Former 90210 Actress Opens up About Discovering Cut-up Photos Amid On-Set Drama
Kathleen Robertson has opened up about the challenging environment she encountered upon joining the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. In a recent episode of the Slice of Life podcast, the Canadian actress described her 1993 arrival on the hit teen drama as a super intimidating experience that left her feeling very nervous and very anxious.
Robertson, who initially joined the show in a recurring capacity during its fourth season, recalled that the set was far from the warm and fuzzy environment a newcomer might hope for. At the time, the series was a global phenomenon, and the established dynamic among the original cast members made it horribly difficult for outside actors to integrate into the fold.
One of the more unsettling moments she shared involved a discovery in the makeup trailer regarding her continuity Polaroids. Robertson recounted seeing her identification photos cut in half, a gesture she interpreted as a clear sign of hostility from an unknown individual on the production.
When she questioned the makeup artists about the sliced images, they appeared embarrassed and admitted they had been trying to shield her from the evidence of the behind-the-scenes friction. Despite the cold reception, Robertson maintained that she could take it and refused to let the tension derail her professional performance.
The experience had a lasting impact on her, particularly when she eventually moved into leadership roles on other sets. During her time as the female lead on the 2014 crime drama Murder in the First, Robertson said she was acutely aware of how difficult it is for somebody to come into an environment like that and made a conscious effort to be more welcoming to new guest stars.
While she found the overall atmosphere rough, she did highlight Tori Spelling as a notable exception. Robertson praised Spelling as being amazing, day one, warm, amazing, and welcoming, which helped soften the blow of the otherwise frosty reception from other colleagues.
The actress eventually decided to leave the show after three seasons, fearing that her professional growth would be stunted if she stayed in that specific environment. She recalled a distinct moment of clarity where she told herself that she had to get out of here to save her future career.
Since her time in the 90210 zip code, Robertson has successfully transitioned into a prolific career as both a dramatic actress and a screenwriter. She is widely recognized for her role as Hildy Mulligan in Murder in the First, where she starred alongside Taye Diggs as a San Francisco homicide inspector navigating complex, season-long investigations.
In recent years, she has made a significant impact as a writer and producer, developing the 2022 series Swimming with Sharks and working on a film adaptation of the novel Little Bee. Her television credits also include a main role in the final season of the sci-fi epic The Expanse and the Netflix drama Northern Rescue.
The history of the 90210 cast has long been a subject of public fascination, though recent years have seen many of the actors reconcile. Jason Priestley recently discussed his closure with the late Shannen Doherty, noting that they had said everything that they needed to say to each other before her passing in 2024.
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