Kelly Ripa on Why She Doesn't Act Much Anymore - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 12-12-2025, 06:32 PM

Kelly Ripa Explains Emotional Reason Why She Doesn't Act Much Anymore (Exclusive)
by Joey Nolfi
December 12, 2025

Kelly Ripa, a queen of contemporary morning TV, is no stranger to getting into character — as evidenced by Live With Kelly and Mark's annual Halloween show — but as the seasoned All My Children and Hope & Faith actress tells Entertainment Weekly in an exclusive interview from the Live set, there's a reason she hasn't returned to full-time acting during her talk show reign.

"I try not to act so much anymore," Ripa, 55, explains to EW on a frigid December morning inside Live's New York City studio. She and husband Mark Consuelos, 54, have cohosted their daily daytime talk series for nearly three years, while Ripa is 24 years in on the iconic show, having started in 2001 alongside the late Regis Philbin.

As she prepares to launch the talk show's "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" special segments next week (including Friday's annual Holiday Sweater Contest), Ripa clarifies, "It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, it’s not that I don’t love it. But I really am devoted to this show and my [Let's Talk Off Camera] podcast."

While Consuelos, who first met his future wife on the set of All My Children before they married in 1996, regularly appears in film and TV projects amid cohosting Live (9-1-1, Riverdale, The Girls on the Bus), Ripa has been selective about parts that might take her away from her family since permanently joining Live in February 2001.

"I feel like my plate is full. Also, we have three adult kids, and I like to be present in their endeavors," Ripa tells EW. "Our daughter [Lola] is now starting to perform in the music scene in London, so I like to be able to be present if she needs or wants me there."

Ripa has, however, taken at least one leading role during her run on Live. She fronted the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith, which costarred Faith Ford and ran from 2003 to 2006.

While she enjoyed the sitcom, part of that experience, Ripa reflects, was a "hard job" balancing daily tapings in front of a live audience with her talk show duties. "When you’re an actor, your schedule is not your own," says Ripa.

(She has taken on small guest appearances since then on Ugly Betty, Hannah Montana, 30 Rock, Broad City, and opposite Consuelos on an episode of Riverdale)

While she hasn't headline a scripted TV series since Hope & Faith, she tells EW that the experience of working on the sitcom emboldened her to protect her peace on future sets, as she and Ford implemented a "no a--hole" policy on set that holds true on Live.

"We very quickly became super aligned in the fact that she had great people she always worked with, and I always had great people I always worked with. We combined that energy," Ripa recalls. "If there’s any agitators, we just didn’t tolerate it!"

https://ew.com/why-kelly-ripa-doesnt...ymore-11867539

12-12-2025, 06:32 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,275	Kelly Ripa on Why She Doesn't Act Much Anymore Kelly Ripa Explains Emotional Reason Why She Doesn't Act Much Anymore (Exclusive) by Joey Nolfi December 12, 2025 Kelly Ripa, a queen of contemporary morning TV, is no stranger to getting into character — as evidenced by Live With Kelly and Mark's annual Halloween show — but as the seasoned All My Children and Hope & Faith actress tells Entertainment Weekly in an exclusive interview from the Live set, there's a reason she hasn't returned to full-time acting during her talk show reign. "I try not to act so much anymore," Ripa, 55, explains to EW on a frigid December morning inside Live's New York City studio. She and husband Mark Consuelos, 54, have cohosted their daily daytime talk series for nearly three years, while Ripa is 24 years in on the iconic show, having started in 2001 alongside the late Regis Philbin. As she prepares to launch the talk show's "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" special segments next week (including Friday's annual Holiday Sweater Contest), Ripa clarifies, "It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, it’s not that I don’t love it. But I really am devoted to this show and my [Let's Talk Off Camera] podcast." While Consuelos, who first met his future wife on the set of All My Children before they married in 1996, regularly appears in film and TV projects amid cohosting Live (9-1-1, Riverdale, The Girls on the Bus), Ripa has been selective about parts that might take her away from her family since permanently joining Live in February 2001. "I feel like my plate is full. Also, we have three adult kids, and I like to be present in their endeavors," Ripa tells EW. "Our daughter [Lola] is now starting to perform in the music scene in London, so I like to be able to be present if she needs or wants me there." Ripa has, however, taken at least one leading role during her run on Live. She fronted the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith, which costarred Faith Ford and ran from 2003 to 2006. While she enjoyed the sitcom, part of that experience, Ripa reflects, was a "hard job" balancing daily tapings in front of a live audience with her talk show duties. "When you’re an actor, your schedule is not your own," says Ripa. (She has taken on small guest appearances since then on Ugly Betty, Hannah Montana, 30 Rock, Broad City, and opposite Consuelos on an episode of Riverdale) While she hasn't headline a scripted TV series since Hope & Faith, she tells EW that the experience of working on the sitcom emboldened her to protect her peace on future sets, as she and Ford implemented a "no a--hole" policy on set that holds true on Live. "We very quickly became super aligned in the fact that she had great people she always worked with, and I always had great people I always worked with. We combined that energy," Ripa recalls. "If there’s any agitators, we just didn’t tolerate it!" https://ew.com/why-kelly-ripa-doesnt...ymore-11867539