1993–1999: Melrose Place (1992) and worldwide recognition
In 1993, Heather Locklear began playing another of her best-known roles, Amanda Woodward, on Aaron Spelling's drama series Melrose Place created by Darren Star. Spelling originally signed Locklear for a limited four-episode run to boost interest, the first of which aired on January 27, 1993. Locklear is credited to boost ratings at the end of the first season and became a full-time cast member, though she continued to be billed as Special Guest Star in the opening credits from season two until its cancellation in 1999.
"It wasn't until Heather Locklear came on that she unlocked something, maybe because she brought this Dynasty cred. She literally could not say “hello” without an agenda", said Darren Star to Vulture. Years earlier, he talked to The Hollywood Reporter: "[I] meet with Heather and at the time, Amanda was a fairly innocuous part with a four-episode arc. Once we started writing for her and saw how she was able to take an innocuous line and give it devious subtext, that inspired so much in terms of where the show could go". Locklear remembered: "I just said, 'I wanna be a businesswoman. I don't wanna be Sammy Jo from Dynasty. I don't wanna, like, be a quirky girl".
According to The New York Times, "playing Amanda, Ms. Locklear has also taken a career that was sliding dangerously toward movies-of-the-week and given it new momentum". Locklear earned four Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama from 1994 to 1997.
Locklear was the guest host on Saturday Night Live on May 14, 1994. Two of her best-known skits included her as an elderly Jewish woman on Coffee Talk with Mike Myers and her acting as Amanda Woodward in a Wayne's World skit with Myers, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and Phil Hartman, wherein Wayne has a dream that he is a character on Melrose Place.
Locklear also made a cameo in Wayne's World 2 in 1993. In 1996, she appeared as the main guest on Muppets Tonight, performing in a spoof of Melrose Place titled "Muppet Heights". She was also the subject of a Lifetime Intimate Portrait special in 1997, and of an E! True Hollywood Story special in 2004.
Locklear was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on May 19, 1994, as Melrose Place reached the height of its popularity. She was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People twice, first in 1994, and again in 2001.
In 1996, Locklear starred in NBC movie Shattered Mind directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal in which she plays a woman with multiple personalities. The actress receive compliments from critics but no praise. According to Variety, "Locklear interps the roles with vigor and theatrical flair, if not plausibility" but "doesn't make the character convincing". Entertainment Weekly added: "Locklear is, if at times uneven, always admirable".
At the time, Locklear said her work in this made-for-television film was important in her career: "I don't think I thought of myself as an actress probably until I've just done this movie. But I did know there was a lot more I could do, given the opportunity... With this last movie, I think I can say I'm an actress."
The following year, she appeared in the action-comedy Money Talks with her future Spin City co-star Charlie Sheen. It was her first major supporting role in a movie after cameos in Wayne's World 2 and The First Wives Club but it was "insipid", according to The New York Times.
The cancellation of Melrose Place in 1999 marks the end of Locklear and Aaron Spelling prolific collaboration. Throughout her career, the actress has appeared in eight television productions made by the TV titan: Dynasty, T. J. Hooker, Matt Houston, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, Melrose Place, and the television film Rich Men, Single Women. Spelling "called her his lucky penny", Melrose Place producer Chip Hayes said. In 2016, Heather Locklear paid tribute to Spelling during the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
