Last Sunday, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" premiered its eighth season on Bravo, and while fans were delighted to see Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore, and Porsha Williams again, everyone also tuned in to see Sheree Whitfield's return and to witness the debut of "The Facts of Life" star Kim Fields as Atlanta's newest Housewife.

Speaking to E! Online, Fields said she and her family had been approached many times by reality TV producers who wanted them to be on their shows, but it took her a while to finally agree to star on one.

"We've been asked to do reality TV for years, and it just wasn't the right timing, the right opportunity," said Fields.

The actress said that her biggest concern was how the show will affect her family, as she told E! that her husband, Christopher Morgan, and her two children, Sebastian, 8, and one-year old Quincy, will be appearing on the show with her.

"I'm very, very protective of my family, of my marriage, of my parenting," she said.

And although she did not have any idea what to expect, Fields said that she did her research before being involved in situations that can be confrontational at times. She said that it was not fair to go into a situation with preconceived notions of how things are going to happen.

"Just go in with an open mind, an open heart," she said. "Now go in with wisdom so you don't get your head knocked off as soon as you hit the door!"

Fields has been acting in various TV shows since 1977. She shot to fame in the hit 1980s sitcom as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsay. She also starred in another sitcom called "Living Single," which premiered in 1993. Fields also acted in films and had a role in 2012's "What to Expect When You're Expecting."

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.