9021One on One: Wendy Benson

What's it like to be Brenda's Best Friend from Minnesota?  No one knows this better than Darla Hansen herself! 
Wendy Benson joins us to tell all!  She was only in two episodes, but the legend that is/was Darla Hansen goes on and on...

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's with Jenny Garth and Tori Spelling. We're very excited
a special guest on today. It is Wendy Benson Landis
and you'll remember her from season four of nine O
two and oh. She played Darla Hansen, Brenda's best friend

(00:21):
from Minnesota, and she's here with us. Now. Hi Wendy, Hi, Hi,
I'm so happy. Did she see you? You'll see you
in so long. So Wendy and I actually knew each
other when Wendy came on the show. We knew each
other through a mutual friend named Tammy Morgan. Yes, okay,

(00:43):
So I was excited when you came on the show.
I was very excited to come on. I was like
a friend. And you played Darla, who we always heard
from Brenda about Darlin Minnesota. Now we get to see her.
But I didn't know you're early on two episodes. I
felt like you were on way more than two episod oats,
you know what, I know, it don't really seemed like more,

(01:04):
maybe because I was always auditioning for two and a lot. Yes, yes, yeah,
wait did you audition for the original main cast? You
know I was thinking I definitely I think so, I mean,
I was in New York then, but I think I did.
Maybe you're a role Jenny, I don't. I mean, I

(01:25):
definitely auditioned for the The Mail Rose Place. I know
that the original. Um. I remember that because obviously nine
o two and I was already established, so everybody knew
about it. Um. But I could have I could have
out of New York. You totally were a Kelly Taylor.
I mean I was watching you in the scene with Brendan.
I was saying, he looks just like Kelly Taylor, and

(01:47):
I was like, why didn't she get my role? Like
she would have been great if you were amazing, But
we had the same hair and everything. You still rock
the bangs. I like it, you know what it's like
sometimes I do. I cut them myself. I'm like, have
you always had bangs? Always some sort of bang ish

(02:08):
kind of thing. Yeah, so they're so perfect. Our producer
and co host Amy Sugarman, who is not just our
producer and cost but like the most major nine o
two and Oh fan ever, wanted us to ask you
and we were like, we can't ask that if you
shot those scenes in Minnesota or in l A. And
We're like, no, that didn't happen. That doesn't exist. She's like,
both viewers think that's what happened. I'm like, oh interesting

(02:34):
in l a where you know and deep in the
heart of the valley, n I, Tori. Do you remember
that there was all these straight kittens. Okay, so I
was really excited to ask you this story because we
found straight kittens and you took one home too, right,
Yes I did. And we got ring worm. Yes we did. Yes,
you know, all these little cute kittens, we all took

(02:56):
them home. We were so excited to find them, and
we all got ringworm. Yeah, we all got ring one.
I mean I didn't even know what it was. What
is you got like on your skin or on your
hair with skin I couldn't, like on my skin, like
on my arm. Yes, you and it was like rowdy circles.
And we were all game back to set like what

(03:17):
Everyone's like, oh my god, it's ringworm. Yeah I don't.
I don't think I kept the cat after that, did
you I did? I did, Yes, And I got another
disease and died very young. It was like it was
not it was not a healthy strike hat. Well, that
was sweet that you guys took the kiddies home, which

(03:39):
we would have not been working that day or you
would have had Yes, I was she definitely would have
taken one home. Yeah. So do you remember getting the
role of Darla? Like what was that process? Like, I mean,
here's the thing. I really wanted to obviously be on
nine or two and oh because it was such a popular,
you know, benchmark for everybody our age and now obviously

(04:02):
continuing on. So yes, I desperately. I mean I really
auditioned a few times. I mean I remember walking down
that huge office of your father's tory and he would
sit in the middle and he had all of these people.
I mean, you know there were ten people in the room.
I I mean I must have auditioned for that show

(04:27):
ten times. I mean different, I mean a lot, a
lot um. So obviously I was ecstatic to like, you know,
finally get a job on nine or two one? Now
and when when you got the part, did they say
it's for two episodes or did they say it might
be longer? Yeah? I think they said, like it could

(04:48):
you know obviously that you never know where things are going.
So but clearly Brenda didn't like being in Minnesota. I
don't know what happens in the next episode, because I
haven't seen in the show, so I'm assuming she doesn't
say in Minnesota though, But what was that like to
be to come on the show and be playing the
you know, Brenda's best friend and having this like reconnection

(05:10):
with her. She you know, obviously she like talked a
lot about Darla always like kind of a character that people,
even though it was just two episodes, people remember because
I think they always she always talked about, you know,
going back home. Um. So it was like it was
really kind of like a big deal. I mean, I

(05:32):
you know, it was fun. Like I also think it
was the beginning of a season, Am I right? It
was like right in the first episode of season four? Yeah,
so I remember, like it was I mean, obviously you
guys were in the press and there was so much
you know, hoopla, and I was like, oh, this could
be also like a not a nice working environment walking

(05:56):
into but it was amazing and nice. And do you
remember who the first person you met was on set?
Um or which of the guys it might have been?
Jason Priestley? It was pretty nice. Hm. I actually think
like it might have been him, because did you have
scenes did Darla have scenes with the other cast members

(06:16):
or was it always just Brenda in Minnesota? Just Minnesota?
So it was like isolated, which is probably why I
didn't meet you. Um it would have, you know, Tori.
Was there something doing something? Obviously a scene switch, Yes,
collect Darla, it does. It's hard to believe that Darla

(06:38):
was only in two episodes. I know, because remember my memory,
I thought this continued. I was like, oh, yeah, Wendy
was on the show for like a good part of
the fourth season, and then they were like, no, two episodes.
That's crazy. And Rachel True was in it. This is
before she did the craft, I think. So I was
super excited. I was like, oh my god, I forgot
she was in this too. It was like every whole

(06:59):
group of girls, everybody passed you. It's true. It's true.
They either passed through it or they wanted to for sure, Like, yeah,
it was it was a good job to get where.
So you were born in New York City, but where
are you living now in l a A. Yeah. I

(07:20):
always say I've only been an adult in l A.
I never And you've just been working, working, working, working,
working your whole life. Now, I like work as a
as a mother, like, which is the most challenging job?
As I know you guys probably what do you what
do you have? I have an eighteen year old girl
and a fifteen year old Stop it, they're not eighteen

(07:41):
and fifteen. Yes, yes, And you know we have all
these animal connections. My daughter's name is Mimi, and you
had a pug named Mimimi LaRue. Yes, yes, I'm sure
Mimi LaRue is no longer alive. This is true. She'd
be like yeah, she'd be like in her thirties at
this point, and now I'm just kidding. Um. Yes. I

(08:02):
also just to tie it a little bit back to
um Darla and my daughter just started college a month ago,
and one weekend, she facetimes my husband and I on
a Friday night and she's on the East Coast so
it's earlier here, and she's like, I just walked in
on my roommate having sex, and and I was like, no,

(08:24):
my husband and I didn't go to college. But I
was like, I got this episode of nine O two
one oh, and I was the college girl having you know,
sexual relations in my room. And I said, here's the thing,
you just have to tell your roommate to tie a
little like put a little you know, tie on the

(08:45):
door knob or something. And she was like, Mom, this
is everybody has a cellphone, she can text me. I
was like, okay, I'm sure that's the most Yeah, I
never even thought of that. I do know what. I
like your version, federm Darla was very chic like she

(09:14):
she didn't feel like a Minnesota girl. Yeah, you were
dressed like very like collegiate. Yeah that's I'm sure. Yes,
I remember that. And I of course wanted to dress
like you guys. I was like, I want to be
the cool like you know. Um, but yeah, so you
have to look like the collegiate Minnesota girl exactly. Yeah.

(09:35):
I think I was in some kkies that were pleaded, weren't. Well,
I'm still in collared shirts, I know, collegiate. You so
you have two kids and you're living in l A
and you just, what's the last thing you worked on? Like,
tell us because you've been on everything, even on Ugly Betty,

(09:58):
You've been on ghost whisper X files. Um, yeah, what
was the last thing I worked on? I can't even remember? Um?
Mr Mayor, did I make that up? No? You didn't
make that up. Yes, and that was so much fun.
And I played like a wretched Brentwood woman that was
called by you know some things that the mayor is doing,

(10:20):
which you know, I don't know how I can play
appauled Brentwood women I played. I played the worst version
of Tammy hard Copy that this is Amy the producer.
But learned everything and your husband's yes, your husband around

(10:46):
the time you did nine O two one oh. No,
I met him definitely after that, No, because nine O
two I was like early nineties. I would say, you
guys were and then he and I did a Christmas
movie other you guys were together when we did that.
That was probably in the late nineties, yes, early yea, Yeah,

(11:08):
we met a ninety eight I wrong? Or is your
husband from Lois and Clark Jimmy, Yes, you were absolutely correct. Okay,
which makes it so interesting because Dean Caine was on
nine O two one oh in all six degrees of

(11:30):
nine O two one because he imagine six degrees of
nine two Kevin Bacon for nine O two and oh
jillion times too. I can't remember if he did. I
mean I didn't know him at the pilot, but I
mean you said he was on nine or two and
o two he was, He wasn't, but I'm sure we

(11:51):
auditioned for it. I don't think he actually ever did
spelling stuff. I mean, everyone listening needs to google Wendy
and I go land this because you will immediately go,
oh my god, oh my god. Yes, he's a he's
a he's a lifer. He just did that show called
Cruel Summer that was on. It was so good. Wait

(12:13):
it's coming back for season two? Right? Oh yes, yes,
But they didn't tell the cast that until a year later,
the entire cast, So it was not It was not
that I love that show and I saw Michael and
I was like, oh my gosh, good for him. He
looks you both look you both have an age there.
You guys were always such a dreamy couple. But like,

(12:36):
he was great in the show. He was great, he is,
he's very good. Yes. Do your kids want to be actors? Um? No, not.
You know, they don't really know what they want to do.
My daughters like kind of leaning into film right now,
like she shoots things on like Super eight. You know,
she hasn't said the acting And I know everybody always

(12:58):
says I never want my kids to be actors. But
I also kind of it's the best job in the world.
Like actors are artists, and we show up and we
connect and we live and it's it's a wonderful. It's
a wonderful. I mean it's horrible and it's wonderful. I
think the actors get a very bad rap sadly, and

(13:21):
I want to say that if you want to be
an actor, you know, follow your heart and do it. Actors,
we play this game called kiss Mary or kill? Will
you indulge us? Wendy Benson landis please? Um? So, out
of the boy characters, who would you kiss? Who would

(13:41):
you marry? And who would you kill? No? Kick to
the curb? Sorry, we don't kill anybody here, Um kick
to the curb? Well, hey, I'd kiss all of them.
I mean, why not, They're all cute? Right? Maybe not?
Can I say it? Vince Young? Yeah, hasn't come on

(14:03):
the show yet that We've never had anyone come up
with that name. What made you say that? Because he
was my roommate, Tori what. Yes, when he moved to
l A he lived with. Have you and I ever
talked about this one? Yes? You're like, yes, yes, yes, okay,
just kidding. Oh it's coming back now, Okay, okay, sorry, Wait,

(14:28):
did you guys know each other through Vince? No? We
knew each other through my friend, through our friend, Tammy Morgan,
and then he because we had known each other since
we were teenagers, like late teens. Yes, with Tammy, and
then No, and then Vince. I don't know, I mean yeah,
years later. I mean he lived with me for like

(14:50):
six eight months before before he got you know, so
he wasn't a good roommate. That's why you'd want to
kick him to the curb. He was totally he was.
He was. She's made a joke that I literally didn't
get at first. I was just like, what, yes, we

(15:12):
have circled backs? Yes, yes, okay, And who would you marry?
I don't know. I don't know any of them well enough,
but just the character, so like Brandon or Dylan or
I think Dylan probably would have probably been the one

(15:32):
I liked the most. H Yeah, yeah, that's a common answer, yeah,
sorry usually Okay, Wait did people recognize you from nine
two one? Oh? Like from any after? How? Like I
know you from somewhere, but I don't know what it
is they do that and then so like now, the

(15:54):
next generation, like my daughter's age kids a few years
ago started I think after the second the reboot, they
came back and they started watching the original, so that
all of a sudden I had like young you know,
my daughters they're probably fourteen fifteen at the time, would
be like, oh my god, your mother was on ther Wridge,

(16:15):
So that would that was that was kind of funny.
And then I will every once in a while literally
be like somebody will say you were on nine of
two or no, and it's I mean, I'm staring right
at you and you look exactly the same. You. You
need to stand a little closer, do not in person?

(16:39):
You'll be like, oh, yeah, she does have bad vision,
but you do look great. My glasses on, I can
see everything. What are you working on these days? Like
do you have a project coming out? And just being
a mom? I'm really being a mom. I've actually started
writing a little bit. I have a have a nine

(17:00):
dea that I don't know if I can write the
entire thing, but I'd like to get it to a
point where I could show it to somebody else that
could write it. We have a lot of writer friends
and like the people we hang out with mostly are
funny enough. Are are a lot of very successful writers,
so we you know, perfect of writing. I'm gonna I'm

(17:22):
gonna try that well now to give him a little
treatment or something something like, do you think you would
go back to acting now that the kids are getting old? Tori?
If anybody were to call, I would in a heartbeat,
so you know, like I mean, it's just, you know,
I feel like I never got famous enough to be
able to have enough of the name right now where

(17:45):
people are so every once in a while you say
what I did. I also worked on a soap opera
cup maybe last year, and that was kind of fun
and nerve wracking because you have so many lines and
you get one take. I was like, my god, my memory. Um,
but yeah, so I would again like it's I think

(18:09):
it's it's a wonderful profession, so that's not It is
a hard business, though, once you have removed yourself to
be a mom and be a wife and then try
to go back, it is I would assume quite difficult.
It is hard, but I also being removed, like I
understand now why I wouldn't get certain jobs where I
remember going like, well, why can't I play this? I

(18:31):
can do this, And now you're like, no, you you
actually look like a mother of college age kid who's
making bake sale cookie. I mean like I get I
get where you know, the typecasting and all of that
stuff comes in, you know where I think I used
to take so many things personally, Like I can play golf,

(18:51):
I can be you know, a cop. I always wanted,
always always wanted to. Really, yes, I want to play
a cop too. That sounds fun. I don't think I
could play a cop. I wouldn't be believing. I feel
like we might have played cops on Mystery Girls, like
as a joke, but I guess stripper cops or something. Yeah,

(19:16):
are you sorry? Oh? Well, your two, your time is
well spent for sure with your children. That's the I
can ever have time with you guys too. It's really
nice to reconnect with you and see you in in
the flesh kind of Yes, you two give Michael my love.

(19:40):
I will. I will, thank God, Thank you guys. This
was really fun. Thank you for beank you, thank you
for doing this so last minute to thank you. We
appreciate it. Well, thank you. Not a lot going on,
that's I can't be true. No, when you're a mom,

(20:01):
you're always But yes I was. I was. It's either
I'm gonna go cook dinner right, exactly. Good to see you.
I'm sliding into your d M s later and get
a refresher on the Vince Young story because I was
probably drunk when you told me you you've, you've, you've
put this away you you I probably yes, I mean,

(20:23):
I know what you're probably gonna tell me, but yes,
um and we'll always have um ringworm in common. Yeah,
what a what a great connection. Yes, I know. I'm
so happy that you remember that story too. I was
never forget it. Nope, Wendy, thank you, thank you. Good

(20:46):
to see you, to see you, by you, to be well.