Lisa Rinna admits she was ‘freaked out’ by Harry Hamlin’s efforts to woo her

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They’re one of Hollywood’s strongest couples.

Lisa Rinna initially hesitated to date Harry Hamlin when he first showed interest in her.

Though they’ve been married for almost 30 years and have two daughters, Rinna recently shared that she was initially surprised and a little scared when her now-husband first showed interest in her.

She mentioned during a recent talk at 92NY, as reported by People magazine, that she was in Medford, Oregon for Christmas when he called.

Rinna, 62, was in disbelief that an actor as famous as Hamlin, 74, would be attempting to woo her.

To be honest, I was really intimidated by him. He was a huge star then, known from shows like LA Law, and had even been married to Nicolette Sheridan. It all felt very overwhelming, and I didn’t think I was on his level.

Hamlin called her constantly for two weeks and even asked her to spend Christmas with him in Aspen, but she felt very uncomfortable with the invitation.

She remembered thinking it was really unsettling. Most people would have reacted strongly, maybe even left town immediately, she said. But she calmly decided to stay with her parents in Medford instead.

But Hamlin’s consistent phone calls eventually won her over.

She explained that connecting with him was a turning point. Getting to know him – discovering how intelligent and genuinely kind he is – really allowed her to open up and share her feelings.

The couple married in 1997 and are now parents to two daughters: Delilah Belle Hamlin, age 27, and Amelia Gray Hamlin, 24.

Rinna has recently gained a lot of attention thanks to her new memoir, ‘You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It,’ and her role in the popular show ‘The Traitors’.

She’s left nothing off the table in her memoir – including addressing rumors her husband is gay.  

Okay, seriously, can we finally put this to rest? Harry is straight, absolutely straight! I mean, there’s been so much speculation, but he’s not gay, not even a little bit. And honestly, even if he was, it wouldn’t matter, but people just need to know he’s not! I’m just saying, it’s the truth, and I need everyone to understand!

She didn’t know about the gossip until she started filming Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. ‘I always assumed people would say anything to bother me, so I didn’t worry about it,’ she explained. ‘My usual response was just, ‘What’s your problem?’

Rinna wrote that ‘every husband’s sexuality was questioned at some point on that show.’

I’ve noticed a frustrating pattern in Hollywood – if a man is attractive and dresses well, people immediately jump to questioning his sexuality. It’s a really unfair assumption, and honestly, a bit tiring. It seems like having any sense of style automatically invites that speculation, which is just not okay.

Hamlin’s sexuality faced scrutiny following the release of Making Love, Rinna said.

‘Mainstream films about gay men are still rare today, but back then it was unheard of,’ she said.

But the movie was apparently detrimental to Hamlin’s acting career.

Rinna said that Hamlin faced years of difficulty finding work in Hollywood, only landing a significant role with a major studio many years later.

Despite any previous reservations, Rinna is happy her husband was in the movie, which she once called innovative and important.

Lisa Rinna shared her excitement on Instagram after her husband landed a significant acting role in the 2023 movie 80 For Brady, where he played the love interest of Jane Fonda.

I want to tell you a quick story about my husband. Forty years ago, he was in a movie called ‘Making Love’ for 20th Century Studios. It was a really important film – one of the first to tell a gay love story, and it caused quite a stir. Now, after all these years, Harry is finally starring in another studio film.

Okay, let me tell you, my husband, Harry Hamlin, is a total inspiration! Forty years since working with a major studio, and he’s still going strong. It takes incredible determination, courage to take risks, and honestly, a lot of confidence to keep pursuing your passion after all this time. I feel so lucky and proud to be his wife – congratulations, Harry!

The movie opened to mixed reviews, but is considered trailblazing.

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2026-03-02 03:20