Brenda Walsh

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Brenda Walsh, portrayed by Shannen Doherty, was the initial lead female character of the television drama Beverly Hills 90210.

Bolder, more sensitive, and prone to rebellion, Brenda differed somewhat from twin brother Brandon. The key exploration of her character came during a series of episodes involving a forbidden romance with Brandon's loner friend Dylan McKay—who had long had the attention of Brenda's best friend Kelly (Jennie Garth) as well. Brenda and Dylan dated for two years, and their relationship became serious very fast. Immediately following an argument with his father, Dylan was comforted by and shared a passionate kiss with Brenda. However, Brenda's father is initially against Brenda's relationship with her new boyfriend.

After Brenda and Dylan have been dating for two months, Dylan wants to have sex, but Brenda tells him that she isn't ready. On a trip to Palm Springs, Brenda goes to meet Dylan in a hotel room, but sees him with someone else. Brenda and Dylan have a fight, but make up when they sit outside and tease each other about other suitors. Dylan agrees to wait until Brenda is ready to have sex. When Brenda has a breast cancer scare, Dylan tells Brenda that he loves her. Brenda then loses her virgnity to Dylan at the sprince dance, where they have sex for the first time. Shortly afterwards, Brenda thinks that she is pregnant. It is a false alarm, but Brenda breaks up with Dylan and tells him she isn't ready for a sexual relationship. Brenda becomes hurt when she sees Dylan going out with other girls. Brenda and Dylan get back together as school starts up again. Brenda and Dylan's relationship becomes more serious then before and Brenda meets Dylan's mother, whom she has a love/hate relationship with. Brenda and Dylan go on many dates together and donate blood together on Valentine's Day.

Brenda and Dylan face another obstacle when Brenda wants to publish an article about her pregnancy scare and Dylan doesn't want her to, because it's personal. Brenda and Dylan make up after a fight. When Brenda was held at gunpoint at the Peach Pit, Dylan comforts Brenda when she was having recurring nightmares about the event. Their relationship becomes more serious when Brenda has been spending a lot of time with Dylan and forgetting her curfew. Dylan invites Brenda on a trip to Mexico, and her family agrees to let her go. However, when Brenda and Dylan fall asleep together, they forbid her from going. Brenda sneaks out and meets Dylan and they go to Mexico together. They get into an argument about a fling Dylan had, but make up and dance together. When Brenda forgot her passport, Brenda's family finds out and becomes distant with Dylan and forces Brenda and Dylan to break up. Brenda then moves in with Dylan.

Just before being driven away to the airport for a summer trip to Paris, Brenda, in a brief omen, would glance back with a look of concern upon seeing Dylan and Kelly walking off together.

A summer fling would soon occur between a resistant Kelly and Dylan. This, and the triangle that followed, would become a series milestone that helped boost the show's popularity, and, intentional or not, mirrored to an extent the reported real-life competitive relationship between Doherty and Garth. The final confrontation between Brenda, Dylan, and Kelly—in which he would inform Brenda that he'd chosen her friend—was listed by Entertainment Weekly as one of their 100 Greatest Television Moments.

In time she would go on to nearly marry a young man named Stuart and briefly become an animal activist, a story line in which her rebellious side came into play once again. Her friendships with Kelly and Dylan would heal as well, and once the pair eventually broke up, Brenda learned of the brewing romance between Kelly and Brandon, and expressed her blessing.

In similar fashion to how she had once left before, Brenda departed the series by kissing Dylan goodbye and leaving for London, planning at first on coming back in the fall. This, however, was not to be, but years later, the two were reunited for a time off-screen after Dylan himself moved away.