Elizabeth Berkley was ‘locked out’ of acting after ‘Showgirls’ bombed, but she never gave up

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Elizabeth Berkley is currently touring with the film “Showgirls” to mark its 30th anniversary, but the movie wasn’t celebrated when it was first released three decades ago.

According to an interview with the Hollywood Reporter published on Monday, the former “Saved by the Bell” star said the negative reaction to the 1995 movie effectively ended her acting career for a while, as she couldn’t get any more roles.

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Berkley explained that she wasn’t able to audition for roles for about two years. She said the most difficult part was being prevented from doing something she was passionate about.

She faced an uphill battle to regain popularity in Hollywood, but she’s succeeded. Recently, she appeared in a guest role on “All’s Fair,” a flashy legal drama that, like many others, hasn’t been well-received by critics.

Paul Verhoeven directed “Showgirls,” with a script co-written by Joe Eszterhas, who also worked with Verhoeven on “Basic Instinct.” The film marked Elizabeth Berkley’s first leading role and her first major project following her success on the TV show “Saved by the Bell.” However, “Showgirls” faced significant issues, including an NC-17 rating, negative reviews, and poor performance in theaters.

I was really floored to hear that Josh Brolin—I mean, Berkley—went through such a tough time. He shared at a recent Q&A that things got pretty rough for a while, and he was honest about how painful and isolating it was. It sounds like he felt really let down by some of the people he worked with, which is heartbreaking to hear. It’s a reminder that even when we see success on screen, there can be a lot of personal struggles behind the scenes.

In 1995, The Times noted that Nicolle Berkley was unfairly blamed for the negative reception of “Showgirls.” The article also mentioned she had been dropped by her agent and hadn’t secured a new acting role yet.

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A recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter revealed that when she was starting out, Berkley was sent on a press tour alone and, as part of her preparation, publicists showed her negative reviews that criticized her appearance and performance.

Berkley explained that things happened during that time that wouldn’t be acceptable today, specifically that people were subjected to extreme physical abuse. She admitted struggling to understand such cruelty, but she was resilient and learned to dismiss the harmful things people said and focus on her own truth.

Over time, “Showgirls” has gained a new appreciation from both general viewers and scholars, moving it beyond simply being a cult favorite. This renewed recognition is something Nomi Malone, and actress Elizabeth Berkley, truly deserve.

“I’ve had some obstacles,” she said, “but I’ve never given up.”

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2025-11-12 00:31