Denise Richards returns to ‘the bold and the beautiful’ after four-year hiatus

Denise Richards is stepping back into daytime drama, returning to The Bold and the Beautiful after a four-year hiatus and describing the experience as a seamless reunion with the long-running soap.

Richards, 55, will reprise her role as Shauna Fulton in the episode airing Thursday, May 28. Speaking about her return, she said the transition back to set felt natural despite the time away.

“It’s nice to be back,” she said in an exclusive interview. “It feels like I never left. It’s such a great family environment, and I love my character. She likes to cause a little trouble.”

In her return episode, Shauna is seen reconnecting with Bill Spencer, played by Don Diamont, and his son Wyatt, played by Darin Brooks, at Spencer Publications. The scene teases Shauna’s signature blend of charm and ambition as she navigates familiar faces and new opportunities in the business world.

Richards said rejoining a cast that has worked together for years can often feel intimidating, but credited the show’s supportive environment for making her return smooth.

“Everyone’s just very embracing and very supportive,” she said. “The actors I was working with made it so much easier to step back in.”

She also noted how enjoyable it was to return alongside Brooks, who recently rejoined the series himself.

“I loved that Darin was returning too,” she said. “We’re light and fun, so we’ll see where we go.”

Richards first joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2019 after earlier auditioning for soap roles, including General Hospital. She recalled initially being overwhelmed by the fast-paced production style when she started.

On her first day, she was handed more than 50 pages of dialogue. “I had a little panic moment of, ‘How am I going to do this?’” she said.

She credited fellow actress Rena Sofer for offering advice that helped her adapt to the demanding schedule, encouraging her to focus on one scene at a time rather than the full script.

Looking back, Richards now praises the soap format as one of the best training grounds for actors.

“It moves fast, there’s so much dialogue, and it teaches you discipline,” she said. “It’s a very well-oiled machine.”

Alongside her return to daytime television, Richards hinted at additional projects in development, calling this phase of her career “a whole new chapter.”

“I’ve always had such a passion for it,” she said. “I’m glad I’m still working.”