For most people, Elizabeth Berkley is Jessie Spano — the caffeine-pill-popping, “I’m so excited!” cheerleader from Saved by the Bell. But for nearly two decades, that beloved character wasn’t enough to save her from Hollywood’s cruelest punishment.
After starring in the 1995 box office disaster Showgirls, Berkley found herself blacklisted from auditions for years. The film — an NC-17 erotic drama directed by Paul Verhoeven about a young woman trying to make it as a Las Vegas showgirl — was a critical and commercial catastrophe.
A $45 Million Gamble That Lost Big
Showgirls had a massive $45 million budget but managed to scrape together just $37.8 million at the box office. Critics eviscerated it. The New York Times‘ Janet Maslin famously wrote: “The filmmakers had declared they were bravely exploring new levels of licentiousness, but the biggest risk they’ve taken here is in making a nearly $40 million movie without anyone who can act.”
To add insult to injury, the film swept the Razzies — taking home a whopping seven awards for worst of the year. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a paltry 24%. It was, by all accounts, one of the most hated movies of the ’90s.
“I Wasn’t Allowed to Audition”
But the real damage wasn’t to the film’s reputation — it was to Berkley’s career. She told The Hollywood Reporter: “For a good two years, I wasn’t allowed to audition for things. The hardest part was being literally locked out of something I loved so much.”
She couldn’t even step foot into casting offices. When she finally landed a role in The First Wives Club, she had to send in an audition tape because she wasn’t permitted to show up in person.
The Cult Classic Comeback
Ironically, Showgirls eventually found its audience. Thanks to home video and VHS sales, the film went on to earn over $100 million, becoming a cult classic in the process. But for Berkley, the cultural re-evaluation came as a total shock.
She didn’t realize how much the film had been reclaimed until she attended a 20th-anniversary event in Los Angeles. “It was such a profound moment, I can’t even tell you,” she said.
Last year, she took that momentum even further — leading a nationwide Showgirls reunion tour. “It’s the perfect moment to reclaim my narrative, share my story and celebrate and thank the fans in person,” Berkley explained. “I’ve had some obstacles, but I’ve never given up… a lot of dreams have come true — with a lot more to come.”
A New Chapter
More recently, Berkley has appeared in All’s Fair, Cobra Kai, and even the 2020 Saved by the Bell reboot. The girl who was once locked out of Hollywood is finally back — and she’s writing her own ending.
