Can Gillian Zinser, who plays surfer Ivy Sullivan on 90210, surf in real life?
mdash;Doug Henry, Oxnard, Calif.
While surfing wasn’t a prerequisite for getting the role, Zinser, 26, can definitely ride the waves. But even though that is the case, 90210 uses a double for her in the show.
The Washington, D.C.-born actress explains why. "I longboard, but they have Ivy shortboard on the show, so they stunt-double me." The difference? According to Zinser, who stays in shape for the sport with yoga and Pilates, "Longboarding is a really slow sport, kind of dance-y. Shortboarding is quick and action-based."
The actress, who attended New York University in Manhattan before joining 90210, says she did try to shortboard, but she couldn’t get "short" enough. "I got down to [a board] 6 feet, 6 inches. That was the shortest I could go. On the show they use a 5-feet-5-inches board."
