Herald Sun
The Big Ask
Kyle Richards is a former child star who made her television debut on the series Little House on the Prairie. Most recently, Richards had a recurring role as Nurse Dori in ER.
Richards has a very different role on the reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. That cast also includes her sister Kim as well as Camille Grammer, ex-wife of Kelsey Grammer (Frasier, Cheers). Richards has four daughters with real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky and also is the aunt of socialites Paris and Nicky Hilton.
What made you decide to be on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?
I knew before going on to the show that it would be challenging, but I really saw it as a great opportunity. I thought it would be a wonderful adventure -- little did I know.
How did you cope with being on the same show with your sister Kim?
There was a lot of underlying tension between me and my sister for a long time. We were put in each other's faces in difficult situations. It was very difficult, on my entire family -- my other sister, Cathy, and my kids too.
Some of the women on the show are real estate clients of your husband. How did he feel about you appearing?
In the beginning, he wasn't concerned about business, but more about our lives changing in any way. We have a very normal life, a wonderful relationship with each other, and also our children. We were more concerned about that.
You and Camille don't get along . . .
We clash a lot. We have very different personalities, and she didn't understand me at all.
You seem like somebody who calls a spade a spade. What feedback have you had from viewers?
For the most part, I have received positive reactions from viewers. People respect me for speaking my mind, and young girls say that they hope they can learn to speak their mind. When signing on to a show like this, you really have to be willing to be yourself, otherwise you might as well have an acting job with a script.
A lot of people have fantasies about living in Beverly Hills. Is there a downside?
I think that viewers of the show will see that, no matter where you live and no matter what your job is, at the end of the day we all have the same problems in our lives and our relationships.
You've obviously done a lot of successful acting in the past. Have you had any acting offers as a result of being on the show?
There have been. That is definitely an upside.
What is it like being the aunty of Paris and Nicky Hilton?
To me, they're just Paris and Nicky. I'm very close with them. I was only 11 when Paris was born, so she's like the little sister I never had.