90210’s Sara Foster On The Roots of Jen’s Evil

Sara Foster plays 90210’s twisted sister Jen Clark. So far Jen’s reign of terror has included seducing her sister’s man, poaching her trust fund and sinking her claws into school teacher Ryan. Foster shed some light on the motivation for Jen’s madness, her Kelly Taylor obsession and whether we are ever going to see that darn race horse again.

What motivates Jen? Why is she such a bitch to everyone?

I hope that people love to hate her. It’s obviously a huge challenge when you’re playing such an evil person. It’s hard when she’s as vindictive and malicious as she is. What I’ve been saying about Jen is that I truly think she goes to sleep at night thinking she’s a good person, that what she’s doing to her sister is actually good for her and will benefit her in the long run. She loves her sister more than anything.

So she thinks it’s right to keep Naomi away from Liam?

In the first season she said, “Trust me. This is good for her. It will knock her down a peg.”

What about taking all of Naomi’s money?

She has every intention of paying it back. The most important person to Jen is Jen. That’s a fact.

What is Jen going to do with the race horse she bought?

I can’t tell you. But it’s amazing.

What does Jen see in Ryan, who can give her neither wealth nor status?

Her whole plan is changing. She’s actually developing real feeling for Ryan. I think everything’s catching up with her. He’s obviously very cute and smart. He makes her laugh. More importantly, what he gives her is attention and respect and love, which I don’t think she’s ever had from a man. I think men have always treated her like crap.

When is the truth about Jen and Liam ever going to come out?

Jen will get hers. But she has a plan for it.

You’re the child of music producer David Foster. Does 90210 accurately portray what it’s like to be a child of L.A’s elite?

The truth is, I grew up at the beach in Malibu a long, long time ago. My parents were divorced. I lived with my Mom. It was a normal childhood. When they got divorced we moved over the hill to the Valley for ten years. We had a very normal, simple upbringing actually. I can’t relate at all to these kids and their BMW and the big allowances and the trust funds because I never experienced that.

What is Jen’s Achilles heel?

She’s a bit of a softie for love.

What has been your favorite scene so far?

The first season when I had the big confrontation with Kelly in the bathroom. That was pretty awesome. I grew up watching the original. When I was 12 years old, I wanted to be Kelly Taylor. Getting to throw her up against a wall was a fun day at the office.

Why does Jen spend so much time hanging out with teenagers?

When I saw the script for the club scene [at the Edison] I was like, why would I invite all these teenagers? Her sister, yes, but I don’t think she’d ever be caught dead going to lunch with Annie. She looks at them like children. That’s part of how all of this [evil] started. She didn’t want kids in her house.

Why did Jen drop out of Yale?

I’ve come up with ideas, but it hasn’t been established. The writers and producers have never mentioned where they were coming from with it. I always thought she just met a guy and left for him. She was over college. She couldn’t hack it.

Who are your closest friends on the set?

I get along with everybody. I spend the most time with Anna Lynne [McCord]. Lori [Laughlin] and I have become close. I really like her.

The show seems so much better this season.

Don’t you think it also looks better? The first season they were not utilizing Los Angeles the way Gossip Girl utilizes New York City. The city you’re shooting in has got to be a third character.

Other than 90210, what are your favorite television shows?

I love the Real Housewives of Atlanta. I’m obsessed. I want to be friends with [NeNe] and with Jill from the New York one and Bethany. If I saw them on the street I would have a coronary. If I saw Angelina Jolie on the street I wouldn’t blink.

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