Saved By The Bell’: Lark Voorhies says reboot helped with her schizoaffective disorder

Saved By The Bell’s Lark Voorhies says a cameo on the show’s reboot helped with her schizoaffective disorder. 

Diagnosed with the condition, which is a combination of schizophrenia and a mood disorder, Voorhies got candid about the ‘many competing voices’ in her head on a February Dr. Oz appearance. 

Returning to the talk show on Thursday to speak on her progress, the 46-year-old actress who first rose to fame as Lisa Marie Turtle on SBTB in the nineties, credited her Oz appearance with helping her land the revival role. 

‘I have you to thank for the wonderful exposure on your show that contributed to the SBTB producers rethinking my value to the production,’ she said. 

‘It’s always so good to be understood and be able to come home! Yes, SBTB is home to me.’ 

Originally snubbed from the reboot, Voorhies spoke about the heartbreaking situation in February.

‘I have to admit I did feel a bit slighted and hurt when I was not invited to be part of the Saved by the Bell reunion as well as other cast members events, yet of course, I also realized that having this puzzling disorder may have played a major part in that factual decision,’ she said.   

After talking about her struggles, Lark revealed Thursday alongside her mother Tricia that there has been ‘so much progress’ with her diagnosis as she said, ‘it’s been incredible.’

She said shooting SBTB was ‘very exciting,’ while detailing how it came to be. 

‘I received a call from Elizabeth Berkley, who plays Jessie. She sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And we had a great time shooting it.’

Talking about managing her disorder while shooting she said, ‘I put it in a bag and leave it in my room and I come out and do the lines and we do our thing,’ while saying acting is what she is ‘meant to do.’

She added, ‘The show comes together and it’s all truly amazing. It’s a lovely environment at Saved by the Bell with the cast and crew. Everyone got along really well.’

Her mother Tricia said it was a joy to see her daughter get back to work.  

‘This is something that she’s been wanting to do and she’s meant to do this, this is what she knows to do.’

‘In spite of her disorder, she’s able to rise above and perform as an actress. We memorize her lines and perform those lines very well, which she proved on the set.’ 

Thanking Dr. Oz for giving Lark a platform to speak about her mental health battle which prompted her casting in the reboot Tricia said: 

‘I feel that her coming forward and expressing openly her condition made people more aware of her struggle and it was a true revelation of what she’s been going through.’

Voorhies previously opened up about the voices in her head as she said, ‘it just goes on and on,’ while saying, ‘Right now I feel really good, but I’ve struggled a lot. I’ve had many nights of crying and I was totally puzzled and perplexed.’