Fresh Prince’s Tatyana Ali Talks “Crazy” Bel-Air Role

Ashley Banks is back in Bel-Air—but in a whole new light.

More than three decades after becoming a household name on the beloved ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, original star Tatyana Ali is returning to the franchise on season two of Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of the series.

“I was really excited,” the 44-year-old exclusively told E! News of the opportunity. “I’ve always seen Bel-Air as it’s own show, not at all a reboot of Fresh Prince. It’s its own world, it’s a drama. When it came in, the offer, I really saw it as an offer for any other job. I was like, ‘That’s exciting, but let me read it and let me see.'”

Luckily for fans, Ali adored the script and jumped at the chance to play a new role as a teacher in the world of Bel-Air.

“I loved the way it was written,” she gushed. “But when I got to the set and I was actually on Bel-Air Academy, that set with all the kids walking by in their uniforms, it was crazy. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The emotional, psychological stuff that went on was weird in a really good way.”