Jessica Lowndes has worked her way up on 90210.

The actress was originally signed as a guest star, but she's not only become a series regular; her character of Adrianna has been given the show's meatiest story lines.

Below, Lowndes speaks to The Los Angeles Times about the experience:

Do you like playing Adriana?
When I first signed on, I was just a guest star. I’d do four episodes if I was lucky and I’d be the singer in the school musical. To sing on TV was enough for me. The fact that they kept writing for me and giving me all this drama, I feel really blessed. For this last batch of episodes, I got to do all this research. I talked to real addicts and I watched what seems like every drug movie ever made. That’s been my life for the past few months: watching drug movies and taking notes. A lot of A&E’s “Intervention.”

Is it draining to play her, though? She’s a wreck.
It was a challenge because I don’t have any experience with any of it. Luckily, I have never been a drug addict, I’ve never almost died and I’ve never been knocked up. Or had an HIV scare. So it’s all new to me! Before every take I get scared because I don’t know how I’ll come off. I don’t want it to come across as stupid or goofy. I really also don’t want to make a mockery of it, because they’re serious issues. I think we’re dealing with her issues in such a real and honest way, I feel fortunate that it’s not just over the top. She’s dealing with the consequences of her actions and she will follow through with the pregnancy.

Adriana really is the juiciest role on the show so far. Is anyone else jealous? Griping?
I think everyone at this point is just so fortunate to be on the show and have work, especially with the economy like this. I haven’t heard any griping whatsoever. We’re all doing the same thing, and at the end of the day without everyone else’s drama it wouldn’t be “90210.” It can’t just be a show about pregnancy and drugs and HIV scares.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.