5 Questions With: Jessica Walter

Of all the fresh young faces and returning favorites on the new '90210,' there's one person whose wit, sarcasm and signature cocktail ice-clinking stands out.

Fans of 'Arrested Development' know and love Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth, the most maladjusted matriarch in TV history. But her new role -- playing Tabitha Mills, mother and grandma to the latest West Beverly transfers -- has just as much bite and even more disposable income.

Walter talked to AOL TV about the fun of playing evil, working with Shannen Doherty and those on-again, off-again 'Arrested' movie rumors.



1. We all miss Lucille Bluth! Will Tabitha Mills be anywhere near as amazing?
Characters like this appeal to me ... obviously. [Laughs] People think of me for characters like this. They don't think of me as Mrs. Brady! I feel very fortunate -- to be Miss Vanilla Ice Cream is not fun. It's much more fun to play the evil -- but goodhearted -- character.

2. What's the status of the 'Arrested Development' movie?
No official word, but I'm hearing really positive rumors that it's going to be next year. I'm hearing that it is happening, but I haven't heard it from the horse's mouth. I think we want to have everybody possible that they can ... Ben Stiller and all the guest stars that they had ... I think that they'd love to have all those people come back on.

3. You were a little beyond the demo when the original '90210' was on ... were you aware of the show?
I was beyond, beyond! But you know, my daughter's in her mid-30s, so when the show came on, she was the absolute perfect age, the demo they were going after. It was appointment TV for her, so I watched many of the episodes because she watched it.

4. Did you have to refresh your memory before starting work on this?
I re-watched the pilot of the original '90210,' and it was wonderful. You really cared about those kids. They were all so vulnerable and open, and I think that something appealed to me about it because everyone can identify with these kids -- they're fish out of water, looking to fit in.

5. Shannen Doherty is back to direct West Beverly's school musical. Knowing that your character was an actress, will Tabitha and Brenda Walsh be working together?
Oh, I'd like you to go talk to the producers about that right now! [Laughs] That would be great.