Shannen Doherty Tells Her Story To Us Weekly

August 30, 2008

Shannen Doherty gave an exclusive interview to Us Weekly magazine about her return to 90210 - she commented on the real reason she left 90210, Tori Spelling’s “lies”, and denies the legendary fistfight with co-star Jennie Garth.

On why she left Beverly Hills 90210:

I mean, God, it was time. For me, for everybody, to be honest. The character has hit a plateau. And I had personal things going on with my dad, as he’s had a lot of health issues. [Tom Doherty suffered a stroke when she was 10.] I couldn’t stay focused. My priority was my family.

Tori Spelling had said in her book, sTori Telling, “When Shannen left I felt the same as everyone else, like I could breath again.”

However, the show’s creator, Aaron Spelling said before he died “Shannen didn’t do anything wrong. It was the end of the fourth year. We were only picked up for one more year. She had some things she wanted to do. And the next thing I know, she’s the ‘bad girl of the world’”

On Tori Spelling’s “lies” about the fistfight between Jennie and Shannen:

We nver did. I think I would remember Jennie’s fist connecting with a part of my body or a part of my face. [In 1995, Garth told TV guide, “It never came to a pushing fight, but at times we probably wanted to slug each other.”] It just goes to show you how people will lie. I’m not quite sure what [Tori's] memories are. They’re incredibly different for the two girls who were supposedly once haveing this fistfight.

On being called “arrogant” and a “bad influence” in Tori’s book:

I thought it was funny. I didn’t read it, nor would I. My friends called me and said, “Oh, she said this and this.” Tori and I were friends, but along the way people grow in different directions. I did my thing, she did her thing, and that was pretty much it.

On her reunion with Jennie in the new 90210:

It was great. There was a feeling of comfort because it was like two people who have already been through a war together going into battle again. But the pressure isn’t on us: We were able to look at each other and think, These kids are in for a ride!

When you’re around someone five days a week for four years, you’re going to have a fight or two. But I can only speak for myself when I say that I’ve grown up and evolved. I didn’t go in thinking it would be strange. I don’t want any of that crap in my life. I’m here to do my job and that’s it.

On where Brenda Walsh is in the new 90210:

She’s a successful theater actor. She comes back to California to do a play. Brenda is beyond fighting over guys, all that angst she went through as a teenager has fallen by the wayside. She’s secure and happy.

Tags , 90210, Beverly Hills 90210, Brenda Walsh, Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty, Tori Spelling