signed on as a full-time cast member,” said Spelling, before teasing her departure. “When it happens, I’ll tell you the exact story because I was right there. Oh boy.”
Garth, who played Kelly Taylor during this era of the show, eagerly responded: “Oh my God, I can’t wait!”
The Writing and Swank’s Performance
During the episode, podcast producer Amy Sugarman shared her perspective on Swank’s performance in the series. Sugarman admitted that she had previously thought Swank was not good during a specific scene but acknowledged that this view came from a misunderstanding.
“I always thought that Hilary Swank was bad at this part,” said Sugarman, “That was always sort of my notion looking back on it, remembering, ‘Oh, Hilary Swank was not good.’ It’s not that she wasn’t good. She actually is good. It’s that they wrote her so ridiculously.”
In one particular scene, Sugarman described how Swank’s character “comes in hot” without a full introduction, making for an awkward interaction with other characters.
“She’s kind of awful from the start,” explained Sugarman. “Who’s coming up to some dad that’s just trying to help a kid and being like, ‘Why are you touching my kid?'”
However, Spelling defended Swank’s performance in this particular scene, stating: “I didn’t think the writing was great… but I liked it that she was like, ‘Get your hands off him.’ If you’re a mom and there’s a grown man on your kid’s shoulder?”
Swank’s Career After ‘90210’
Despite leaving ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ after only 16 episodes, Swank’s acting career continued to thrive. The actress went on to star in critically acclaimed films like “Million Dollar Baby”, earning her an Oscar for Best Actress.
Swank herself reflected on the decision to leave the show in a 2024 interview with Guy Raz: “I thought, ‘Wow, I’m not good enough to be on this show that’s way past the heyday with Luke Perry and all the hype.’ But I think the funny thing is… it was a beautiful reminder that fate doesn’t work in such mysterious ways. If you trust—really trust—what’s happening when one door closes… I got ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ two months later.”
This statement highlights Swank’s resilience and adaptability, showcasing how the series may have inadvertently prepared her for future roles.
