Nicollette Sheridan is a name that has remained synonymous with glamorous soap opera drama and the intricacies of Hollywood stardom. From her rise to fame as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing to her explosive role as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives, Sheridan’s career is a blend of high-profile roles, personal struggles, and ongoing fame. Yet, behind the glittering facade, Sheridan’s journey has been far from easy, especially when it comes to her relationships and her life today. Let’s take a deeper dive into the life of this 1980s bombshell and find out where she is now.
Sheridan’s breakout role came with the character Paige Matheson on the iconic soap opera Knots Landing, which was a spinoff of the hit show Dallas. The series first aired in 1979, but Sheridan didn’t join the cast until 1986. She was fresh off her role as John Cusack’s love interest in The Sure Thing and quickly made her mark on the show.
Playing Paige Matheson was a game-changer for Sheridan. Her portrayal of the strong, ambitious, and sometimes manipulative character gained widespread recognition. Viewers couldn’t get enough of her, as she showed both a nice and naughty side, making Paige one of the most complex and memorable characters in Knots Landing.
In 1990, her incredible performance earned her the Soap Opera Digest award for Outstanding Lead Actress. She was also named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” cementing her place as a household name in the late 1980s.
Nicollette Sheridan’s journey began long before her Knots Landing days. Born in England, Sheridan moved to the United States at the age of 10, growing up in the heart of Hollywood. Her mother, Sally Adams, was a famous actress, and her mother’s longtime partner was none other than actor Telly Savalas, known for playing Blofeld in the James Bond franchise.
Navigating Life in Hollywood as a young girl wasn’t always easy for Sheridan. She spent much of her youth perfecting her American accent, as her strong British tones often made her a target for teasing. By the time she landed her first significant roles, Sheridan had mastered the art of switching between accents—a skill that would serve her well in her acting career.
While Sheridan’s professional life flourished, her personal life has seen its fair share of turbulence, particularly in her romantic relationships. The England-born actress first married actor Harry Hamlin in 1991. However, their marriage lasted just 11 months before they divorced—a split that became a point of contention in the media.
The drama didn’t end there. Hamlin’s second wife, Lisa Rinna, later accused Sheridan of having an affair with singer Michael Bolton during her marriage to Hamlin. Sheridan has repeatedly denied these allegations, but the accusation led to a public feud on Twitter, with both Hamlin and Rinna calling her out. Regardless of the rumors, Sheridan and Bolton did date on and off starting in 1992, shortly after her divorce from Hamlin.
A Love Rekindled—Sheridan and Bolton reunited in 2005, and their relationship seemed stronger than ever. The couple even got engaged in 2006. However, they called it quits for good just two years later in 2008, ending their rocky, on-again-off-again romance for good.
In 2015, Sheridan married actor Aaron Phypers, but much like her first marriage, it was short-lived. The couple divorced after just six months. Interestingly, Phypers went on to marry Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards, further intertwining Sheridan’s life with reality TV drama.
Sheridan’s career took a new turn when she joined the cast of Desperate Housewives in 2004. Playing the role of Edie Britt, the beautiful and scheming neighbor, Sheridan once again wowed audiences with her ability to portray a character full of drama and complexity. However, her time on the show didn’t end smoothly.
Unexpected Departure—Sheridan’s character was abruptly killed off in 2009, and the actress later claimed that her firing was the result of her allegations against the show’s creator, Marc Cherry. Sheridan accused Cherry of physically assaulting her on set, leading to a high-profile lawsuit that dragged on for years. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed in 2017, but the drama surrounding her departure left a mark on her career.
Many fans of Desperate Housewives felt the show was never the same after Edie Britt’s exit, with some even refusing to watch it without her presence. Sheridan, too, was disappointed by how things ended, leading her to step back from high-profile roles for a while.
After the Desperate Housewives drama, Nicollette Sheridan took a break from the Hollywood limelight, choosing instead to focus on smaller projects that were close to her heart. She starred in several Hallmark Channel movies and even took on a role in the Dynasty reboot in 2017, playing the iconic character Alexis Carrington.
However, her time on Dynasty was cut short in 2019 when Sheridan chose to leave the show to care for her terminally ill mother. In an emotional statement, she explained her decision to step away from acting to prioritize family: “Working on Dynasty has been thoroughly enjoyable, but the chance to spend precious time with my terminally ill mother is more important to me right now.”
At 57, Sheridan has largely retreated from the public eye, focusing on her personal life and well-being. Although her years in the spotlight were filled with ups and downs, she remains a beloved figure for fans of Knots Landing and Desperate Housewives alike. Her ability to balance both career highs and personal challenges is a testament to her resilience.
A Legacy in Soap Opera History—Even though Nicollette Sheridan may no longer be on our screens regularly, her legacy as a soap opera star and Hollywood bombshell endures. From her iconic role as Paige Matheson to her time on Desperate Housewives, Sheridan continues to be remembered for her unforgettable contributions to television history.
Nicollette Sheridan’s life has been full of the drama we’ve come to expect from the characters she portrays. Her roles on Knots Landing and Desperate Housewives brought her fame, while her personal relationships kept her name in the headlines. Today, she’s focusing on what truly matters—family and passion projects—and she remains an iconic figure in Hollywood history.
