Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Gabrielle Carteris drew a sharp reaction from viewers after openly revisiting the deception she used to win a place on the iconic teen drama.
Carteris was 29 when she tried out for the role of Andrea Zuckerman, the studious 16-year-old high school student on the hugely popular 1990s series.
To improve her odds of being cast, she claimed she was 21 — a risky move that ultimately worked and led to the role that remains the most recognizable of her career.
As the show became a breakout hit, its young cast faced intense public attention, and Carteris’ real age eventually came to light.
Now 65, she recounted the story on the podcast Still Here Hollywood – and was mercilessly savaged by the commenters on an Instagram clip.
Fans were quick to poke fun at the revelation. One joked that she “auditioned to be on Golden Girls the same day as 90210” and that “Betty White got her part,” while another said they thought Carteris “played a teacher or parent” because she “looked like she was 40 years old on 90210.”
(top row) Gabrielle Carteris, Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, (bottom row) Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty are pictured on Beverly Hills, 90210
(left to right) Spelling, Garth, Carteris and Doherty appear in a 1990 publicity photo for the series, created by Darren Star, who later became known for Sex and the City
Another viewer remarked that “by season 4 she looked her age,” adding that Andrea seemed “more like everyone’s great aunt making stews in her apartment than a 19 year old college student.”
‘Jesus. Lied we all knew she was 40 trying to play an 18 year old and we made fun of it then. Terrible casting,’ another grumbled.
‘I’m sorry. Everybody knew she was 30. Luke Perry was old, too, but does she really think we didn’t know? Who’s going to tell her?’ snorted yet another.
Others shared reactions like: ‘lol we all knew she was older but didn’t care,’ and: ‘I mean she looked so much older than the rest of the cast.’
During her podcast appearance, Carteris reflected that she had ‘been at work where, you know, you look too old, you look too young. It’s never just about necessarily the quality, or hasn’t been about the quality of my work.’
She remembered that she ‘ran away from my age so early, because I always looked young. And that was the thing I didn’t tell the truth about when I got 90210, so now I’m past that time and I’m gonna say: “Yes, I’m 65.”‘
Created by Darren Star, who went on to mastermind such hit shows as Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, the show made stars out of a cast.
Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering and the late Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty became teen idols on the series.
ALSO READ: World Cup Fans Say Henry and Zlatan Appear Frustrated With Lalas
Carteris is pictured at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium attending the Screen ACtors Guild Awards in 2020, when she was the president of SAG-AFTRA
Carteris, pictured in 2022, was 29 years old when she auditioned for the role of 16-year-old high school girl Andrea Zuckerman on the hit 1990s series
Now 65, she recounted the story on the podcast Still Here Hollywood – and was mercilessly savaged by the commenters on an Instagram clip
Nestled among them was Carteris, who had eagle-eyed audience members scratching their heads as to the truth about her age.
‘When I got the role, a lawyer told me I could sign a contract and state a different age, as long as it was over the age of 21,’ she confessed a few years ago to People.
‘When [my real age] did come out, the show was just starting to take off and my character was established enough that they did not fire me. But a producer did say to me: “You’re lucky we didn’t know your age when we hired you.”‘
Carteris starred on the first five seasons as Andrea Zuckerman, the egghead of the bunch, and returned in a guest capacity on seasons six, eight and 10.
