Shannen Doherty extended an unexpected olive branch to her old enemy Alyssa Milano on an episode of the House of Halliwell podcast.
While speaking with Holly Marie Combs, the late actress, who died on Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer, applauded Milano’s performance in her hit series Charmed.
As the ladies reminisced about how the unaired pilot episode starred her and Combs alongside actress Lori Rom, who was originally cast to play Phoebe Halliwell (before being replaced by Milano), the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum reflected on how Milano brought a “different flavor” to the role.
“Lori and Alyssa are very, very, very different people. So Lori’s performance was different than Alyssa’s. Lori was a lot like Holly and I in that she had a very solid foundation for drama,” she recalled.
Doherty continued: “The performance was a lot more serious and dark, which was my style. So I loved the performance and I thought everyone was great.”
Shannen Doherty extended an unexpected olive branch to her longtime friend, Alyssa Milano, in an episode of the House of Halliwell podcast; seen in 2019
The Malibu native gushed that “when Alyssa came in, she provided a levity that” she felt “the show ended up needing.”
“She came in and did a great job,” he stressed, despite their history of confrontations.
The sweet words may come as a surprise to some, as Doherty previously revealed she left Charmed due to behind-the-scenes tensions with Milano.
Milano has denied reports that she got Doherty fired from Charmed in 2001.
Previously, Doherty, 52, accused Milano of creating “a weird divide” on the set of the fantasy drama series.
During an episode of Doherty’s Let’s Be Clear podcast, which aired last year, Combs claimed that Milano had given an ultimatum, which was the reason for Doherty’s departure from the show after three seasons.
She recalled a producer telling her, “Alyssa told us it was either her or (Shannen) and Alyssa threatened to sue us for a hostile work environment.”
After hearing comments from her former castmates, Milano took to Instagram to insist she “didn’t have the power to get anyone fired.”
While speaking to Holly Marie Combs, the late actress, who died on Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer, applauded Milano’s performance in her hit series Charmed (Milano seen in May 2024).
“I don’t know of another show that was as successful as Charmed was where the cast still speaks badly of the experience a quarter century later,” he wrote.
“For me, this happened 15 movies and 13 TV shows ago,” she continued. “It was 11 years before my 15-year marriage and 13 years before I had my first child. It was so long ago that any version of these stories by anyone is just revisionist history.”
He then noted that the evidence of what had happened was “documented.”
“I am absolutely certain that everything was documented, though. There was a professional mediator,” he explained, adding that he had been told that “Holly and Shannen would not be involved in any mediation.”
Milano concluded the statement by writing, “The studio, Aaron Spelling and the network made the decision to protect the international success that was Charmed… once Shannen left, we had five more successful seasons and I am forever grateful.”
Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, who played sisters on their hit series Charmed (pictured above) in the late 1990s.
Following Doherty’s passing, Milano released a heartfelt statement, obtained by Entertainment Weekly.
“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but underneath there was someone I deeply respected and admired,” Milano said. “She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”
Shannen passed away over the weekend after a nine-year battle with breast cancer.
Shannen’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, announced her death in a statement on Sunday: “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of battling the disease.”
‘The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones and her dog Bowie. The family asks for privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.’
Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh on the hit 90s show, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015; she was seen in 2016
Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh in the hit 1990s series, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.
Following the popular series, she starred in the witch drama Charmed. Doherty played Prue Halliwell, the eldest of the three witch sisters.
After directing several episodes of Charmed, Doherty left the series in 2001. She then moved on to reality television, appearing as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty.
Just two years later, the Charmed star revealed that the cancer had returned after going into remission.
At the time, she told Good Morning America: ‘In a matter of days or a week it will be known that I’m stage 4. So my cancer came back and that’s why I’m here.
“I don’t think I’ve processed it yet. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in many ways,” he said.
Doherty initially kept her diagnosis a secret, but after her co-star Luke Perry died suddenly at age 52 in 2019, she spoke out about her health battle.