Whether you’ve followed Lisa Rinna as a compelling figure on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ admired her strategic flair on ‘The Traitors,’ or simply enjoyed her vibrant Instagram presence dancing to Bad Bunny and Madonna, one thing is clear: she’s never shied away from expressing herself.
She’s the icon behind countless unforgettable cultural moments: that infamous wine glass smash in Amsterdam, the blunt question about cocaine at a dinner party that left a co-star speechless, or her poised, puffer-jacketed appearance in a cage on ‘The Traitors.’ Rinna consistently delivers drama and authenticity.
Throughout her impressive four-decade career, transitioning from soap opera star on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Melrose Place’ to red carpet correspondent, talk show host, QVC personality, boutique owner, and even a pregnant Playboy cover model, Rinna has consistently faced life’s most intense moments right in the public eye.
The passing of her mother in 2021, coupled with her dramatic departure from ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ marked a pivotal turning point. These events compelled her to pause, confront deep-seated emotions, and ultimately transform into the Lisa Rinna we see today.
Her latest memoir, ‘You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It,’ published by Dey Street, offers an unfiltered look at her life’s most memorable moments. It serves as both a cathartic release of her ‘Housewives’ experiences and a heartfelt tribute to her enduring marriage to actor Harry Hamlin and her family. The book also candidly explores her journey of aging gracefully and her fierce advocacy for hormone replacement therapy, a topic she addresses with characteristic humor: ‘I will kill you if you take my hormones away!’
At 62, Rinna shared these insights over a recent lunch at Los Angeles’s iconic Polo Lounge, just before filming a ‘Traitors’ reunion. She remarked on her unusual excitement for this particular reunion, candidly describing her meal of a bunless burger with Thousand Island dressing.
The fourth season of ‘The Traitors,’ Peacock’s clever murder-mystery competition featuring celebrities and reality stars vying for a cash prize, is wrapping up. Rinna fondly referred to herself as ‘the mother of the group,’ ready to fiercely defend her castmates, even those with whom she’d previously clashed.
She believes ‘Traitors’ offered viewers a fresh perspective, revealing she’s ‘not this scary villain, devil-child.’ This public perception shift, she emphasized, holds immense importance for her.
The Unseen Challenges of Reality Television
Lisa Rinna is known for her unwavering ‘yes’ to professional opportunities.
In her own words, she’s ‘a worker-bee actor,’ always driven by ‘a paycheck and a steady gig.’
Her ambitious spirit, honed during breakout roles on 90s soaps like ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Melrose Place,’ led her to unconventional paths. Her memoir recounts filming 13 Taco Bell commercials in the desert and candidly shares behind-the-scenes secrets, like using baby wipes to keep burritos camera-ready. She finds humor in her past commercial for adult diapers, Depend, while acknowledging the crucial financial support it provided her family. As she famously declared on ‘Housewives’: ‘I’ll do anything to make a buck.’
However, committing to ‘The Traitors,’ with its intricate web of deception and hidden alliances, was a six-month decision. Still reeling from her 2022 exit from ‘Housewives’ and the recent loss of her mother, Lois, she was initially hesitant. Ultimately, a fan and neighbor’s adult daughter convinced her to take the plunge.
Rinna described the ‘Traitors’ experience as a ‘fever dream.’ Before even reaching Scotland for filming, she underwent an extensive 537-question psychological evaluation followed by a two-hour Zoom therapy session. ‘They know everything there is to know about me,’ she remarked.
Her demeanor on ‘Traitors’ diverged significantly from her ‘Housewives’ persona, appearing more playful and subdued, much to the surprise and occasional frustration of her fellow contestants. Notably, Colton Underwood challenged her, expecting a more typical ‘Housewife’ performance.
She recalled, ‘He wanted to see me being aggressive, angry, yelling, and sassy.’ Instead, Rinna opted for a ‘quiet, measured’ approach.
Tiffany Mitchell, a fellow ‘Traitors’ contestant, expressed her surprise at Rinna’s true nature, stating she was unexpectedly different from her on-screen persona.
Mitchell elaborated, ‘I looked at her as this larger-than-life person,’ yet Rinna quickly made her feel comfortable. ‘I send her my most insecure thoughts — I don’t know what I wouldn’t bring to her for advice.’ Rinna now holds a place on Mitchell’s esteemed list of idols, alongside Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, and Angela Bassett.
Her journey on ‘The Traitors’ concluded when the majority of the cast, questioning her allegiance, voted her out. By her departure, the show had pushed her to a cathartic breaking point. A torrent of suppressed grief and emotions surfaced. Rinna described the experience: ”Traitors’ ripped me wide open, and it was such a blessing.’
Despite her own experiences, she continues to caution others about the pitfalls of reality TV, though her warnings often go unheeded. She notes, ‘There’s a masochistic element to every reality show,’ adding that the fundamental drive is simply: ‘Everybody wants to be famous.’
Embracing the ‘Villain’ Role on Screen
There’s a distinct difference between general fame and ‘reality TV famous.’
The unique pressures of ‘Real Housewives’ fame, however, prompted Rinna to engage in actions and make choices she otherwise wouldn’t. She confessed, ‘You don’t ever think that you would do some of the things that you end up doing out of survival’ on the show.
Across eight seasons — a remarkable tenure she dubbed ‘the longest job I have held in my 35-year career’ upon her exit — Rinna redefined the role of a reality star on Bravo. She openly embraced the show as a performance, rather than an unscripted depiction of her real life, always ready to fuel the drama when necessary.
Her childhood in southern Oregon instilled an early appreciation for the antihero. In her memoir, she recalls attending live W.W.E. matches at the Medford armory, where ‘the fans always loved the villains the most.’
Harry Hamlin, Rinna’s husband of nearly three decades, barely recognized the person she became on reality TV. He stated, ‘The person she was on ‘Housewives’ isn’t anyone I know,’ theorizing that she may have mirrored the personality disorders of those around her. He even jokingly keeps a copy of the D.S.M. on his desk for armchair diagnoses of her co-stars.
In her book, Rinna reveals she returned to film the final season of ‘Housewives’ just three days after her mother’s passing. Her subsequent behavior, often marked by fierce confrontations with co-stars, was understandably difficult to witness.
She observed that those around her seemed to avoid eye contact, ‘because all I see is grief.’ She felt an overwhelming sense that ‘No one knew what to do with me.’
However, her memoir also serves to resolve many of her infamous feuds with past castmates, all while dishing out fascinating details about the show’s internal mechanics.
One revelation: designers are notoriously reluctant to lend clothing to ‘Housewives’ stars due to the risk of their brands being linked to ‘toxic mess.’ Consequently, Rinna spent a significant portion of her salary on maintaining her on-screen wardrobe and styling to match her castmates.
Bravo, the network, also faces criticism in her memoir. Rinna reportedly told co-star Erika Jayne, ‘We work for gangsters. Don’t ever forget that. It’s like Vegas. Bravo is the casino, we’re the players and the house always wins.’
In interviews, she remains equally candid. Discussing Kyle Richards, a long-standing ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ cast member, and her sisters Kim Richards and Kathy Hilton, Rinna openly shared her observations of their family’s deep-seated dysfunction. She described the sisters’ dynamic as having a level of ‘psychosis that you don’t even know how to begin to deal with,’ attributing much of it to their mother.
Rinna revealed that from the moment she joined ‘Housewives,’ she knew she didn’t want to be involved past age 60. She speculates that at least one former co-star feels trapped by loyalty or obligation, hinting, ‘I don’t want to speak for her, but….’
Just as this thought lingered, Rinna accidentally spilled a full drink onto her lap.
Laughing off the minor mishap, she casually retrieved ice cubes and a straw from her pants. My concern drifted to her striking white faux leopard coat, but her thoughts were more practical: ‘It was from Ann Taylor.’
Her only immediate concern: ‘I hope she’ll bring me another iced tea.’
‘My Sign? I Say Dollar.’
This isn’t Rinna’s first foray into authorship, with previous works including a self-help guide, a candid sex manual, and a novel about a Hollywood starlet. Yet, penning this memoir initially met her resistance.
She admitted, ‘I saw the fear and I saw things that I needed to deal with but didn’t want to.’ Ultimately, she decided to write the book precisely to confront ‘grief, pain, the toxicity of ‘Housewives.’’
Despite its profound themes, ‘You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It’ maintains a light, self-aware tone. Rinna candidly discusses her cosmetic enhancements, distinctive fashion sense, and notorious frugality. She even recalls a proposed ‘Housewives’ tagline: ‘When people ask my sign? I say dollar.’
Dibs Baer, her ghostwriter, noted that Rinna understood the bold promise of her title, yet always aimed to uplift, not diminish. As they collaborated, the memoir evolved into a narrative of Rinna’s continuous self-reinvention.
Rinna and Hamlin are now contemplating new life chapters. With acting opportunities in Los Angeles dwindling, Hamlin mentioned they are considering a move abroad or to upstate New York.
Their daughters, Delilah and Amelia, are flourishing in their mid-20s. Rinna, a lifelong fashion enthusiast, is gaining significant influence in the style world, coinciding with Amelia’s burgeoning modeling career and a recent appearance in a couture show at Paris Fashion Week.
Rinna believes she has one more iconic role awaiting her, perhaps on a high-profile series like ‘The White Lotus’ or a project helmed by Ryan Murphy. Following her experience on ‘Traitors,’ where she ‘murdered’ castmates weekly, she’s eager to portray a fictional killer next.
Yet, some aspects of Lisa Rinna remain constant, regardless of her fame. Even at the luxurious Polo Lounge, she opts to park on the street, preferring the cheaper alternative to valet.