TIME/Entertainment Weekly Host: Welcome to our TIME/Entertainment Weekly chat tonight with Jennie Garth of Beverly Hills 90210. She's especially interested in talking about her work with RAINN, which, as many of you know, is the Rape and Incest National Network, an organization aimed at combating sexual abuse. Welcome Jennie Garth! Thanks for joining us tonight!

Jennie Garth: Thank you so much. I'm happy to be with you.

jennieg_fanatic asks: What inspired you to join and support RAINN? - Liron, from Israel

Jennie Garth: Well, Liron, my character on 90210 was the victim of a violent crime, a rape, and RAINN contacted me to help them with their organization through the show. We've reached so many people. After I realized that we helped so many people, I wanted to be more involved. After the first time the hotline was mentioned on the show, there were more than 4000 calls. That was the all-time record for RAIN. RAINN.

Marty2634 asks: Hello Jennie. Describe what it's like acting on "Beverly Hills 90210."

Jennie Garth: Well, it's a very comfortable environment. After working with the same people for ten years, they're like my family, really. The show has given me the opportunity to deal with so many different issues. And it's been overall a very pleasant experience.

love4allseasons asks: Has working with RAINN changed your perspective on life?

Jennie Garth: I think working with RAINN has made me a little bit more aware of the impact that television has on society. And it's made me take it a little bit more seriously. I feel responsible, and I'm not going to dodge that responsibility. So working with RAINN has enlightened me, yes.

emma_1982_99 asks: How did you get into acting on 90210?

Jennie Garth: I had done other shows here and there before I got 90210. The audition process was quite grueling. I remember auditioning 5 times for this role. I remember being so anxious and not really knowing what I was doing. I had no idea it was going to be such a hit, and I had no idea what I was going to be in for.

jennieg_fanatic asks: What do you think about the fans who wake up at 3am just to talk to you here? (For example: ME!) - Liron, from Israel

Jennie Garth: Liron, buddy, get some sleep! I think that's great. You must be a big fan of the show. I hope you're learning something about the hotline, information that you could pass on to someone who needs it. But I do appreciate you! Thanks!

ydiva asks: Jennie, was it difficult playing a rape victim on 90210?

Jennie Garth: Yes. It was very emotionally difficult for me going to that place every day, and imaging what it must be like not ever to be able to leave it. I could go home everyday and leave it at work. But it really opened my eyes to other women's situations. But as a woman it was easy for me to go there time after time, take after take. Because I've been in situations where I've been scared, and feared for my life. I think women are faced with that all the time.

im4u78 asks: I really liked the old episodes of 90210. What was your favorite episode of the early years?

Jennie Garth: I liked the episode where the girls all had a slumber party at Brenda's house. We did a flashback episode where we went to the Wild West.

katrinab5 asks: I am an avid fan of Beverly Hills 90210. I have watched it since the show began. I have heard rumors that the show is going off of the air, if so, do you know when?

Jennie Garth: Well, first of all, thank you for your commitment all these years. That's a long time! The show is in its last and final season. And we will be finishing that up in the year 2000.

emma_1982_99 asks: Who did you enjoy working with mostly on Beverly Hills 90210??

Jennie Garth: I very much enjoyed working with Jason Priestly. As far as boyfriends go, I had so many! The characters Brandon and Kelly seemed like a great fit. My current co-star Daniel Cosgrove is hilarious. I enjoy working with him.

love4allseasons asks: If you weren't an actress, what would you be doing today?

Jennie Garth: Hard question. I could be doing so many things... I could be the grocery store checkout girl... and that would make me happy. I love to teach children, help animals, design things. If I werenÕt' on the set today, I would find something to do, I'm sure. My life would be a lot different.

Marty2634 asks: Hello Jennie, Do you approve of the way "women" are being portrayed in TV and films?

Jennie Garth: I have huge problems with the way women are depicted in society. I'm not going to put the blame on television or film. I think that the media -- magazines and everything out there -- tell women to be one way, when it's almost impossible to be that way. And I see the pressures and trauma that these women go through to live up to society's standards. And that's something that I think about -- and deal with -- all the time. So when the writers of the show came to me and wanted to do a rape story line, I wasn't really sure how I felt about that. But they assured me that I could reach out to people and help them, which made it worthwhile.

DawLSweetS asks: Jen from WA here... Jennie, how does it feel knowing that your character is watched by millions of young girls, and they look up to, or despise, that character? Do you ever get worried that your character is who they think the real Jennie is?

Jennie Garth: I really can't spend time worrying about that. I tend to give people a little more credit than that. And I just try to focus on the things that are important to me in life.

hornet_6 asks: Are all of the originals going to return for some of the final episodes?

Jennie Garth: No.

love4allseasons asks: If you could have one day to yourself without any media or fans there to bother you, how would you spend it and why?

Jennie Garth: (Laughs.) First, I would get a massage...a silent massage. Then I would play with my horse, Blondie. I would play with my daughter, and I would spend the evening at the movies. I would want to see any current release -- I donÕt care! Then I might get another massage.

love4allseasons asks: What's the most stressful part of your job?

Jennie Garth: Nothing's stressful if you donÕt let it be stressful. I think just juggling everyone and their schedules. We work really long hours. So juggling my life around the schedules of everyone on the show has been the toughest part. A typical day starts...I have to be at work at 6am, and doesn't end until 6 or 8pm. But now that I have my daughter I try to take her to school and the people on the show help me out whenever they can.

DeMills asks: Would you encourage your daughter to be an actress?

Jennie Garth: Never! NEVER!!! No, she can do whatever she feels her calling is. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't let her pursue her own interests and be what she wants to be?

ryanspringer16 asks: Jennie, it seems like your character over the years has played the "victim" a lot. How do you feel about that? Does it ever bother you or do you feel like it gives you a chance, like with the rape, to speak out about certain things?

Jennie Garth: Absolutely. It gives the opportunity to have an effect on people. One way or another, I'm saying something. I would rather play these dramatic roles than anything. That way, I can also go from victim to survivor, and show people that they can do that.

gargantuousheeds asks: Who did you prefer to kiss, Jason or Luke??

Jennie Garth: (Laughs.) Jason.

love4allseasons asks: What inspired you to work with RAINN?

Jennie Garth: It gave me the opportunity to help people through the story line that was given to me. For instance, I'm now involved in the Fashion a Cause that Marie Claire and Liz Claiborne are doing, and representing the RAINN hotline in that campaign. That magazine hits the newsstands on October 5th. Marie Claire readers can call to enter a sweepstakes to win an outfit that me and eight other women are wearing.

marco_888 asks: So what are your plans after Beverly Hills?

Jennie Garth: I'll move to another zip code, I guess. Hopefully, they'll have me! I have some things in the works, but no definite plans yet.

Radio_head_27 asks: Watching the show, it seemed like the perfect stereotypical American high school. What was your high school experience like?

Jennie Garth: Pretty much the same thing, without the glitz and glamour. I actually ended up taking my GED and leaving before my senior year to pursue my acting career.

Marty2634 asks: Hello Jennie. Will you be appearing in any TV or movie projects in the future?

Jennie Garth: Currently, I'm tied up with the show, and I don't have any definite plans as of right now.

love4allseasons asks: What's your most memorable experience on 90210?

Jennie Garth: When we were filming a jet-skiing sequence and Luke Perry ran me over with a jet ski. That one sticks out! The other time was when I sprayed Binaca in Luke Perry's eye. On a sweeter note, we do these read-throughs every week where we all sit down at a table...and...read. And we all have certain spots, certain chairs, that we gravitate to. And I was actually thinking the other day, that I would really miss my chair.

Host: Jennie, can you tell us about the auction on Yahoo! of 90210 memorabilia?

Jennie Garth: Yahoo is sponsoring an auction of 90210 memorabilia. They're going to auction of a three day trip to the set of Beverly Hills 90210. They're also going to auction of Warhol-esque paintings of 90210. They were hanging in my characters room.

Marty2634 asks: Hello Jennie, Which actors have you most enjoyed working with in your "career"?

Jennie Garth: My first show was with Barbara Eden (from I Dream of Jeanie). She was a great teacher, and she taught me lots about the camera and how to get along with it.

jasonschachter asks: Does the cast hang out outside of work?

Jennie Garth: No. We see a lot of each other at work. There are occasions where we see each other outside of work.

Host: We need to start wrapping up, so let's ask one more question...

Host: Jennie, has working with RAINN been a rewarding experience for you, and how has it affected your life?

Jennie Garth: Yes, it has been very rewarding. I've been given opportunities to reach and help lots of people. And I've been able to make them aware of the completely confidential and twenty-four hour hotline that could save their lives. That number, by the way is 1-800-656-HOPE.

Host: Jennie, we know you have to get back to the set right now...

Jennie Garth: Unfortunately, I've got to run now. Yes, I'm on the set. We're actually filming Steve and Janet's wedding. I'm not in wedding garb, though, it's kind of an impromptu thing. There's wedding cake that needs to be eaten!

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