Tiffani Thiessen - wikipedia Tiffani Thiessen Tiffani Thiessen Thiessen in 2010 Tiffani - Amber Thiessen ( 1974 - 01 - 23 ) January 23, 1974 ( age 43 ) Long Beach, California, U.S. Occupation Actress Years active 1989 -- present Spouse ( s ) Brady Smith ( m. 2005 ) Children Website http://tiffanithiessen.com/ Tiffani - Amber Thiessen ( born January 23, 1974 ) is an American actress. She is known for starring as Kelly Kapowski on NBC 's Saved by the Bell ( 1989 -- 93 ) and as Valerie Malone on Fox 's Beverly Hills, 90210 ( 1994 -- 98 ), two TV series that met with great success. Thiessen has also starred in other TV series such as Fox 's Fastlane ( 2002 -- 03 ), ABC 's What About Brian ( 2007 ) and USA Network 's White Collar ( 2009 -- 14 ), as well as in a number of TV movies, and she has also appeared in several films like Son in Law ( 1993 ), Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth ( 2000 ), Hollywood Ending ( 2002 ) and Cyborg Soldier ( 2008 ). Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Public image 5 Filmography 5.1 Television 5.2 Film 6 Accolades 7 References 8 External links Early life Thiessen was born in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Robyn ( née Ernest ), a homemaker, and Frank Thiessen, a park designer and landscape architect. She has credited her brother, Todd, as one of her most important sources of inspiration, and her mother and grandmother as role models. Her mother has Greek, Turkish and Welsh heritage. She attended Cubberley Elementary and Marshall Junior High School in Long Beach. In 1992, Thiessen graduated as valedictorian at Valley Professional High School in Studio City, Los Angeles. Career Thiessen participated in beauty pageants during her childhood and was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987. The following year, she appeared on the cover of Teen magazine, having won the magazine 's `` Great Model Search ''. In 1989, she was named Cover Girl magazine 's `` Model of the Year '', and landed her first role of Kelly Kapowski on NBC 's television sitcom Saved by the Bell, starring until its end in 1993. The success of the show gave her career a boost and Thiessen received Young Artist Award nominations for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in 1990 and Best Young Actress in an Off - Primetime Series in 1992 and 1993. Simultaneously, Thiessen guest starred on series such as Married... with Children, Charles in Charge and Step by Step. In 1992, she starred in her first television movies Saved by the Bell : Hawaiian Style and A Killer Among Friends, making her film debut in Son in Law in 1993. She then continued with starring in spin - off Saved by the Bell : The College Years in its single season ( 1993 -- 94 ) and in television movie Saved by the Bell : Wedding in Las Vegas ( 1994 ), which marked the end of the original Saved by the Bell series. In 1994, after her tenure on Saved by the Bell had ended, Thiessen landed the role of Valerie Malone in Fox 's Aaron Spelling - produced hit teen - drama Beverly Hills, 90210, to fill the void after Shannen Doherty 's departure. She was the first actress to join directly the main cast of the show and portrayed Valerie until 1998, when she left in the early episodes of the ninth season of the show. While starring in 90210, Thiessen began to take on continuous dramatic leading roles in television films : The Stranger Beside Me and She Fought Alone in 1995, Sweet Dreams and Buried Secrets in 1996. After her departure from the show, she appeared in a number of films, including Speedway Junky ( 1999 ), From Dusk Till Dawn 2 : Texas Blood Money ( 1999 ), Love Stinks ( 1999 ) and The Ladies Man ( 2000 ) ; she also guest - starred on NewsRadio ( 1999 ), Two Guys and a Girl ( 2000 ), Just Shoot Me ! ( 2001 ) and Good Morning, Miami ( 2003 -- 04 ). In 2000, she was featured in the music video for `` You 're a God '' by Vertical Horizon, portraying a beauty pageant contestant, in her first music video appearance. That year she also dropped her middle name which she had been including professionally for many years and is now credited as simply Tiffani Thiessen. Thiessen was Spelling 's first choice to replace Doherty in the popular series Charmed in 2001, but she refused his offer because she was hoping the NBC pilot for Everything But the Girl would be picked up. The role eventually went to Rose McGowan. Meanwhile, Thiessen starred in direct - to - video parody film Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth ( 2000 ) and in television movie Everything But the Girl ( 2001 ), before appearing in the Woody Allen - directed film Hollywood Ending ( 2002 ) and starring in action drama series Fastlane ( 2002 -- 03 ) as Wilhelmina ' Billie ' Chambers, for which she received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Actress in Drama / Action Adventure. In 2003, she launched her production company Tit 4 Tat Productions, producing and directing the short film Just Pray in 2005, which earned distinctions at several film festivals. Later on, she starred in television movies Stroller Wars ( 2006 ) and Pandemic ( 2007 ), she joined the cast of ABC 's drama What About Brian ( 2007 ) for its last five episodes and starred in the science fiction film Cyborg Soldier ( 2008 ). In 2008, she made her second music video appearance, this time for Ben Lee 's `` American Television ''. Thiessen appeared with her husband Brady Smith on the September 6, 2009 episode of season four of the reality show HGTV Design Star. Interior designer Lonni Paul, one of the final three contestants of the season, was given the task of redesigning Thiessen 's guest bedroom with an eco-friendly theme ; Thiessen and Paul now have a nursery furniture line called PetitNest. From 2009 through 2014 Thiessen appeared in the USA Network crime series White Collar as Elizabeth Burke. On February 4, 2015, Thiessen reunited with Mark - Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Dennis Haskins and Mario Lopez on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where they appeared in a Saved by the Bell sketch with Fallon. Also in 2015, Thiessen started hosting her own show on Cooking Channel called `` Dinner at Tiffani 's ''. Personal life In early 1992, Thiessen started dating Brian Austin Green, introduced by mutual friend David Faustino ; they moved in together in July 1994, but they broke up the next year. In 1999, she went through a difficult period in her personal life, when David Strickland, also an actor, whom she had begun dating, committed suicide. From 2001 to the spring of 2003, she was engaged to actor Richard Ruccolo, whom she had met during the Two Guys and a Girl run. She married actor Brady Smith on July 9, 2005, and they have two children : daughter Harper ( born 2010 ) and son Holt ( born 2015 ). Thiessen served as maid of honor at 90210 co-star and best friend Jennie Garth 's wedding to actor Peter Facinelli, with whom she co-starred on Fastlane. Garth and Thiessen 's friendship has since come to an end. Her friendship with fellow 90210 star Tori Spelling also broke up, after Spelling 's split from her first husband. In 2013, she participated in the One Bag party for April for Earth Month, in which the Glad company promoted `` clean, green living ''. Public image Thiessen was a teen idol during the 1990s, starting from her role as cheerleader Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell and then playing bad girl Valerie Malone on Beverly Hills, 90210. In a much - discussed moment, Justin Bieber appeared wearing a T - shirt with a photo of Thiessen in her Saved by the Bell days at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards, admitting his admiration for her. Chris Paul also revealed publicly that he was a fan of Thiessen back then, when she sent him an autographed photograph of her Saved by the Bell - era for his 29th birthday in 2014. Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes Live - In Episode : `` Mommy and Me and Au Pair Make Three '' 1989 -- 93 Saved by the Bell Kelly Kapowski Main role ( 75 episodes ) 1990 Charles in Charge Jennifer Episode : `` There 's a Girl in My Ficus '' 1990 Married... with Children Heather McCoy Episode : `` What Goes Around Came Around '' 1990 Valerie 's Family : The Hogans Brooke Episodes : `` California Dreamin ' : Part 1 '', `` California Dreamin ' : Part 2 '' 1992 Step by Step Tina Gordon Episode : `` Daddy 's Girl '' 1992 Blossom Ricki Episode : `` Driver 's Education '' 1992 Saved by the Bell : Hawaiian Style Kelly Kapowski Movie 1992 The Powers That Be Barbara Episode : `` The Intern '' 1992 A Killer Among Friends Jenny Monroe Movie 1993 -- 94 Saved by the Bell : The College Years Kelly Kapowski Series Saved by the Bell : Wedding in Las Vegas Kelly Kapowski Movie 1994 -- 98, 2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Valerie Malone Main role ( 136 episodes ) 1995 The Stranger Beside Me Jennifer Gallagher Movie 1995 She Fought Alone Caitlin Rose Movie Sweet Dreams Alison Sullivan Movie Buried Secrets Annalisse Vellum Movie ; also co-producer 1999 Cupid Stephanie MacGregor Episode : `` Children 's Hour '' 1999 NewsRadio Foxy Jackson Episode : `` Assistant '' 2000 Two Guys and a Girl Marti 8 episodes 2001 Everything But the Girl Denise Pilot movie 2001 Just Shoot Me ! Amy Watson 3 episodes 2002 -- 03 Fastlane Wilhelmina ' Billie ' Chambers 22 episodes 2003 -- 04 Good Morning, Miami Victoria Hill 11 episodes 2006 Stroller Wars Lainey Pilot movie 2007 Pandemic Kayla Martin Movie 2007 What About Brian Natasha Drew 5 episodes 2009 -- 14 White Collar Elizabeth Burke Main role ( 76 episodes ) 2012 -- present Jake and the Never Land Pirates Misty the Wonderful Witch / Mermaid Recurring voice role 2014 Northpole Chelsea Hastings Movie 2015 Hell 's Kitchen Herself Episode : `` Winner Chosen '' ; Chef 's table guest in T 's kitchen 2015 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Kelly Kapowski Episode 205 Saved by the Bell sketch 2015 -- present Dinner at Tiffani 's Herself / Hostess Cooking Channel series Also executive producer 2017 American Housewife Celeste Episode : `` Dude, Where 's My Napkin '' 2017 `` Food Network Star '' Herself Episode : `` Summer Party Playoffs '' 2018 Alexa & Katie Lori Mendoza Main role Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Son in Law Tracy 1995 She Fought Alone Caitlin Rose TV Film 1999 Speedway Junky Wilma Price 1999 From Dusk Till Dawn 2 : Texas Blood Money Pam Direct - to - video 1999 Love Stinks Rebecca Melini / Juliette 2000 Ivans XTC Marie Stein 2000 The Ladies Man Honey DeLune 2000 Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth Hagitha Utslay Direct - to - video 2001 A Christmas Adventure... from a Book Called Wisely 's Tales Vixen ( voice ) Direct - to - video 2002 Hollywood Ending Sharon Bates 2005 Just Pray Short film ; director 2008 Cyborg Soldier Lindsey Reardon Music videos Year Artist Song 2000 Vertical Horizon `` You 're a God '' 2008 Ben Lee `` American Television '' Accolades Year Association Work Result 1990 Young Artist Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Saved by the Bell Nominated 1992 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off - Prime - time or Cable Series Nominated 1993 Best Young Actress in an Off - Prime - time Series Nominated 2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress -- Drama / Action Adventure Fastlane Nominated References Jump up ^ `` Tiffani Thiessen Biography ( 1974 -- ) ''. Filmreference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Tiffani Thiessen 's interview ''. Tiffani Thiessen fansite. Archived from the original on November 4, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2007. Jump up ^ Team, Greek Gateway. `` Celebrities you did n't know were of Greek descent ''. Greek Gateway - The Top Greek Entertainment Website. Retrieved 2017 - 04 - 08. Jump up ^ `` TV STUFF : Tiffani Drops Amber ''. Hollywood.com. March 29, 2000. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Charm 's Way ''. Entertainment Weekly. June 12, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2012. Jump up ^ `` News ''. Tit4tatproductions.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Jump up ^ `` About us ''. Petitnest.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Watch a Glorious Saved by the Bell Reunion Courtesy of Jimmy Fallon ''. Time ( magazine ). Retrieved 20 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jimmy Fallon assembled the cast of ' Saved by The Bell ' for an epic reunion ''. Business Insider. Retrieved 20 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jimmy Fallon reunites most of the ' Saved by the Bell ' cast ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Brian Austin Green & Tiffani - Amber Thiessen ''. People.com. February 13, 1995. Retrieved June 28, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Robin Williams Secures an ' Aladdin ' Sequel ''. Entertainment Weekly. October 9, 1995. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Sudden Tragedy ''. Entertainment Weekly. April 2, 1999. Retrieved December 23, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Tiffani Thiessen Weds Actor Brady Smith ''. People.com. July 12, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2012. Jump up ^ Eunice Oh ( June 15, 2010 ). `` Tiffani Thiessen Welcomes Daughter Harper Renn ''. People.com. Retrieved June 28, 2012. Jump up ^ Stroup, Kate ; Leon, Anya ( July 2, 2015 ). `` Tiffani Thiessen Welcomes Son Holt Fisher ''. People.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Jennie Garth, Tiffani Thiessen Still Not Speaking ''. Us Weekly. May 15, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Tiffani Amber Thiessen Discusses Co-Star Feuds ''. The inquisitr. July 31, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012. Jump up ^ Elavksy, Cindy ( May 19, 2013 ). `` Celebrity Extra ''. Downriver Sunday Times. Times - Herald Newspapers. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Frumpy mummy : Former Saved By The Bell pin - up Tiffani Thiessen dresses down for a stroll with baby ''. Dailymail. May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Justin Bieber wears Tiffani Thiessen ''. Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Finn, Natalie ( June 3, 2014 ). `` Chris Paul Gets `` Best '' Birthday Gift -- A Saved by the Bell - Era Autographed Photo of Tiffani Thiessen ! ``. E ! Online. Retrieved July 25, 2015. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiffani Thiessen. Official website Tiffani Thiessen on IMDb VIAF : 78563214 LCCN : no2007095322 ISNI : 0000 0001 1677 6434 GND : 1019614927 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tiffani_Thiessen&oldid=802359426 '' Categories : 1974 births 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses Actresses from California Actresses from Long Beach, California American child actresses American film actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Living people Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Use mdy dates from July 2011 Articles with hCards Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Bosanski Čeština Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Lietuvių Magyar Malagasy മലയാളം Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Svenska Türkçe Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 25 September 2017, at 17 : 43. 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Question: who plays kelly on saved by the bell
Answer: Tiffani-Amber Thiessen