” Ringwald managed to keep herself busy throughout the years. In addition to acting, she also does theater and writes as a lifestyle columnist for The Guardian. She has also released her own jazz album, Except Sometimes.

In addition to her acting and singing careers, Ringwald has also worked in the Broadway arena. She was a part of the revivals of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick...BOOM and Cabaret, where she played the iconic stage singer Sally Bowles.

Acting is a tough business, and many actors have stories about major roles that they missed out on because of a rejection. But, unlike most of her peers, Ringwald turned down a role not once but twice. She declined the lead in both Ghost and Pretty Woman, the 1990 films that would have made her a major star.

In the 2000s, Ringwald found success with TV. She was a regular on the series Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life, and she also starred in the movie Malicious. Then, in 2006, she appeared in the Lifetime movie The Wives He Forgot as a lawyer who falls for a man with amnesia.