AnnaLynne McCord
In 2008, McCord was cast in the series "90210" as Naomi Clark. Throughout the show, McCord's character vies for social power and love. McCord was nominated for multiple awards for her work in the role, winning the "Hollywood Life" Young Hollywood Superstar of Tomorrow in 2009, and a nomination for a Teen Choice Award for "Breakthrough Standout Performance" in 2010.
Naomi Bennett
Naomi was created by Shonda Rhimes, who wanted the show's central character Addison to have a close friend from her college days. The character is based on a friend of Rhimes', who "married her college sweetheart and is strong and smart and funny." Naomi was played by Merrin Dungey in the backdoor pilot episode "The Other Side of This Life", but was replaced by Audra McDonald prior to the show's first season. Rhimes explained that the production team "wanted to put an edge on Naomi that we could define more clearly." McDonald assessed that Dungey's dismissal was hard as a result of its having been so public, but commented that she herself had once been similarly replaced, having played Bill Cosby's daughter in the pilot episode of "Cosby", only to be replaced thereafter.