‘90210’: Trevor Donovan on his scene-stealing abs, Teddy’s future with Adrianna and how he’s giving back

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

In last week’s episode of “90210,” we were introduced to a rising star: Teddy Montgomery’s abs. I’m pretty sure we’ve seen them a few times already but never as up close and personal as in Adrianna’s lusty daydream. Didn’t they seem to have a life of their own?

“You’ve got to imagine that I was standing there with 20, 30 people in dead silence,” explains Trevor Donovan, who plays the show’s newest golden boy and is the owner of the scene-stealing six-pack. “I wasn’t sure how they were going to cut it. You can’t see my face, but some of that movement in my belly was actually laughter.”

OK, so there’s more to the “90210” newcomer than abs. Teddy Montgomery has been shaking up the show pretty much since the moment Adrianna whisked him away from boy-starved Naomi in this season’s premiere. Since then, he has definitely upset the balance at West Bev a bit. “In the beginning, he may have said or done a few things unintentionally that may have offended a few of the people on the show,” says Donovan, 31.

Yet, the biggest offense may be tearing asunder what teen pregnancy and drug rehab couldn’t. “Some things will begin to surface and big things will come between Navid and Adrianna as this love triangle starts to form,” hints Donovan. “There’s some interesting things coming up in this next episode. Definitely some higher tension, higher stakes.”
Around the bend, Teddy may spell further trouble for Annie, as well...

“Nothing has been resolved,” says Donovan. “Teddy is part of the investigation of the homeless person Annie hit. I think they’re going to drag it out for a while.”

That’s good career news for a guy who started in modeling years before the thought of acting entered his mind. “Abercrombie [& Fitch] was my first modeling job,” recounts Donovan. “They definitely border on risqué as far as catalog photos go. There’s a lot of nudity and what not. I have done my fair share of that, and I’ve never done anything I regret whatsoever -- the majority of which I’m pretty proud of.”

While he’s definitely not shy about his body, Donovan says that auditioning for television commercials was a different story. “I was just terrified in front of the camera,” he admits. “I couldn’t even say my own name. I walked out of a handful of auditions. I mean ran out in cold sweats. I was just so nervous and insecure.”

In order to get over his fear, Donovan began taking acting classes. In the process, he began to love acting itself. Now, Donovan is in a position to offer advice to others dealing with camera fright. “I think fear is unavoidable and that, when recognized and embraced, it’s something that can work for you – especially in the audition room,” advises Donovan.

Before “90210,” the model-turned-actor landed a role on “Days of Our Lives,” allowing him some perspective between the two shows. “In daytime, you’re shooting an episode a day, which is on average about 90 pages of script a day. That is very hectic,” says the Mammoth Lakes, Calif., native. “On ‘90210,’ You get to work through it a little more. You’re not just flying through it just to get it done.”

Currently, you can find Donovan in theaters in the stylish sci-fi film “Surrogates,” starring Bruce Willis.

And Saturday, you can walk alongside Donovan in Habitat for Humanity’s 5K walk in Pacoima. “These homes are built for working families in need,” says Donovan. “The community I was out working with today in Pacoima is training a lot of the children of the families as volunteer firefighters, healthcare professionals and different things. So they’re actually educating them, as well as financially aiding them. It’s a really incredible organization.”

Donovan has another reason for wanting to see you there. “It’s kind of a battle,” he laughs. “It’s ‘90210’ versus ‘Melrose Place,’ ” says Donovan. “We’re trying to get out as many fans as we possibly can and as many of our cast and crew as we possibly can.”
If you want to join Team “90210” in this Saturday’s Habitat for Humanity 5K walk, check out www.humanityca.org.

-- Jethro Nededog (follow me on twitter @TheRealJethro)