Growing up in the Valley, Gina Gershon learned how to steer through toxicity

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Gina Gershon sees herself as a storyteller at heart. She shares that this is actually the first interview she’s given since finishing the manuscript for her new book, “AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs,” when we talk over video call.

She admitted she hadn’t quite perfected her performance yet, and kept asking me what I thought – if I was enjoying it. It was amazing to me, considering how long Gershon has been performing – in small indie films, huge Hollywood movies, and even as a singer-guitarist on stage – that she still genuinely cared about my opinion, even if she wasn’t going to change anything based on it. I think that’s probably why she’s had such a long and successful career – she still connects with the audience, and values what they think.

“AlphaPussy” isn’t a traditional autobiography or self-help book, but it draws on Gershon’s life experiences. The book’s chapters, each with a clever title, take readers back to Gershon’s adventurous youth in the 1970s – from a rebellious childhood and early performing career to working with major film stars like Sharon Stone, Paul Verhoeven, and Tom Cruise. Many stories are set in the San Fernando Valley, where Gershon first experimented with drugs and rock music. Thankfully, this isn’t a sensational or scandalous exposé; it’s a more thoughtful and nuanced account.

Gershon says the book really began during the COVID pandemic. She shared some stories with her book agent – a friend – while they were both having drinks, and he encouraged her to write a book. She was reluctant at first, though, explaining that she’s not the type of person to reveal everything about herself.

She explained that she started writing stories during the lockdowns because her friend was going through a difficult time – his mother was ill. He asked her to write stories to lift his spirits, and she happily obliged, writing whatever came to mind so she wouldn’t forget the ideas later.

Gershon also noticed that many young women didn’t feel confident speaking up for themselves, whether in their personal lives or at work.

I’ve observed that many of my younger female friends would share difficult experiences they had at work, like issues with coworkers or supervisors. I sometimes wondered, and I’m not sure if it’s a generational thing, why they didn’t just directly tell these people to stop the behavior. It seemed to me that speaking up was crucial, because without doing so, they risked continuing to be taken advantage of.

She clarifies that she means “annoying” men rather than abusive men.

Gershon says he doesn’t consider himself particularly strong, but growing up in a turbulent area taught him how to navigate difficult situations. He realized his life experiences had prepared him to deal with negativity and find his way through challenging times.

She also needed to navigate well-meaning advice – from friends and colleagues alike – and trust her own gut feelings.

My career hasn’t exactly been conventional. I’ve pursued many projects even when others – including my agents – told me they were a mistake and would harm my prospects. I always thought, ‘Why not? I’m passionate about it!’

One of those projects, most infamously, was “Showgirls,” which gets plenty of mentions in the book.

Gershon remembered it being 1994, and an astrologer had told her she’d land a big acting role in October, which would be a real test of her ability to handle becoming famous. She thought to herself, ‘Sounds good – let’s do this!’

Several months passed, and Gershon found herself suspended from the ceiling, wearing bondage equipment. She thought back to her original aspirations as an actress: to perform Chekhov, play the role of Medea, and leave audiences speechless.

Books

I recently dove into Anthony Hopkins’ memoir, and it was fascinating. He really gets into how he tackled his most iconic roles, but it’s also deeply personal – he opens up about being bullied growing up and his struggles with alcoholism. It’s not just about acting; it’s a look at the man behind the performances.

She was filming “Showgirls” – a movie she jokingly calls “Survival of the Titties” – wearing one of the revealing, sparkly costumes her character, Cristal Connors, wears as an experienced Vegas showgirl. Even now, that role and the harsh criticism the film received from the industry – despite becoming a cult classic – still bothers her.

I was really enthusiastic about starting work on ‘Showgirls.’ But as I explain in the book, the experience was very different from what I expected. The film turned out to be completely unlike what I thought it would be. I had imagined it would be similar to one of director Paul Verhoeven’s more serious, Dutch-style films.

Realizing that it was something else, to say the least, Gershon pivoted.

I figured out how to stay focused on my work, even when things around me were chaotic. It taught me a valuable lesson about not letting stressful situations derail my goals – a skill that’s useful in any part of life.

Movies

Elizabeth Berkley explains that after the movie ‘Showgirls’ wasn’t successful 30 years ago, she found it difficult to get new roles because she was often prevented from even trying out for them. However, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her career.

Last year, Gershon watched the movie for the first time in decades.

It had been years since I last saw it, and seeing it again gave me a new perspective. It was a bit unsettling, but also fascinating. There were parts I questioned, and others that felt essential. I definitely viewed it differently this time around.

It’s strange, but I feel hesitant to discuss ‘Showgirls,’ even though my book actually has about five chapters dedicated to it. I focused on the parts I found amusing and personally meaningful, where I felt I learned or grew as a person.

After just finishing filming an independent movie about a transgender love story in Palm Springs, and with one script already written and another in progress, Gershon doesn’t plan to write another book for the foreseeable future. However, she admits there are still many stories she didn’t get to tell.

I had plenty more stories to tell, but I wanted to focus on the central ideas of control, resilience, self-reliance, and discovering your identity. It’s particularly important for women, especially actresses, to have control over their own lives in this industry.

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2026-03-03 14:39