Could or should Daphne Zuniga have been a bigger star than she actually became to be
This was a subject that was discussed on the old IMDb message boards. Daphne you can argue, was kind of the '80s version of Liv Tyler. Both were young and beautiful, raven haired women who had an innocence about them that made them alluring.
https://www.filmboards.com/board/p/2069533/
Of course, outside of Melrose Place, Daphne's most remembered for her role as Princess Vespa in Spaceballs. But Spaceballs is really more of a cult hit than an actual box office success. I'm assuming that flops like The Fly II and Gross Anatomy didn't help her career as a leading lady in theatrical movies.
In hindsight did appearing on Melrose Place have an adverse affect on Daphne's career? MP was a major hit but you can also argue that it didn't really take advantage of Daphne's talents. Also, the trashiness of the show probably presented a flag to casting directors when MP actors auditioned.