Roma Downey Details Last Night with Shannen Doherty Before Her Death: 'She Lived Fully' (Exclusive)

Shannen Doherty’s death came as a shock to longtime friend Roma Downey.

“We saw it online that Shannen had passed and we were so shocked because we recently had dinner with her at her home and she seemed in really good form,” Downey, whose husband is reality TV producer Mark Burnett, tells PEOPLE. “I think that was early in May, so the news of her passing just six weeks later came as such a shock. It was a very fun evening — great food, great conversation and lots of laughter. Little did I know that fun evening in Malibu would be the last time I would ever see her. We are heartbroken.”

Downey, 64, and Doherty, who died on Saturday, July 13, at age 53 after fighting stage 4 breast cancer, had a lot in common.

“We were both Irish girls, we were both Malibu residents, we were both actors — close friends and close neighbors,” Downey says. “We enjoyed good wine and good food and we loved each other’s company. We loved to laugh and tell stories. She would come over for supper and catch up, and both Mark and I cared deeply for her. We all loved her.”

The actresses also shared a love of U2 and saw one of the band’s concerts at the Sphere in Las Vegas together. Downey describes the show as “amazing.”

“It was a very fun night,” she continues. “Shannen lived fully and appreciated every moment. She was grateful for the time she had and she always made the most of it.”

The Touched by an Angel alum refers to Doherty as “funny and feisty and always said it like it is,” adding that, “underneath it all, she had a big heart of gold.”

“She was very brave and showed a lot of courage,” Downey says. “She really was a warrior and I think her sharing publicly about her illness was an a source of inspiration and strength to many.”

Downey says she “always tried to be there” for Doherty since the Charmed vet’s initial diagnosis in 2015, “even if it was just a supportive text.”

“I prayed with her and for her,” Downey continues. “I loved and cared about her and I admired her. She was a bright light in our lives and she will be sorely missed.”

When news of Doherty’s death first broke, Downey paid tribute to her on Instagram.

“Dear brave beautiful friend may you rest in the peace of God 🕊️,” she wrote on Sunday, July 14. “We are heartbroken by the news of your passing ….my deepest condolences to your beloved Mom and to Chris . All of us who were fortunate enough to know you and love you and call you friend will miss you terribly . You were a bright light in all our lives . Rest in Peace dear Shannen 🕊️ 🙏#shannendoherty”

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Following Doherty’s 2015 breast cancer diagnosis, she had a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. In April 2017, Doherty revealed on Instagram she went into remission. But by 2019, the cancer returned — and she announced her diagnosis of metastatic stage 4 cancer the following year.

Doherty shared in November 2023 that her cancer had spread to her bones, but weeks before her death, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum said she planned to start another round of chemotherapy.

"It becomes very real in an incredibly different way, because I have no idea how long I'm gonna be on the chemo for," she said on the June 24 episode of her Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty podcast. "I have no idea if it's gonna be three months or if it's gonna be six months or if we're gonna — if after three months, it's not working, if we're gonna change again."

Doherty's longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed the Heathers star’s death in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” Sloane stated. “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace."