BE! Beauty Entertainment issue #18 December 2011
Probably one of the most infamous "bad girls" in Hollywood, Shannen Doherty has spent most of her adult years fighting against the reputation that preceded her. Most of us first feel in love with her when she was just eleven years old and starred in TV's "Little House, a new beginning' and then "Our House". But it was one of her stints on "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed" that earned her the most fans, as well as the most scrutiny (being branded a difficult person to work with). Her upcoming foray in front of the cameras will be a venture into reality TV Her new back on TV, chronicling the planning and preparations of her wedding to photographer, Kurt Isvarinko, it's "Shannen Say's" and will be premiering on WETV (the Woman's entertainment channel) in 2012 . Talking to her before going to press with our cover story, Doherty admitted some regrets to BE!, she also refused to apologize for being a smart, strong woman. We talked about what it was like to be a child star, we talked about beauty advice, the "haters" and why she doesn't walk around naked...anymore.

How's married life treating you?

- Married life is amazing. It's weird, I didn't think anything would change because we've been together for three years, but for some reason, it does change. It's hard to define it. There's a sense of security, even a deeper partnership than before. Now it's "US", It's fantastic and we are loving it. There's a shift. You compromise more. It's more of a partnership.

What made you want to document the planning of your wedding?

- Well, for me it was a third marriage (laughs), But I never had a real wedding. Since Kurt is 'The One', I plan on being married to him forever. I knew I wanted a big wedding...I wanted to show the honest experience of what it's like planning a wedding in seven weeks, the pressure it puts on a couple. I know some couples who broke up because of it. I felt that I could show people that everyone goes through this. Everyone fights over everything and it has nothing to do with the relationship and everything to do with the pressure. I also wanted to document the event. I want to show my children, 'look at what mom and dad went through' with the proper cameras and crew, It was too good to pass up. Reality TV is something that I've alwats been fearful of. I am an actor first and foremost. I do like to play characters. Ad a one-off this is amazing - letting people get to know me. There are a lot of contradictions about me. Some people want to believe I'm the same girl I was in 1992. Some people are like 'Wow she grew up'. I want to be honest about how important my relationship is to me.

What was it like to be a star child?

- I was a kid in a ridiculously high-pressured business with lots of fame. I was growing up in public. I made gigantic mistakes - a few I'd like to take back. I'm better because of that now. I learnt from it. I am always going to be a strong person who stands up for what I believe in. There are people who don't like it. They want to bully you into being something that you're not so you have to get strong with them. Then they just say you're being difficult. Don't say that. It was 'forver' ago and I think people deep down know that, but they use my past as an excuse to get what they want. It gets frustrating. These are the people who I walk away from. Maybe you didn't grow up. Maybe you are the same person you were when you were 20, but I'm not.

What's the biggest change in you since the taping of 'Shannen Say's'?

- For myself and for my relationship nothing has changed. Kurt and I went in and did something with integrity and honesty. We think we did a great show. Now it's in the hands of other people. We sit here nervously now in hopes that things stay authentic. My biggest fear in doing this for eight episodes is that it's not going to be the truth...There's a huge backlash in Reality TV now. Scenes are so obviously staged. The public is very smart and I like to think that I've always given my audience credit for being dmart. (These shows) treat them like they're not... Also we stopped walking around in our underwear. For seven weeks the cameras were constantly there. For the first couple of days and first week you are aware of them and uncomfortable. Then you become friendly with the crew, they are in your house, part of your family. Then you start conducting yourself normally and when you get in an argument, you get in argument. When he sleeps in the guesthouse because we're in a fight, you see that. When we were on our honeymoon, we woke up and were like, 'Oh my god. There are no cameras! This is amazing'. It was an odd, different experience for both of us. And for Kurt it was like, 'What the hell did I agree to?'

What makes you feel the most beautiful?

- I feel my best when I'm healthy. When I'm going for hikes and doing things that keep me in shape, when I'm playing tennis - That's when I feel my best. I also feel my best when it's a photo shoot and my husband is the photographer. My make-up is done, my hair is done, I have a stylist and my husband is like 'WOW baby, you look beautiful'. When you are together for three years, you need to hear it. I believe in keeping yourself up. You don't go five days without shaving your legs, but you don't always look your best. It's normal and perfectly healthy. To have my husband look at me and say 'Wow'...It's reassuring. You feel sexy and you feel good. I'm also an odd one. I feel best when I'm really using my brain. That's one of the number one things Kurt says he fell in love with - how fast my brain works, how smart I am. That is, above all else, what makes me feel beautiful.

Do you have any embarrasing red carpet moments?

- Years ago I went to a white party and I wore a beautiful white shirt and it had ruffles in a certain area. I taped them down so they were covering my nipples. Later when I saw the pictures I saw they were not covered. The press was like 'Does Shannen Doherty wear a bra?!' Red carpets are a nightmare. They love to print the photo where your mouth is crooked from talking...They just love to print that one.
Is there a hairstyle you've always wanted to try, but never have? The Mia Farrow cut. I think Kurt would kill me. He loves my long hair. And it's sort of my security blanket. I can hide my face.

What is your style icon?

- There are a few people. I think Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn were amazing. I don't think anyone has done it as well as them - classic and elegant. They set trends. I admire that. There are always current day people who I look at and i'm like 'Wow! How do they do that?' like, Cate Blanchett. When you see her out she always looks amazing. Gwen Stefani is original and different and she has her own style. She pulls it off perfectly, but her look wouldn't work for everyone. And how could we forget to mention Sarah Jessica Parker?!

What are your beauty tips?

- I wash my hair every other day. I keep the dead ends trimmed myself. I'm lucky. I have very thick and strong hair. My mom preached to me forever and sunblock. My moisturizer has SPF 50. I make sure I never go to bed with makup on. One of my biggest beauty tips is not to over do it. You see these women with these gigantic lips. Not everyone is born that way. They are getting too big and too overdone and their faces are frozen. It's okay if you were born with thin lips. Be proud of them and wear them and love them. Everybody has different features that make you an individual. I get it. Angelina Jolie is one of the most beautiful women in the world. but no doctor can replicate what she has. When you try to replicate what someone else has it's ridiculous. Work with what you have. Why do you want to look like everyone else? It looks weird. You look through magazines and see these pillow lips. i just look at them and I'm like 'It's so oodd. It's so bizarre'.

What is the biggest misconception about you?

- That I'm a brat. That has always been the biggest misconception. You are always going to have haters. Anyone who has success has hater. It doesn't matter what business you are in, there;s going to be that guy who hates. I look and think 'don't you have better things to do with your time?' People like that, I don't care enough about to clear things up. They confuse intelligence and strength as bitch. But I'm sweet, my mom thinks I'm sweet and my husband thinks I'm sweet. I'm sorry if you feel inadequate. you know, the world would be so much better if we just worried about ourselves instead of hating on people.