Lisa Rinna Returns to 'Days of Our Lives'

Actress Lisa Rinna has announced that she is returning to “Days of Our Lives,” portraying well-known character “Billie Reed.”

The actress first started on “Days” in 1992, playing fiercely independent “Billie Reed.” She gained notoriety for her portrayal and stayed with “Days” until 2005. During that time she also starred on “Melrose Place” and had guest roles on other TV series.

Rinna hosted SOAPnet’s talk show “Soap Talk” for four years and in that time was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Host.”

Recently, Rinna competed in “Dancing with the Stars” and, along with husband Harry Hamlin, created and starred in TV Land’s reality series “Harry Loves Lisa.” The couple has been married for 14 years and has two children.

The show only produced six episodes and documented Rinna’s battle with plastic surgery. She famously had lip injections, fueling much critique and commentary. During “Harry Loves Lisa,” she decided to have the injections reversed.

The actress has released a series of workout DVD’s, including “Body Beautiful.” She credits dancing with changing her life after the birth of her children; her DVD’s include a lot of dancing.

Commenting on her return to “Days,” Rinna said, “I am so thrilled to be back and excited to be acting again. I have done reality shows, talk shows and I thought, what a great way to come back and play a character that I love to play so much. Feels very full circle - like a new old chapter."

“Days of Our Lives” is NBC’s longest-running soap opera. It celebrated 45 years on TV in 2010 and has been renewed for the 2011-2012 season. Fan favorites have been returning to the soap since September, and Rinna is the latest in that category.

Her new episodes are set to air in March, according to reports.