Shannen Doherty shared her reflections on how her battle with cancer in 2015 influenced her experience while filming the movie Bethany.
In the February 12 episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear, featuring director and screenwriter James Cullen Bressack, the 52-year-old actress disclosed that she learned about her cancer diagnosis just a week or two before filming commenced. (Doherty previously disclosed in 2015 her battle with breast cancer, which went into remission in 2017 but resurfaced in 2020 at stage 4. In 2023, Doherty revealed that the cancer had metastasized to her bones.)
Bressack, who directed Bethany, recounted on the episode, “You called me when you had just started your meds and said, ‘I’m not sure if I can do this.’ I reassured you, ‘If you can’t manage it, we’ll find a solution, but I believe distracting yourself by working will be beneficial.'”
He continued, “And you showed up and gave it your all. I recall one instance when, perhaps due to the medication, you struggled with a particular speech, the one where you confronted yourself in the mirror… it’s all about beauty and such.”
Doherty, portraying Susan in the film, expanded on the challenges she encountered while attempting to concentrate and deliver her performance amidst her recent diagnosis.
She recounted the particular scene Bressack highlighted, where she had to stare into a mirror and caress her face, as particularly daunting. She experienced frequent lapses in memory, a rarity for someone recognized for her flawless recall.
She said, “My mind was consumed by thoughts of cancer — what it meant and what lay ahead — and suddenly, I was confronted with this monologue that felt utterly disconnected,” she said.
Following a discussion, Doherty and Bressack opted to tackle the scene without dialogue, drawing inspiration from Robert De Niro’s powerful silent portrayal in The Godfather Part II.
“You suggested, ‘I’ll convey it with just a look,'” Bressack recalled. “And you did. You looked in the mirror, tears welled up, and you didn’t utter a word. It was all there in your expression.”
Doherty agreed, “It’s a moment I’m particularly proud of as an actor,” she said. “I believe it’s much more challenging to convey everything solely through expression; words can often be a crutch.”In January, on a different episode of her podcast, Doherty and her guest, oncologist Dr. Lawrence Piro, delved into the advancements in cancer treatments in recent years. They also explored Doherty’s aspirations that forthcoming breakthroughs will enable her to maintain a fulfilling life despite her condition.
