The youngest of eight children,[2] Righetti was born on April 4, 1983, in St. George, Utah,[1] and raised in Nevada,[3] outside Las Vegas.

[3] After securing a role in the pilot for a proposed series by the name of No Place Like Home, she played a recurring character in the teen drama The O.C.,[2] was a regular in the primetime soap opera North Shore, and in late 2005, Righetti starred in Fox's drama series Reunion.

[2] In 2006, Righetti signed on to star as the female lead in horror sequel Return to House on Haunted Hill.

[2] Her 2012 to 2013 pregnancy was not reflected in her character's storyline, during which she was filmed using selective angles and largely limited to desk duty.

[9] Righetti starred in the 2021 holiday romance film Christmas at the Ranch, with Lindsay Wagner, Laur Allen, Archie Kao, and Dia Frampton, playing the character Kate.