Lauren Brice, born Marquita Kay Ward on September 29, 1962, in Decatur, Illinois, was an American adult film actress and exotic dancer. A graduate of Warrensburg-Latham High School in Warrensburg, Illinois, she began her career as a stripper at Shotgun Willie’s in Denver, Colorado, before entering the adult film industry in 1989 at age 27, debuting in films like Bush Pilots (1989), per IMDb and Boobpedia. Using aliases such as Markita, Markeeta, Jill Tuttle, and Lauren Bryce, she starred in approximately 87 films, including Married Women (1990, AVN Best Actress—Video 1991), Nightdreams II & III (1990), Back to Nature (1990), and Hate to See You Go (1988), known for her short red hair (sometimes black or auburn), blue eyes, 5’11” height, 138-pound frame, and natural 36-28-36 figure with no tattoos or piercings, per IAFD and FamousFix. Fans praised her as “a sultry seductress,” noting her Married Women performance (comment: “Lauren’s eyes were hypnotic,” user: retrofan62). A 2024 X post called her “a 90s icon whose Nightdreams II scenes are unforgettable” (@RetroPornFan). AVN (1991) described her as “a throwback to 70s pornstars with real acting chops.” The Rialto Report lauded her “soulful presence and brief but brilliant career,” cementing her as a standout in late 1980s–early 1990s adult cinema. Her acting ability, a rarity in the late 1980s porn scene, made her a favorite for roles requiring dialogue, often portraying MILFs or powerful women. She enjoyed learning and reading dialogue and directors felt she was a throwback to the 1970s pornstars where acting ability was still an important part of adult movies. She retired from adult films in 1991, and continued as a dancer, per Alchetron.