10 Things You Didn’t Know About Tiffani Thiessen
Published on January 23, 2016. Updated April 3, 2017Tiffani Thiessen is best known for her roles on Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210, but she’s so much more than just another ‘90s actress. In celebration of her 42nd birthday, here are 10 things you didn’t know about the White Collar star:
10. Beauty Pageant Star
She participated in beauty pageants when she was a child and was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987.
9. On Set Love
She had a pretty serious relationship with Brian Austin Green from 1992 to 1995. They were starring on the same show together (Beverly Hills, 90210) and they even lived together.
8. Independence
She moved out of her parent’s house at the age of 17.
7. Young Love
When she was 14 and starring on Saved by the Bell, she had a 19-year-old boyfriend. They dated for five years.
6. Model of the Year
In 1989, she was named Cover Girl magazine’s Model of the Year.
5. Famous Friends/Famous Fallout
Tiffani and Jennie Garth used to be super close, so close in fact that she was one of her bridesmaids and Jennie introduced Tiffani to her husband, Brady Smith. Their friendship has since ended.
Desiree Navarro/Everett Collection4. Hard Beginnings
When Tiffani first joined the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210, the female cast members weren’t very receptive to her.
Premium3. Longing to be a Bond Girl
She always wanted to be a Bond Girl. She actually tested for one of those movies, but lost out. “It was between me and 2 other actresses at the time. Unfortunately the actress who got the job, went on to be voted as one of the worst Bond Girls as well,” she told Me in My Place.
2. Tragedy
Back in 1999 she was dating actor David Strickland. They met at a kick-boxing studio and dated until he suddenly committed suicide six months later. He reportedly had bipolar disorder and had stopped taking his lithium.
1. Dancing with the Stars
She’s been asked to join the show Dancing with the Stars more than once, but she has consistently turned them down. “I’ve been asked a few times, but my response to that is that I am an actor, not a dancer,” she told Huffington Post.
Photo by Picture Perfect / Rex Features