Shannen Doherty.Photo:Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Shannen DohertyinvitedBeverly Hills, 90210costarJason Priestleyto look back on her sudden departure from the hit teen series.
On Monday’s episode of herLet’s Be Clear With Shannen Dohertypodcast, the actress opened up about the personal events that contributed to her behavior at the time and, ultimately, her exit from the series after season 4.
Doherty, 52, admitted to unprofessional demeanor on set in her her final days on90210, sharing that it had a lot to do with marital problems she was navigating with then-husbandAshley Hamilton, who she alleges — and who has himself since acknowledged — wasstruggling with drug addiction.
“I was in a really horrible marriage, and there were things that were transpiring in that marriage that made it really hard for me to be on time for work,” she explained, acknowledging that her costars often waited for her and worked longer days because she didn’t show up to work on time. “And I know that that became a very big problem for the rest of you, as it should be.”
Shannen Doherty.Vera Anderson/WireImage
Vera Anderson/WireImage
Doherty’s character, Brenda Walsh, was written off the show in 1994after frequent disturbances and interruptionson set. During the show’s season 5 premiere, fans found out that Walsh was moving to England to enroll in acting school.
Though she took full accountability for her actions, Doherty confessed she wished producers had pulled her aside to have an honest conversation about her behavior.
“It wasn’t anybody’s responsibility but mine, but I sort of wish I would have been sat down and sort of looked at and said, ‘Listen, the end result is going to be this, you are going to get fired and none of us are willing to put up with it anymore,'” she added. “And I understand that you have an issue in your personal life, but that also can’t bleed into work and you need to get your s— together!”
Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty and Brian Austin Green on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’.Everett
Everett
To the credit of the network executives, theCharmedactress noted she should have been more honest about what was going on in her personal life.
“I don’t think anybody knew thatmy father was super sick, and I don’t think anybody knew that my husband was a massive drug addict … and it was all-consuming for me,” she told Priestley, 54. “I didn’t even want to leave the house because I was scared that he would go and get drugs.”
Priestley admitted that the events leading to Doherty’s exit were also difficult for him to see unfolding. Waiting for her to show up on set and thehard conversationshe had with producersAaron Spellingand Paul Wagner had been difficult, but he shared that he wished Doherty had been more transparent about her struggles.
“I could have hopefully managed it with more compassion, and we only knew what we knew,” he said. “Of course the hardest thing for me was the show was about Brandon and Brenda, it’s about the Walsh family andHow is that going to impact the show?andHow would we find a path to move forward with the show?”
He added, “So, it was incredibly hard for me and there was so many unknowns, and I wish all of us had more knowledge about what was happening in your life so we could have dealt with your situation in a more compassionate way.”
Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’.Everett
Taking the “blame” for “what transpired and my ultimate firing,” Doherty admitted that she “should have had my personal life more together, I should have left a relationship earlier, I shouldn’t have been going out.”
Doherty and Hamilton were married from 1993 to 1994. She marriedRick Salomonin 2002, though the couple split a year later. The actresswedKurt Iswarienkoin October 2011 butfiled for divorcein April 2023.
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Beverly Hills, 90210can be streamed in full on Prime Video
source: people.com
