Molly Ringwald reveals the secret to her lasting marriage with Panio Gianopoulos

Molly Ringwald shares how communication and respect have sustained her marriage to Panio Gianopoulos for over 20 years

Molly Ringwald has shared the relationship advice that has helped her maintain a lasting marriage with husband Panio Gianopoulos for more than two decades, highlighting communication, mutual respect and avoiding hurtful language during disagreements.

The Sixteen Candles actress, 58, discussed the secret to their long-lasting relationship in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, explaining that couples should focus on how they handle arguments rather than trying to avoid conflict altogether.

“I think the secret is to make sure that you take care of your relationship, to communicate,” Ringwald said.

The actress, who shares three children with Gianopoulos, also emphasised the importance of treating each other with respect, even during difficult conversations. The couple are parents to daughter Mathilda, 23, and twins Adele and Roman, 17.

Ringwald said she encourages her children to understand that disagreements are a normal part of relationships, but the way partners communicate can make a difference. She advised against name-calling, contempt and using absolute statements such as “you always do this” during arguments.

Instead, the actress suggested addressing a partner’s behaviour without turning criticism into a personal attack. She acknowledged that maintaining a healthy relationship requires consistent effort, comparing it to caring for a garden that needs regular attention to flourish.

Ringwald and Gianopoulos began dating in the early 2000s after meeting through an online literary salon, where they initially connected over books with mutual friends. Their conversations later moved to email before they met in person.

The couple married in a private ceremony in July 2007. Ringwald had previously been married to Valéry Lameignère from 1999 to 2002.

The actress has also praised Gianopoulos for his parenting, describing him as an amazing father in a previous interview with Good Housekeeping. She admitted that he seemed to have a natural instinct for parenting, challenging her initial assumption that she would automatically know what to do as a mother.