Shannen Doherty Praises ‘Charmed’ Costar Alyssa Milano in Posthumous Podcast

“When Alyssa came in, it provided a levity that I think the show ended up needing,” Shannen Doherty noted about her former “Charmed” co-star Alyssa Milano. In a podcast episode released just days before her death at age 53 following a lengthy battle with cancer, Doherty reflected on Milano’s impact on the show.

Shannen Doherty shared her thoughts on Alyssa Milano’s performance on “Charmed” in a recent episode of the “House of Halliwell: A Charmed Rewatch Podcast.” Despite the known tensions between the two on set, Doherty praised Milano’s work on the WB series.

Before Milano stepped into the role of Phoebe Halliwell on “Charmed,” the character was initially portrayed by Lori Rom in an unaired pilot. On the podcast, Doherty compared their performances, mentioning that Rom’s depiction was more aligned with the grounded, dramatic style of Doherty and co-star Holly Marie Combs, who played Piper Halliwell.

“Lori and Alyssa are very, very, very different people,” Doherty remarked. “Lori’s performance was grounded in drama, much like Holly and me. It was way darker, which was my style. I loved the presentation and thought everyone was great.”

However, Doherty acknowledged that Milano brought a necessary balance to the show with her lighter touch. “When Alyssa came in, it provided a levity that I think the show ended up needing,” she added. “She came in and did a great job, adding a different flavor to the show.”

Before her passing, Doherty recorded four episodes of the podcast, which will all be released in due course.

The tragic news of Doherty’s death was confirmed by her representative, Leslie Sloane. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Sloane said. “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Though she was deemed to be in remission in 2017, her cancer returned and metastasized to Stage 4 in her brain and bones by 2019. Just last month, she shared on her podcast “Let’s Be Clear” that she had begun a new round of chemotherapy. Despite her prognosis, she remained hopeful and maintained a positive outlook.

Following the news of her passing, many celebrities, including Milano, paid tribute. “It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” Milano said in a statement. “She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”

In “Charmed,” which aired from 1996 to 2006, Doherty played Prue Halliwell until her departure at the end of Season 3. Her exit was due to reported tensions on set between her and Milano, leading to her being replaced by Rose McGowan, who portrayed Paige Matthews, in Season 4.

In November 2023, Doherty and her “Charmed” co-star Holly Marie Combs claimed on Doherty’s podcast that Milano was responsible for Doherty’s firing in 2001. Milano later denied these claims, stating that she lacked the power to get anyone fired from the show.

During a joint appearance at MegaCon with Combs and McGowan in February 2024, Doherty seemed to address Milano’s denial. “Many things said have been very hurtful,” she noted. “With my health diagnosis—and forgive me if I start crying—it’s incredibly important that the truth be told, as opposed to the narrative others put out there for me.”

“We told our truths together,” she concluded. “And we stand by them.”

Source: People