The daughter of Aaron Spelling, a hugely successful television producer mainly for the ABC network, she appeared in a number of small roles before landing a regular part in 90210, a series co-produced by her father and Darren Star.
With what what was often described as a highly limited acting range, it was widely speculated that she got the job through her father's influence. She claimed to have undergone an audition for the role under an assumed name. After the series went off the air, Spelling worked mostly in various independent films (often receiving praise for her performances) including Trick and The House of Yes.