Celebrity Gossip
Doherty’s new ZIP code
Tribune Media Services
Updated: 10/10/08 7:15 AM
“ ‘I couldn’t breathe, I started having an anxiety attack,’ Doherty says, shuddering. Her Irish brow crinkles into slight worry lines that make her look her age, which is 37.”
This is practically the first sentence in the new Details magazine profile on actress Shannen Doherty.
Let’s consider this — her brow furrows and she “looks her age.” All 37 years. Quick, put her down, now, before she hits 40!
To be honest, the piece itself, written by Stephen Rodrick, is sympathetic, though it is titled, “The B----Is Back.” But I was thrown off by the awkwardness of that opening sentence, and the negativity it implied. Is it any wonder that actresses are now Botoxing their faces at age 20, just to make sure no sign of crinkling, furrowing or humanity are revealed? (There’s nothing wrong with looking 37.)
But judging by her mellow tone here — and in several other recent interviews — the star herself is unlikely to worry her forehead over — her worried forehead.
Shannen, once our favorite wild child, is back in a big way, thanks to the new “Beverly Hills 90210” TV series. She reprises her iconic character, Brenda Walsh, now an (more or less) adjusted adult, relating to the new kids in the ZIP code. Doherty’s high times and misdemeanors are behind her. At her juicy peak, Shannen was accused of trying to run over a boyfriend. Her response? “If I’d really wanted to run him over, I wouldn’t have missed!” There have also been several tempestuous marriages, but ... no regrets.
Years ago, after Shannen left the original “90210” series, during an especially colorful period of publicity, I interviewed her. She had been portrayed as so out-of-control, such a b-----and such a demanding diva, I was somewhat sorry I’d agreed to meet with her, especially at the convenient El Rio Grande restaurant right downstairs in my building. What if she had already started on the margaritas?!
I entered the restaurant tentatively. Suddenly, she was there, having arrived early. She was standing at the bar drinking a Diet Coke. She was tiny, fresh-faced and nothing at all like the oxygen-sucking virago I’d expected. She was sweet and vulnerable and her emotions were close to the surface. I liked her. She seemed sincere, though I knew I was in the presence of an actress making her case to the media. (I’m not an investigative journalist; I don’t meet with stars to argue the finer points of their point of view. Later, if they screw up or contradict themselves, I’ll chime in, maybe.) Hard to believe that was 14 years ago!
I’m glad Shannen survived her youth, and is thriving in her prime. I also enjoyed her attitude on returning to the role that made her infamous; she was persuaded by the onslaught of positive fan mail. She says, “Today, I can pay my mortgage and ride my horses because of those fans. This is how I can repay them.” So refreshing!
•••
The other night in London, Daniel Craig (James Bond) didn’t appear at the “Tribute to Ian Fleming” with his usual girl, American movie producer Satsuki Mitchell. His date was his mother, Olivia.
We’ll be seeing Daniel soon in the film with the incredible title “Quantum of Solace.” I can just hear people saying, “Let’s go see “Kumquat of Solemn” or whatever it is ... er, you know, the James Bond movie!”
Sir Roger Moore was there, saying he’d been voted “the worst Bond ever — yes, it’s on the Internet. I had too much fun and didn’t take .007 seriously.”
You can read about it in Moore’s delightful new book, out in November, “My Word Is My Bond.”
