Before she became a household name as Charlotte York on Sex and the City, Kristin Davis was navigating the competitive world of 90s television — and not always with open arms from her peers.
Appearing on the Hey Dude… The ’90s Called podcast, the now 60-year-old actress opened up about her time on Melrose Place, where she played scheming socialite Brooke Armstrong in the mid-90s. While she described the experience as thrilling, she also revealed that not everyone on set was warm and welcoming.
“There were just so many people [on set],” she recalled. “And I’ve obviously seen all these people since then — and so many of them are so lovely. But at the time… it was competitive.”
Kristin remembered forming a close bond with Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross, but also recalled being flat-out ignored by another unnamed female co-star.
“There was one, you know, she wouldn’t speak to me. Like, she wouldn’t speak to me. I never had scenes with her, so it wasn’t an issue. But I’d say, ‘Good morning,’ [and] nothing.”
Although she didn’t name the actress, Davis believes the tension stemmed more from the pressures of the time than from anything personal.
“I feel like it was a period of time,” she said. “And then I guarantee you now, 30 years out of it, everyone looks back and it’s like, ‘Oh my God. What an idiot I was.’”
Still, Kristin remembers feeling like she struck gold by landing the role.
“Melrose was intimidating in so many ways,” she admitted. “I grew up watching Dallas and Dynasty, so it meant a lot to me to be on there. Obviously, it was just a job also. But at a certain point, you’re like, ‘I have won the lottery. I have a job. I cannot believe it.’”
Davis only stayed on the show for one season, but it was a substantial one — 32 episodes in total.
“From a young actor perspective… I mean, as far as I know, I was gonna stay there,” she added. “I didn’t know that I was only gonna be one season, which is insane to think about now.”
Despite the cold shoulders and backstage politics, Kristin Davis looks back with gratitude — and a bit of hindsight wisdom about how ego and competition shaped early Hollywood experiences.
