Nicollette Sheridan first gained fame for her role as Paige Matheson on the classic soap opera Knots Landing, and later became a fan-favorite villain, Eddie Britt, on Desperate Housewives.
However, what many fans don’t know is the story behind her tumultuous relationships and how this 1980s bombshell looks today.
Nicollette Sheridan made a stunning impact on the small screen as the beautiful, cunning, and manipulative Paige Matheson in Knots Landing, a spinoff of Dallas. The show debuted in 1979, but Sheridan joined in 1986, staying with the series for seven years. She came to the role after starring as John Cusack’s love interest in the movie The Sure Thing.
As Paige Matheson, Sheridan showcased both the sweet and the devious side of her character, which still leaves a lasting impression on fans.
“Paige is different. She’s strong, ambitious, bright, and mischievous,” Sheridan explained, reflecting on her portrayal.
Not only did the stunning blonde capture the public’s admiration, but she also earned the 1990 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. At the same time, she was named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”
Nicollette Sheridan grew up in Hollywood, surrounded by her famous mother, actress Sally Adams, and her mother’s partner, Blofeld actor Telly Savalas. Although born in England, she moved to the United States at age 10. Her British accent remained prominent for years—until she worked hard to perfect an American one.
“All the kids used to make fun of me for it, and I hated it. So, I practiced every day, speaking with an American accent, and pretty much mastered it,” she shared with the Tampa Bay Times in 1988.
Known also for her role on Dynasty, Nicollette Sheridan is among many Hollywood stars who’ve faced difficulties in marriage.
Now 57, the English-born actress first wed actor Harry Hamlin, 69, in 1991. Their marriage ended after just 11 months, with the reasons sparking public controversy.
Hamlin’s second wife, Lisa Ramlin (57), later accused Sheridan of having an affair with singer Michael Bolton. She revealed this on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a claim that Sheridan has adamantly denied.
Sheridan maintains that her divorce from her first husband was due to completely different reasons, though it sparked a public feud on Twitter, with Hamlin defending his second wife and accusing Sheridan of lying.
Regardless, it’s widely known that Sheridan and singer Michael Bolton did have an on-and-off relationship starting in 1992, shortly after her divorce. The couple dated for five years, broke up, then reconciled in 2005. They got engaged in 2006 but called it off just two years later.
After her split from Bolton, Sheridan married Aaron Phypers. Their marriage lasted only six months before they divorced.
In a similar pattern, Phypers later married Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards in 2018.
During this period, Sheridan also faced professional struggles. Her character on Desperate Housewives, Edie Britt, was unexpectedly killed off, and she claimed her firing stemmed from her accusations against the show’s creator, Marc Cherry.
Many fans believe the show lost its spark without Edie Britt, with some even stopping their viewership after her departure.
Sheridan accused Marc Cherry of physically assaulting her and subsequently filed a lawsuit against him after she was pushed off the show.
The actress also alleged that Cherry was abusive and hostile toward other actors and writers, but the lawsuit was dismissed in 2017.
At this point in her career, Sheridan understandably stepped back from the limelight, focusing on smaller passion projects. She appeared in several Hallmark Channel movies and took on a role in the Dynasty reboot in 2017.
However, her character on Dynasty was written off in 2019 when Sheridan decided to spend more time with her ailing mother.
“Working on the Dynasty reboot and reprising the iconic role of Alexis has been thoroughly enjoyable, but the opportunity to spend precious time with my terminally ill mother is my priority right now,” she shared with TV Line in 2019.
