“Beverly Hills, 90210” star Tori Spelling is opening up about the recent death of her co-star Shannen Doherty.
Spelling, who played Donna Martin opposite Doherty’s Brenda Walsh on the teen soap opera, spoke about mourning the late actress on Tuesday’s episode of the “90210MG” podcast.
Doherty died July 13 at the age of 53 following a nearly 10-year battle with breast cancer.
Spelling said she was "not doing well" in the wake of Doherty’s death.
"For me I honestly, as you know, didn't want to do this. I just emotionally didn't feel ready,” Spelling said. “I know a lot of people are speaking out and giving lovely tributes to her in her memory, but I just, I obviously wanted to do this for the fans, so this episode is for them, not for us."
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Shannen Doherty dies of cancer:'Beverly Hills, 90210' star was 53
Alongside “90210” co-star Jennie Garth, the “Mystery Girls” actress got candid about Doherty’s health ordeal and their friendship.
While Doherty’s death didn’t come as a surprise, Spelling said the “Charmed” star’s resilience throughout her cancer battle made her passing difficult to process.
"I guess it was just that belief that she fought so hard and was such a warrior,” Spelling said. “And she has shown her entire life and career…that she can get past anything. … I guess she made you believe that she was the one that would make it, and she was so hopeful."
Spelling also briefly recalled her last conversation with Doherty. While she didn’t offer specifics on the interaction, Spelling said it gave her a sense of closure.
"I've had a lot of death in my life,” Spelling said. “And I don't believe in regrets, but I have a lot of regrets that I didn't have that time to have a second chance to get past stuff from the past and look at all the good things and really talk it out and have that last conversation.”
She added: “I feel like she and I had that, and I'm super grateful for that."
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Doherty’s death is the second major loss for the “Beverly Hills, 90210” clan. Luke Perry, who played Doherty’s TV beau Dylan McKay, died of a stroke in March 2019.
While Garth said she felt “fearful” about death following her co-star’s deaths, Spelling said her initial grief was different.
"I've spent my whole life living in fear and I've always been a fearful person, and I didn't feel fear at all when she passed. I just felt sad,” Spelling said. “I felt sad for the second chapter she had, and I was so excited for that chapter for her and wanted her so badly to have that."
Contributing: Brendan Morrow and Leora Arnowitz, USA TODAY
