"90210" mom now a priest
The Associated Press has the story:
"Beverly Hills 90210" fans discover in Tuesday's episode of the "90210" sequel that Kelly Taylor's troubled mother, Jackie, hasn't changed much.
The same can't be said for Ann Gillespie, who plays Jackie: She's gone from actress to Episcopal priest.
Between sermons, weddings and funerals at Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., the Rev. Gillespie squeezed in an appearance on "90210," CW's follow-up to the hit Fox series that aired from 1990-2000.
In reprising her role as mom to Jennie Garth's Kelly, Gillespie was sorry to find out that Jackie still is battling alcoholism.
"She actually seems to be worse off than at the end of the last series," Gillespie said. "My own desire was to have the character become healthier because, of course, that's what I'm devoting my life to."
Gillespie, 51, married to actor Jeff Allin and mother of two teenagers, began re-evaluating her professional life several years ago. Roles for older women are conspicuously scarce in Hollywood, she said, but more important was her changing perspective.
"I felt my values crystallize in me as I was raising my children, and I wasn't crazy that I was giving myself to a business that wasn't putting out the best values," particularly when it came to film and TV images of young girls as "thin and oversexualized," Gillespie said.
And, as one of clergy who serves with Ann here at Christ Church, I will join with many others in saying that she is a fine priest, a compassionate mentor, and a pleasure to work with. :-)
Posted by Jared Cramer![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 11, 2008 2:50 PM
Ann writes about her double life in the September issue of Rejoice, the Christ Church Alexandria newsletter:
http://www.historicchristchurch.org/CalendarEventsAndNews/Rejoice/RejoiceSep08.pdf
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 8, 2008 9:24 AM