Lark Voorhies says Hollywood's reluctance to embrace her after revealing her schizoaffective disorder diagnosis has become one of the biggest hurdles in the next phase of her career. The former Saved by the Bell star, who became a pop-culture fixture as fashion-loving Lisa Turtle, recently told People that she believes fear and misunderstanding have kept parts of the entertainment industry from fully welcoming her back despite her desire to continue acting.
“I feel there has been too much fear in the entertainment industry when it comes to embracing who I am,” Voorhies said. “I am really focused on being an author and sharing my messages and story with others.”
Now 52, Voorhies says she still possesses the same discipline that helped turn her into one of television's most recognizable young stars. “Having the ability to completely transform into a character and know the lines by Monday morning,” she said when asked about her strengths. “That work ethic is a strength that has always opened doors and brought me wonderful opportunities.”
Long before becoming a mental health advocate, Voorhies helped define an era of television. She first introduced audiences to Lisa Turtle on Disney Channel's Good Morning, Miss Bliss before carrying the role over to NBC's Saved by the Bell, where she spent four seasons and later returned for spin-offs and the Peacock revival.
Away from Bayside High, she appeared on Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and films including How to Be a Player and How High. She was also a familiar face in several hit R&B music videos during the 1990s.
Voorhies' family first disclosed her mental health struggles in 2012, when her mother, Tricia Holloway, revealed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In 2015, the actress was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a condition that combines symptoms of schizophrenia with mood disorders and is typically managed through medication, therapy, and support services.
Five years later, she publicly shared the diagnosis herself.
Holloway praised her daughter's willingness to discuss the condition openly. “She feels that she can rise above some of the obstacles of her condition and still perform and deliver a character that is convincing and a character that people can like and respect and believe that character,” she said.
Voorhies says she hopes that openness can help others navigate similar challenges. “Every path is unique and should be celebrated as something special,” she said. “I am glad that I can support as a platform of hope for anyone who might be struggling. I am strong, and I am powerful.”
The actress recently revisited those experiences on Investigation Discovery's Hollywood Demons, now streaming on HBO Max. And while she has expanded into writing, self-publishing several books over the years, she made it clear that she hasn't closed the door on Hollywood.
“Other people's opinions do not dictate who you are fundamentally as a person,” she said. “Remember who you are at all times.”
