Rose McGowan is trying to heal the rift with cancer sufferer Shannen Doherty after replacing her on TV series Charmed 15 years ago.
The actress posted a cartoon drawing of herself and Shannen, who is fighting breast cancer, and blamed Hollywood for making them see themselves as rivals.
Shannon Doherty in 2010, before her cancer diagnosis (Peter Kramer/AP)
In a message addressed to Shannen, 45, she wrote: “We have a funny history. As young women we were pitted against each other for society’s pleasure. The rules of Hollywood engagement brainwashed into us were truly vile.”
The 43-year-old said she regretted the two had not been friends.
Shannen left the series about sister witches after the third season in 2001, amidst reports of a fall-out with co-star Alyssa Milano.
She explained: “We were cast in this weird fake reality show where we were supposed to be enemies. I resented it greatly. I regret not being awake enough to articulate this to you at the time.
“Fear was drilled into me from day one in this town & you were the barometer by which my behaviour was judged. I was under a microscope, one false move and I’d be branded ‘difficult’ just like you. I think we all know what happens when girls here get out of line.
Rose McGowan in her Charmed days (Anthony Harvey/PA)
“I wilfully remained enigmatic & un-engaged. The Bad Girl Shaming you received at the hands of the media was merciless.”
She added: “I had to prove I wasn’t as bad as you or I’d get the axe, too. But we were never the bad ones, it was them.”
Rose was drafted in as a replacement lead actress, playing Paige after Shannen departed the show.
Shannen is now nearing the end of radiation treatment and chemotherapy, having undergone a single mastectomy.
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