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Denise Richards Breaks Her Silence

A dancing DENISE RICHARDS was in Las Vegas Friday night prancing around with those saucy "Pussycat Dolls" -- and our JANN CARL was with her for a revealing interview, airing on tonight's ET!

She opens up to Jann about how recent events have changed her, saying, "I was always a people pleaser and I just finally got to the point in my life after having my daughters and going through a really ugly divorce, and ... my mother [being] sick with cancer, that I've just gotten to the point where life is so short and I just want to be happy."

Following her new mantra, Denise was happy to play MC for the sizzling dance troupe as they celebrated the Pussycat Dolls Lounge's one-year anniversary at Caesars Palace, with resident record-spinner DJ AM providing the musical sound at PURE nightclub.

"It's fantasy, it's costumes, it's fun. I'm excited," she said before the show.

The gorgeous actress has been under more than her fair share of the media glare this year, first due to her divorce proceedings with CHARLIE SHEEN, and most recently due to her reported romance with rocker RICHIE SAMBORA -- who split earlier this year from Denise's former friend HEATHER LOCKLEAR.

Denise says that her new relationship was the "last thing I was looking for," adding, "it's true when they say things happen when you least expect it."

She confesses that dealing with the rumors hasn't been easy, "The thing with Heather, that's been hard ... you know you can't help who you fall for and that friendship, unfortunately, was done and wasn't salvageable."

She says, "People have gone on ... would you date your best friend ['s husband]? You know she wasn't my best friend. She was a close friend in the last couple of years -- I hadn't known her my whole life [like] people [are] portraying this."

She finishes, "[It's] been tough having people think that I'm such a crappy friend -- because if we were friends I wouldn't be in this situation."

On rumors that she and Richie got together before their respective marriages were kaput, Denise says, "I get why people have been hurt in this situation -- you know, it's not good but it is what it is." But she stresses that both her and Richie's former relationships were over before they got together: "We didn't meddle in marriages and anything like that."

As for her marriage to Charlie, Denise originally filed for divorce on March 2, 2005, but the two reconciled for a short time later in the year. Last January, they decided to continue with divorce plans.

Just last week, the court extended a restraining order Denise filed against Charlie back in April, which included numerous allegations against him.

Charlie has called her claims a "heinous document of fiction," but for now, the actor must stay 300 yards away from Denise and their two daughters, SAM and LOLA, except during supervised visits with the children.

Regarding the allegations made in court papers, Denise says, "Unfortunately the thing with Charlie and I -- that was a court document that became public. I didn't hand it to a tabloid and say, 'Here, print this.' And it's sad, and it's horrible that it's gotten to the point that it's gotten to."

Denise says that she's just taking it one day at a time these days, and that "between getting a divorce and all the tabloid stuff and now my mom being ill, it's just too much -- so I'm just enjoying the moment, enjoying what's great in life."

She did say that she was happy for BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE when they had their daughter SHILOH, but for a unique reason, "I was so thankful that Angelina had that baby... I'm like, 'Please have that baby so it takes [the focus] away from us!'"

Watch tonight's ET for more dish from Denise!

Denise Richards Talks About Ending Friendship With Heather Locklear

Denise Richards is saddened her relationship with former pal Heather Locklear's estranged husband Richie Sambora has ended their friendship, but insists "you can't help who you fall for." Richards and estranged husband Charlie Sheen regularly socialized with Locklear and the Bon Jovi guitarist until the respective couples split earlier this year.

The actress started dating Sambora in April - three months after filing for divorce from Sheen and her friendship with Locklear has now floundered.

Speaking to "Entertainment Tonight," Richards says, "You know, the four of us were friends, so it's not just odd for her. I mean, Charlie knew Richie, but it's always the women who get the brunt of it all! You can't help who you fall for. And that friendship (with Locklear), unfortunately, was done and wasn't salvageable and that's the thing. People have gone on, 'Oh, would you date your best friend's ex?' You know, she wasn't my best friend. She was a close friend in the last couple of years. I hadn't known her my whole life. We did not get together during a marriage ... (but people) have been hurt in this situation. It's not good, but it is what it is."

Denise Richards airs her thoughts on love

"You can't help who you fall for," Denise Richards says about her romance with Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.
In a two-part interview airing tonight and Tuesday on Entertainment Tonight, Richards, 35, talks about her complicated love life. In January, the actress re-filed for divorce from Charlie Sheen, 40, and in April, she filed court papers accusing him of being abusive and addicted to drugs, gambling and teen porn. Last week, a judge extended until June 28 a restraining order requiring Sheen to stay at least 300 yards from Richards. The couple have two daughters, Lola, 1, and Sam, 2.

Soon after Richards filed those papers, reports linked her to Sambora, 46, who is in the middle of a divorce from Heather Locklear, 44. Locklear and Sambora have one daughter, Ava, 8. The couples were neighbors and friends.

"It's not good, but it is what it is," Richards tells ET, and adds that her friendship with Locklear "wasn't salvageable" when she and Sambora started dating. Richards also questions the media's focus on her and Locklear. "The four of us were friends, so it's not just odd for her. Charlie knew Richie, but it's always the women who get the brunt of it."

Richards also says she has enjoyed a break from being front-page news in celebrity tabloids: "I was so thankful that Angelina (Jolie) had that baby."

Denise Richards Sad About Heather Locklear

HOLLYWOOD - Denise Richards is saddened her relationship with former pal Heather Locklear's estranged husband, Richie Sambora, has ended their friendship, but insists "you can't help who you fall for."

Richards and estranged husband Charlie Sheen regularly socialized with Locklear and the Bon Jovi guitarist until the respective couples split earlier this year.

The Wild Things actress started dating Sambora in April--three months after filing for divorce from Sheen and her friendship with Locklear has now floundered.

Speaking to TV show Entertainment Tonight, Richards says, "You know, the four of us were friends, so it's not just odd for her. I mean, Charlie knew Richie, but it's always the women who get the brunt of it all!

"You can't help who you fall for.

"And that friendship (with Locklear), unfortunately, was done and wasn't salvageable and that's the thing. People have gone on, 'Oh, would you date your best friend's ex?' You know, she wasn't my best friend. She was a close friend in the last couple of years. I hadn't known her my whole life.

"We did not get together during a marriage... (but people) have been hurt in this situation. It's not good, but it is what it is."

Richards Delighted for Jolie and Pitt
Actress Denise Richards is delighted Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have welcomed their new daughter, Shiloh Nouvel--because it’s taken the media's attention away from her messy divorce from Charlie Sheen.

The former Bond girl filed for divorce from Sheen in January and is seeking custody of their two daughters, Lola and Sam. In divorce papers, Richards alleges the Spin City star pushed, shoved and threatened to kill her.

In recent months, Richards has embarked on a new relationship with her former pal Heather Locklear's estranged husband, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

On tonight's episode of Entertainment Tonight, Richards enthuses, "I was so thankful that Angelina had that baby. And how gorgeous is she?

"I'm like, please have that baby so it takes it away from us!"