‘Saved by the Bell’ star Lark Voorhies opens up about her mental illness, series reboot snub

“Saved by the Bell” is working on a reboot of the classic teen show, but there’s one key character who will be missing from the revival – Lark Voorhies.

Voorhies addressed her mental health and her feelings about not being asked to participate in the upcoming reboot in conversation with Dr. Oz during an appearance scheduled to air Wednesday.

The 45-year-old actress, who portrayed Lisa Marie Turtle on the show, read from a journal entry she wrote during a clip from the episode.

“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,” Voorhies said, referring to her mental health. ”With that in mind, I am truly thankful for having had the chance to work on a show that has been so successful.”

In the past, her mother, Tricia Voorhies, said her daughter was suffering from bipolar disorder, which the actress previously denied.

Voorhies and her mom opened up on ”Dr. Oz Show” about her mental health.

When asked about hearing “many competing voices,” Voorhies said “it just goes on and on.”

Voorhies’ mom also shared her feelings on her daughter’s health.

“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,” Tricia said, adding that her daughter’s doctor has helped her “come to terms with her challenge.”

Aside from the reboot, some of the “Saved by the Bell” cast members reunited for a dinner to celebrate ”30 years of friendship” in 2019. Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Elizabeth Berkley were all there, but Voorhies and Dustin Diamond (Samuel “Screech” Powers) were not.

“They have the right to do that and they’re happy in their element and they can have it, certainly,” Voorhies said about seeing her former cast mates socializing before adding she would like to be included.

“Family isn’t kept complete without its lead,” she said.

Voorhies wasn’t the only one left out of the reboot. Both Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who portrayed the scheming Zack Morris and his on screen wife, Tiffani Thiessen were not asked to come back for the revival.

“I don’t know anything about it. I — literally, Mark-Paul and I were like, ‘Oh, wow! I didn’t know that was happening,’” Thiessen, who played peppy cheerleader Kelly Kapowski, told Us Weekly in October.

Read more at usatoday.com