Denise Richards Thinks Mario Lopez Would Pass Special Forces

Denise Richards has money on one of her former costars being able to pass Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

“Well, actually, I just interviewed with him and he is my very first costar on Saved by the Bell, Mario Lopez,” Richards, 53, told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on Saturday, January 11.

Richards revealed that she had a conversation with Lopez, 51, about him appearing on Special Forces. “And I asked him, ‘When are you going to do it?’” she said. “He would do awesome on it. He’d make it to the end, I’m sure.”

The pair appeared alongside each other during a 1991 episode of Saved by the Bell, where Cynthia (Richards) attempts to meet A.C. Slater (Lopez). (The series, which aired for four seasons from 1989 to 1993, followed a group of teens — including Lopez — navigating the highs and lows of high school.)

While appearing on Special Forces, Richards attempted to jump from a speeding boat to a speeding helicopter and jumped off a bridge before claiming she hurt her back. (She also later revealed she ruptured her breast implants.) As the contestants participated in a punishing Navy SEAL exercise known as surf immersion in the second episode, Richards initially asked to sit out. She ultimately went on to take off her armband, signaling her withdrawal from the competition.

Despite her early exit from the series, Richards said that she’s “very proud” of herself. “I had the guts to jump off a bridge and that I jumped off. I was so happy. Even though I couldn’t climb in that helicopter, I was very happy,” she told the outlet. “I was able to at least grab on and hang from there. I never in a million years thought I could do that.”

Richards was also the first contestant on the show to get vulnerable about her past, revealing that she has frozen in certain situations because she is “completely overcome by fear.” Richards shared during a conversation with the staff that the first time she experienced a “freeze” like that was at age 15.

“I noticed a man following me. He came up from behind me, put his hand around my mouth, grabbed my vagina and started dragging me,” she said. “And I froze, like, I couldn’t even scream for help.”

Before sharing her story on Special Forces, she had previously only told husband Aaron Phypers about the incident. “It’s so scary to have that situation, you know, [at] that age and be so vulnerable,” she continued. “And I have three daughters, and I want them to be able to never go through that. And also, if something, God forbid, happen to be strong enough.”

While recalling Richards’ candidness, Directing Staff instructor Billy Billingham said in a joint interview with fellow soldier Rudy Reyes gave insight into why contestants share their stories.

“Before we do the mirror room, even [if it’s only been 12 hours], you’ve already put through a phase of deprivation,” he said at Us Weekly’s NYC studio on Thursday, January 9. “When you’re tired, you’re hungry, you don’t care anymore. You’re more open. Now there’s something about that, what we call the mirror room. I don’t know why it is — and we are not psychologists and we have no idea what that story’s gonna be right out of that person’s mouth.”

Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).