With her new film "Jem and the Holograms," former teen star Molly Ringwald is now playing the sensible grown-up. But rarely was she more in mom mode than when she stepped in to direct a very special guest in the film: Her 12-year-old daughter Mathilda.
"She loves acting," Ringwald said during her visit to TODAY Monday. "We don't want her to do it professionally, but we really loved Jon [Chu, director] ... and so we did it. I filmed it, I actually directed her in it."
Mathilda (whose dad is writer-editor Panio Gianopoulos) doesn't have a big part in the film; in fact, it's more like a cameo. But for Ringwald, it was a dream come true: For once, she could actually make her daughter do what she asked!
"It's very daunting to direct your almost-teenage daughter," Ringwald admitted. "I think it's the only time that she's ever listened to me!"
For more, check out the video of Ringwald's visit!
"Jem and the Holograms" opens in theaters on Friday, Oct. 23.