The role that almost broke her is now her crown: Inside Elizabeth Berkley’s 30-year fight for redemption

There’s a moment at the beginning of our conversation that tells you everything you need to know about the Elizabeth Berkley of today. With a polite but firm smile, she gracefully dismisses her publicist from the Zoom call. “I think David and I are good,” she says, her voice warm but leaving no room for debate. Suddenly, it’s just the two of us. This small, powerful act is a microcosm of her entire journey: after three decades in an industry that often tried to speak for her, Elizabeth Berkley is finally taking the mic.

This year marks a profound full-circle moment for the actress. It’s the 30th anniversary of Showgirls, the film that transformed her from Saved by the Bell sweetheart into a Hollywood pariah overnight. Yet, instead of shying away from the milestone, she’s leaning into it with a sense of ownership and grace that only comes with hard-won wisdom. Simultaneously, she’s enjoying her most significant on-screen resurgence in over a decade, with roles in Ryan Murphy’s buzzy legal drama All’s Fair and the indie film Shell.

The Scars of a “Flop”: Surviving the Showgirls Firestorm

In 1995, at just 21 years old, Berkley bore the brunt of a cultural maelstrom. Paul Verhoeven’s NC-17 spectacle, intended as a scathing satire, was met with critical derision and box office failure. But the reviews weren’t just about the film; they were intensely, often cruelly, personal.

“They showed me clippings to ‘prepare’ me for interviews,” Berkley recalls, the memory still vivid. “A lot of things went on that wouldn’t be allowed now. I couldn’t understand how people could be so cruel, but I’m tough. I had to separate out what they said from what I believed to be true.”

The professional fallout was immediate and brutal. She was dropped by her agency, CAA. “For a good two years, I wasn’t allowed to audition for things,” she reveals. “The hardest part was being literally locked out of something I loved so much.” While others involved with the film retreated, Berkley did the unthinkable: she embarked on a 10-country press tour, alone. “It didn’t feel good, but I’m proud that I did that. I’m not a quitter,” she states. “I wanted to speak. I wanted to be heard. I had no other platform.”

The Quiet Climb Back

What followed was a masterclass in resilience. Locked out of casting offices, she refused to be erased. She heard about a part in The First Wives Club and, unable to get an audition, personally reached out to Paramount chair Sherry Lansing and sent in a tape—a bold move in the mid-90s. She landed the role.

For years, she built her career back one brick at a time: supporting roles in independent films, guest spots on television, and critically acclaimed work on London and New York stages. A 2005 New York Times review of her off-Broadway performance notably declared, “I hereby spread the word that she’s pretty darn good,” highlighting a talent the industry had been determined to overlook.

The Cultural Reclamation

While Berkley was quietly rebuilding, a strange thing was happening to Showgirls. The film she was told was a failure was being rediscovered. It was adopted by the queer community as a high-camp masterpiece, studied by academics for its subversive themes, and celebrated by a new generation for its unhinged, full-throttle commitment. The world had finally caught up to what Berkley had always known was there.

The turning point came at a 20th-anniversary screening in Los Angeles. “It was such a profound moment, I can’t even tell you,” she says of the ecstatic reception from thousands of fans. The woman once left to face the world alone was now being greeted like a rock star.

Seizing the Narrative, 30 Years Later

Now, Berkley isn’t just a passive participant in her story’s redemption arc; she’s the author of its latest chapter. In a powerful act of reclamation, she is spearheading a 30th-anniversary Showgirls tour with Live Nation, hosting screenings and Q&As for thousands of adoring fans in arenas across the country.

“It’s the perfect moment to reclaim my narrative, share my story and celebrate and thank the fans in person,” she says, her voice brimming with emotion.

The symbolism isn’t lost on her. Recently, while preparing for the All’s Fair premiere, she wandered into a Versace boutique—the same brand her character Nomi famously mispronounced. She tried on a dress, and it fit perfectly. “It was like Cinderella’s slipper,” she smiles. On the red carpet, wearing that very dress, she stood alongside A-listers, no longer an outsider but a celebrated figure in her own right.

As our conversation ends, Berkley tears up, not from sadness, but from the sheer weight of the journey. “I’ve had some obstacles, but I’ve never given up,” she says. “And a lot of dreams have come true — with a lot more to come.” This time, she’s in the director’s chair.

FAQ: Elizabeth Berkley’s Comeback and the Showgirls Legacy

Q1: What is Elizabeth Berkley doing for the 30th anniversary of Showgirls?
Berkley is spearheading a major anniversary tour with Live Nation, hosting screenings, sharing never-before-seen footage, and doing live Q&As with fans in over 10 U.S. cities, effectively reclaiming the narrative of the film.

Q2: What new projects is Elizabeth Berkley in?
She recently appeared in Ryan Murphy’s Disney+ drama All’s Fair and the indie film Shell alongside Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss, marking her most significant return to screen in over a decade.

Q3: How did Showgirls affect Elizabeth Berkley’s career initially?
The film’s backlash led to her being dropped by her agency and “locked out” of Hollywood auditions for nearly two years, forcing her to fight for every subsequent role.

Q4: How has the perception of Showgirls changed?
Once universally panned, the film is now a celebrated cult classic, lauded as a high-camp satire and embraced by queer audiences and academics for its bold, subversive style.

Q5: What was the turning point for her?
A 20th-anniversary screening in 2015, where thousands of cheering fans gave her an ecstatic reception, revealed the massive cultural shift and allowed her to finally feel the film’s redemption.