Shannen Doherty Tells Jason Priestley It Was “Hard” To Be On Time For ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ Because She Was In A “Horrible Marriage” To A “Massive Drug Addict”

Shannen Doherty is owning up to the part she played in her firing from Beverly Hills 90210. While reuniting with her TV twin Jason Priestley for her Let’s Be Clear podcast, the actress opened up about the turmoil going on in her personal life that ultimately led to her exit from the iconic ’90s drama.

Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh for the show’s first four seasons, said she was in a “horrible marriage” at the time things started to go awry behind the scenes of 90210.

“I don’t think anybody knew that my husband was a massive drug addict who would get incredibly violent at times and it was all-consuming for me,” she said. “I didn’t even want to leave the house because I was scared that he would go and get drugs.”

According to the star — who was married to Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994 — her relationship struggles made it “very hard” for her to “consistently be on time for work.” She acknowledged that it became “a very big problem” for the rest of her castmates since they would get stuck working longer days if she showed up late.

“It wasn’t anybody’s responsibility but mine but I sort of wish I had been sat down and sort of looked at and said, ‘Listen, the end result is going to be this. The end result is you are going to get fired because none of us are willing to put up with it anymore. And I understand that you have an issue in your personal life, but that also can’t bleed into work, you also have to get your shit together!'” she said.

Priestley, who played Doherty’s onscreen twin brother Brandon Walsh, told his former co-star that he wished he knew more about her personal life that way he could’ve managed the situation with “more compassion and more caring.”

But for him, the biggest question at the time was navigating the show — which centered on the twins — without Doherty.

“Of course, the hardest thing for me was the show was about Brandon and Brenda, it’s about the Walsh family, and all the sudden we’re gonna lose one of the members of the Walsh family,” he recalled. “How is that going to impact the show and how would we find a path to move forward with the show?”

Priestley continued, “So, it was incredibly hard for me and there were 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.”

Despite their regrets, Doherty took the full “blame” for the way things transpired.

“I don’t blame anyone else for what transpired and my ultimate firing,” she said. “I do blame myself because I should have had my personal life more together, I should have left a relationship earlier, I shouldn’t have been going out. “

She added, “I got definitely affected by the attention and all of a sudden I could go into a night club and it didn’t matter how old I was, I found it all very alluring and seductive. I fell into that trap then you add the personal issues.”

Doherty was ultimately written off the show ahead of Season 5, while Priestley held a full-time role for the first nine seasons before making a guest appearance in the tenth and final season.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.