Kelly Taylor (90210)
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Kelly Taylor was, for the majority of the show's run, the lead female character on the series Beverly Hills 90210, and remains one of the most well-known roles portrayed by actress Jennie Garth.
Throughout the course of the series, Kelly became—alongside Ian Ziering's Steve Sanders and Kathleen Robertson's Clare Arnold—one of the show's most developed characters. When introduced, Kelly was presented as a stereotypical type who placed high value on posh appearances. However, it is revealed that Kelly has depth and actually isn't that popular and has a deeper personality. Deep down, she is very lonely inside. She was used to disappointment and being abandoned. Her home life was very difficult. Eventually, Kelly was revealed to have a conscience during a summer fling with Dylan, the sweetheart of her friend Brenda. Over the following years (particularly during her ascension to lead status after the departure of Shannen Doherty's Brenda) the writers made Kelly a more compassionate, down-to-earth character—largely through her interactions with pure-hearted boyfriend Brandon. Tori Spelling's Donna was Kelly's best friend. Tiffani Thiessen's Valerie, who replaced Brenda, became Kelly's nemesis, but right before Valerie's departure the two women had formed a truce.
Kelly was able to overcome many difficult issues and obstacles she faced. She dealt with a lot of hardships, including being date-raped, having rumors about her at school, using diet pills, being tricked into joining a cult, being able to quit the cult, being caught in a fire, becoming addicted to cocaine, being shot, getting amnesia, being raped, being in love triangles, having a difficult home life, her mother's divorces, choosing between her boyfriend and her best friend, choosing between her current boyfriend and a boy from her past, going to rehab, being stalked and almost killed by a patient from rehab, facing sexual harassment from a doctor while she was dating Brandon, becoming unexpectantly pregnant and having a miscarriage, and learning that she might not be able to have children because of a condition in her body. She was able to overcome these obstacles and become a better person because of them. She listens to other people's feelings and because of all the difficult times she went through, she is able to help others and become stronger because of it.
Kelly would be romanced by many during the story's run, but her two most notable and popular loves were her on-and-off relationships with Jason Priestley's Brandon and Luke Perry's Dylan. At one point when they both await her decision between the two of them, she is unable to make one, walking away after saying she'll love them both until the day she dies. Her line, "I choose me," became much-quoted. However, in the episode "The Long Goodbye," Kelly states that she's finally chosen and soon moves in with Brandon. Years later, following Priestley's departure from the show and Perry's return, she is subsequently paired with Dylan.
Kelly's romances with Dylan and Brandon were her two most serious relationships. Kelly had had a crush on Dylan for years, but he was dating Brenda. After Dylan and Brenda had been dating for two years, Kelly and Dylan had shared a summer together while Brenda was on a trip to Paris. Kelly and Dylan became close and had a romance. Kelly told Dylan that they couldn't be together, because she didn't want to hurt Brenda. Eventually, a love triangle occurs and Dylan chooses Kelly. Kelly is happy to have Dylan, but starts to feel insecure and worries that Dylan chose her for looks and sex, so she becomes depressed and starts taking diet pills. Dylan finds out and tells her that he likes her for who she is and not for her perceived reasons. Kelly and Dylan face challenges together, as they have both have very difficult home lives. Her relationship with Brandon has a different way of starting. During a spring dance, Kelly confesses to Brandon that she has feelings for him, but he tells her that he only views her as a sister, and she is heartbroken. About three years later, they go on a retreat together and share a kiss. When Kelly and Dylan break up after having many arguments, Kelly begins a new romance with Brandon when they spend time in Washington. They go through many trials together and eventually almost get married.
When Kelly was burnt in a fire and was tricked into joining a cult, Brandon was able to help her. Brandon also was by her side when she became addicted to cocaine and when she was shot and had amnesia. Kelly's memories of Brandon fade after she wakes up with amnesia after being shot, but when Kelly reads her journal she remembers Brandon and recovers her memories. Brandon helps out Kelly while they are dating when she was being sexually harassed by her boss at a clinic. Kelly and Brandon move in together, but when Brandon has an affair with a coworker of his, Kelly is heartbroken. They get back together when Kelly realizes that she still loves him. During an argument, Brandon asks Kelly to marry him. Brandon helped Kelly feel love after having a lonely childhood. Brandon bought Kelly a magic wand she had always wanted when she was younger and they shared a ring in their relationship. Brandon had proposed to Kelly with the ring, Kelly had bought the ring back when Brandon had returned it. After waiting for Brandon while he was dating a coworker, Brandon and Kelly get back together and Kelly shows Brandon their ring. Later on, after Kelly is raped, Dylan is the one who is with her and by her side through the difficult time.
During her break up with Brandon, Kelly became involved with Colin. Colin was addicted to coke and when Kelly was hurt when her father left her, she went to Colin's apartment and started using cocaine. She became addicted, but was able to overcome the addiction and gain the strength to turn her life around, with the help of Brandon. After going to rehab, she helps Brandon find Colin and turn him in.
Kelly volunteered at an AIDS hospital and a patient had gotten blood on her and she decided to get tested for HIV. When she moved in with Brandon, she worked at a clinic to help patients.
At the show's conclusion, the matured Kelly had drawn on some of her roots by running a fashion business with best friend Donna.
