Lisa Rinna Initially 'Freaked Out' by Harry Hamlin's Pursuit, Now Celebrates 30-Year Marriage
They are widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most enduring and resilient couples, but Lisa Rinna recently disclosed that she was once deeply apprehensive about giving Harry Hamlin a chance when he first began pursuing her. The couple, who have been married for nearly three decades and share two daughters together, have a love story that almost did not happen due to Rinna's initial reservations.
'Freaked Out' by a Superstar's Interest
During a candid talk at 92NY last week, as reported by People magazine, Rinna, 62, recounted the surprising beginning of their relationship. She explained that she was spending Christmas in Medford, Oregon, when Hamlin, 74, started calling her persistently. Rinna admitted she was in disbelief that an actor of Hamlin's stature, famous for his role on LA Law and his previous marriage to Nicolette Sheridan, would show interest in her.
'I was kind of freaked out, to be honest, because he was such a big star at the time,' she confessed. 'He was on LA Law. He'd been married to Nicolette and it was overwhelming. So I didn't see myself in that league.' This sense of intimidation nearly caused her to reject his advances outright.
From 'Creepy' Calls to Winning Her Over
Hamlin's pursuit intensified as he called her for 'two weeks straight' and even invited her to join him in Aspen for the holidays. Rinna found this invitation particularly unsettling, recalling, 'I was like, "That's creepy." Most people would have jumped at it, right? It would have been like, "Honey, I'm going to Aspen!" And I'm like, "I'm going to stay at my parents' in Medford."'
However, Hamlin's unwavering dedication eventually broke through her defenses. 'I think that's what finally got me to open up. I talked to him and I got to know him and he's so smart and he's kind and he's a great human,' Rinna shared. This connection led to their wedding in 1997 and the birth of their daughters, Delilah Belle Hamlin, 27, and Amelia Gray Hamlin, 24.
Addressing Rumors and Celebrating Resilience
Rinna has recently been in the spotlight with the release of her memoir, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It, and her role on The Traitors. In her book, she leaves no topic untouched, including addressing long-standing rumors about her husband's sexuality. 'Let’s just clear this up one last time, once and for all: Harry’s heterosexual,' she wrote. 'He is not a gay man in any way, shape or form, not that there’s anything wrong with that.'
She first became aware of these rumors upon joining Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, noting that 'every husband’s sexuality was questioned at some point on that show.' Rinna attributed the speculation to Hamlin's good looks and sense of style, which she said often leads to such assumptions in Hollywood.
Hamlin's Career Challenges and Triumphs
The scrutiny over Hamlin's sexuality intensified after his role in the 1982 film Making Love, a groundbreaking gay love story that was controversial for its time. Rinna revealed that this role had a significant impact on his career, claiming he was 'blacklisted for several years afterward' in Hollywood. It was not until decades later that he booked a major studio role again, in the 2023 film 80 For Brady, where he played Jane Fonda's love interest.
Rinna expressed immense pride in her husband's resilience, praising him on Instagram for his tenacity. 'Talk about Tenacity and standing your ground and risk-taking and being a f---ing Stud!!! I'm so blessed and honored to be able to call myself his wife,' she wrote. Despite mixed reviews, Making Love is now considered a trailblazing film in cinematic history.
Today, Rinna and Hamlin stand as a testament to lasting love in Hollywood, overcoming initial doubts and external challenges to build a strong family foundation. Their story highlights the power of persistence and genuine connection in the face of fame and speculation.
