Lark Voorhies was popularly known for portraying Lisa Turtle on Saved by the Bell, a role she originally played on the NBC pilot Good Morning, Miss Bliss.  She portrayed the rich and intelligent gossip queen of Bayside High.  Because of her upbringing, she always had access to the latest trends, making her the clique's fashion expert.  She was also one of Zack's best friends since grade school, just like Jessie and Screech.  Throughout the show, Screech's futile attempts to woo her became one of the running gags of the series.  Towards the end, she got accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology, making her goal to become a world famous fashion designer within reach.  Next year, the 33-year-old actress will be marking her return on the big screen.

The former Saved by the Bell actress has been cast to play Kim in the movie adaptation of the book The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women.  Written and directed by Greg Carter, the drama chronicles the problems that exist in relationships by exploring the interwoven stories of three family-related couples.  Expected for release on February 14, 2008, the film also features Tyrin Turner (Chicago Hope), Debbie Morgan (All My Children), and Glynn Turman (The Wire).

Shortly after Saved by the Bell concluded, she reprised her role as Lisa Turtle and reunited with some of her former costars on the spin-off Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

After her exposure on teen shows, Lark Voorhies took on more mature roles on television and miniseries.  She especially became visible on soap operas like Days of Our Lives as Wendy Reardon and The Bold and the Beautiful as Jasmine Malone.  She also guest starred on various programs and landed recurring roles on comedy series like In the House and The Parkers.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of planets.com)