
Michael Kovac/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Denise Richardsovercame her initial fears to appear onSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
The actress, 53, admitted that she originally “passed” on the opportunity to compete on the second season of the Fox bootcamp-style reality series before agreeing to join the cast for the upcoming third season.
“It was an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before, very challenging and completely out of my comfort zone,” she shared during an interview withE! News. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done and I was scared to death to do it. I actually passed on season 2 because I saw season 1 and I said ‘there’s no way.'”
She added: “And then [I’m] grateful they asked me for season 3, but it was challenging.”
Denise Richards with her daughters.Tommaso Boddi/Getty; Instagram

Tommaso Boddi/Getty; Instagram
Despite her initial reservations, she learned that “I’m stronger than I thought," adding, “But, I wish that I was stronger.”
“I learned that when you put your mind to do something, even if you go as far as you can go, at least trying,” she said. “I think that’s something also important for my kids to see too.”
While the show may teachThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsalum’s daughters —Sami, 20, Lola, 19, and Eloise, 13— an important lesson, they were not “not very happy” that Richards agreed to do the show.
While Richards was “in the gym every single day” for three weeks ahead of the show, she shared that her daughters had their doubts about the competition, explaining, “My daughters were terrified. They did not want me to do it. They [thought] that I was maybe not gonna make it home."
Richards shares her older daughters, Sami and Lola, with her ex-husbandCharlie Sheen. She later adopted Eloise in 2011, and her current husband,Aaron Phypers, began the process oflegally adopting Eloisefollowingtheir surprise Malibu weddingin 2018.
Denise Richards and her daughter, Sami Sheen.Instagram/ deniserichards

Instagram/ deniserichards
Richards previously told PEOPLE thather daughters were “very upset”when signed on for season 3.
“They did not want me to do it,” she recalled. “They were afraid I was going to get hurt or get killed, and they were actually really angry. It was the first time of all the times I’ve done different projects or traveled they were very upset with me.”
Denise Richards in ‘Special Forces’ Season 3.Pete Dadds / FOX

Pete Dadds / FOX
Still, Richards says she was up for the task and ready to go beyond her comfort zone.
“I thought, ‘This is the most challenging thing I’ll ever do, and why not do it?’” she continued. “I was terrified, but once I made the commitment to do it, I was there.”
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Special Forces: World’s Toughest Testseason 3 premieres with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
source: people.com