The first season of "Melrose Place" didn't exactly hit the ground running. "It was very boring," Heather Locklear told The New York Times in 2009. "It was all nice people, and, really, there are some bad people in the world." To boost the sagging ratings, Aaron Spelling called on the "T.J. Hooker" star to shake things up. As conniving ad exec Amanda Woodward, Locklear succeeded in delivering the sizzle to the show and ratings soared, the uber producer explained in a 2012 interview with the Television Academy.
"Amanda Woodward was not conceived as a villain," Darren Star told TV Line in 2017. "She was just going to be Alison's boss for a few episodes, but then Heather came in and said 'Hello,' and it just seemed devious," he said, adding that Locklear was having such a good time on the show, he decided to roll with it. Unsurprisingly, she was down to stick around longer than initially planned. As she told "Good Morning America" she was thrilled to be a part of the "Melrose Place" legacy.
In the years following "Melrose Place," Locklear's career carried on, but behind the scenes she struggled with legal troubles and substance use. In an October 2021 interview with People, Locklear seemed to be in a better place, marking over two years of sobriety. "I feel young. I'm a young 60," she said. "It's all about perspective."
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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